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Meet the 2021-2022 APhA-APRS Postgraduate Advisory Committee
The APhA-APRS Postgraduate Advisory Committee provides services to graduate students, residents, fellows, postdoctoral scholars. The goals of the Postgraduate Initiative are to promote scientific research among peers, to increase communications and interaction among postgraduate members, and to establish collaborative relations between members and leaders. Connect with fellow postgraduate leaders and colleagues today and learn more about available postgraduate resources, tools and initiatives.
APhA-APRS Postgraduate Advisory Committee Chair
Meena Murugappan, PharmD, MPH
is a pharmacist, public health professional, and an aspiring Health Policy & Outcomes researcher.
“I am passionate about promoting the rational and safe use of medications across populations worldwide and ensuring medication accessibility and affordability for underserved communities, through a policy-driven approach. I conduct research to inform the development, implementation, and evaluation of health policies that impact health care delivery, quality, and outcomes. During my Pharm.D. I was an active member of APhA-ASP, serving as my chapter’s Policy Vice President and later as the Regional Delegate for Region 5. Upon graduation, I worked as a clinical pharmacist at the University of Utah Hospital, gaining experience in critical care, HIV, and transitions of care. I also worked as a community pharmacist at Rite Aid Pharmacy in Salt Lake City, serving a community of low-income migrant workers. I later completed my MPH with a minor in Epidemiology and certificate in Global Health at the University of Minnesota. During my MPH, I had the opportunity to work as a Research Associate in Mental Health & Substance Use Disorders at the U of M College of Pharmacy. I worked on multiple research projects involving both qualitative and quantitative research methods. I have now transitioned into the PhD program in Social & Administrative Pharmacy and am excited to further her research skills in the area of secondary database analysis and natural language processing. I am looking forward to continuing my work with APhA, to expand the role of pharmacists in public health.”
APhA-APRS Postgraduate Advisory Committee Members
Asma Ali, PharmD
(she/her/hers) is a PhD student in the department of Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy at the University of Georgia.
“My research examines patient’s medication use, patient’s health outcomes, and health disparities. Currently, I am focusing on the implementation of pharmacy health services in health centers that serve the underserved patients. I use quantitative and qualitative research methods to answer my research questions.”
Susan Egbert, PharmD
(she/her/hers) is a PhD student in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Manitoba.
“My research focus is linking lichen secondary metabolites with their biosynthetic gene clusters. As much of the drugs from the market are derived from natural products, my interest to do a PhD is to learn more on drug discovery and how natural products can influence the drug market. Lichen secondary metabolites, which is what my PhD is focused on, are unique and understudied. Due to their slow growth, I am learning how to improve production so that more pharmacological tests can be done.”
Tamera D. Hughes, PharmD, PhD
is a community pharmacy research fellow in the Division of Practice Advancement and Clinical Education at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy.
“I received both my Pharm.D and Ph.D at Mercer University College of Pharmacy in Atlanta, GA. My postdoctoral fellowship focuses on the trifold mission of pharmacy faculty – teaching, service, and scholarship. My primary research interests focus on practice advancement and implementation of clinical pharmacy services in the community pharmacy setting. Through my fellowship I serve as a practice transformation coach with Flip the Pharmacy and as a research assistant on a CDC funded grant involving opioid and benzodiazepine deprescribing in older adults.”
Cassidi McDaniel, BS
is a third year PhD student in the Department of Health Outcomes Research and Policy at the Auburn University Harrison School of Pharmacy.
“My work in pharmacy began in a rural, independent pharmacy, where I became interested in improving health equity and chronic condition management among patients. My research aims to reduce health disparities, and I am especially passionate about addressing disparities in diabetes prevalence and access to care in the South.”
Logan T. Murry, PharmD
is a third year PhD student in the Health Outcomes Division at the University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy.
“Logan T. Murry is a current PhD student at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy in the Department of Health Services Research. He received his PharmD from the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy in May of 2017. Dr. Murry’s primary research interests and publications pertain to patient access to and utilization of healthcare, specifically Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries and their interactions with pharmacists. Through his research interests, Murry hopes to continue to advocate for patients and pharmacists, ultimately working to improve the healthcare system. As a pharmacy student, Dr. Murry was actively involved in APhA-ASP as a Policy Vice President, and his interest in pharmacy policy and practice advancement has carried into his practice as a pharmacist. Dr. Murry hopes to continue to serve the organization in a meaningful way while advocating for the profession of pharmacy, as well as graduate and pharmacy students.”
Andrew Wash, PharmD
is a third year PhD student in the Health Outcomes Division at the University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy.
“After receiving my PharmD degree from the University of Toledo College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2012, I worked in Portland, Oregon as a pharmacist for six years. The majority of this time was spent as the lead pharmacist in a clinic-based outpatient pharmacy within a Federally Qualified Health Center. This experience led me to want to pursue training in health outcome research, and I began my PhD program in the Health Outcomes Division at the University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy in 2018. My research so far has included topics such as pharmacist prescribing, pharmacy student well-being, and patient activation. I intend on continuing to pursue research using theoretical approaches to motivation and well-being across a variety of populations. APhA has always served as an opportunity for me to connect with old friends (and new!), learn about exciting and innovative developments within the profession, and re-energize myself professionally. I joined the APhA-APRS Postgraduate Advisory Committee to become more involved with APhA and work with this incredible team to expand opportunities within the organization for postgraduates.”