ICHP's Educational Affairs Division offered a 3-part webinar series to begin the discussion around racial inequalities and diversity within pharmacy. We had 4 panelists who agreed to help with the discussion and share first-hand experience. These webinars were interactive with audience participation throughout. The biographies for the panelists and our moderator, Charlene Hope, can be found below.
The series took place on the following dates, each with a different focus:
Thursday, September 10th, 7 to 8pm: Diversity in Pharmacy Thursday, October 8th, 7 to 8pm: Inclusion in Pharmacy Thursday, November 5th, 7 to 8pm: Equity in Pharmacy and Healthcare
These webinars were intended to build upon one another, so attendance at all three was encouraged.
Charlene Hope is the Chief Pharmacy Quality and Medication Safety Officer at University of Chicago Medical Center and past president of ICHP. She graduated from Midwestern University - Chicago College of Pharmacy, and went on to complete a PGY-1 at Michael Reese Hospital. After many years in clinical pharmacy leadership Dr. Hope went on to achieve her Masters in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety and is currently a Certified Professional in Patient Safety. Charlene currently lives in Flossmoor, IL with her husband where she is an avid gardener and bona-fide plant lover.
Panelists
Marvin Agyeben is a third year (P3) pharmacy student attending Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy and currently serves as the Membership Chair for his campus’ ICHP executive board. After graduating pharmacy school, he has an interest in pursuing a residency and practicing clinically. Marvin has worked with CVS Pharmacy for 4 years as both a pharmacy technician and student pharmacist intern and now works for a consulting pharmacy, Pinnacle Pharmacy, as a student pharmacist consultant. When he’s not working or studying, Marvin enjoys cooking, running outside, working out, traveling and spending time with friends and family.
Ishaq Lat is a Director of Pharmacy at the Shirley Ryan Abilitylab. Ishaq earned his PharmD from UMKC, PGY1 at Emory Healthcare, PGY2 in Critical Care at IU Health/ Methodist Hospitals, and MBA from University of Illinois. Over the course of his career, Ishaq has advanced in progressive patient care and leadership roles and served the profession in a variety of capacities. In his spare time, Ishaq enjoys spending time with his family and volunteering in the community.
Shirley Peralta is a 37 year old Certified Pharmacy Technician with Swedish American Hospital, A Division of U.W. She is from San Diego California, and was previously employed by Mercyhealth and CVS/Pharmacy. She has been working in the pharmacy industry for 16 years, having worked in California, Florida and now Illinois. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, dancing, movies, and spending time with her husband and 2 boys.
Krystal Preston is a native of Chicago’s south side. She is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she completed a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 2006. She then went on to obtain a Doctor of Pharmacy at Chicago State University where she graduated in 2015.
Krystal currently works as a clinical pharmacist in oncology at DuPage Medical Group and a pediatric pharmacist at the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital. She has made it her life mission to end disparities in healthcare. This mission is evident in her leadership and service in her career and volunteerism. She is a member of the Illinois Council of Health System Pharmacists (ICHP) and the Chicago Pharmacists Association (CPhA). Krystal uses the successes of her career to leverage others. She exhibits this in her service as an advisor with One Million Degrees, a mentor for young women of color with Shaping Her Experiences, an advisory board member of the Touch Gift Foundation, and in her individual mentoring endeavors with emerging pharmacists. Krystal views “success not as a position, but as the obstacles that one overcomes.”
Charlene Hope is the Chief Pharmacy Quality and Medication Safety Officer at University of Chicago Medical Center and past president of ICHP. She graduated from Midwestern University - Chicago College of Pharmacy, and went on to complete a PGY-1 at Michael Reese Hospital. After many years in clinical pharmacy leadership Dr. Hope went on to achieve her Masters in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety and is currently a Certified Professional in Patient Safety. Charlene currently lives in Flossmoor, IL with her husband where she is an avid gardener and bona-fide plant lover.
Marvin Agyeben is a third year (P3) pharmacy student attending Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy and currently serves as the Membership Chair for his campus’ ICHP executive board. After graduating pharmacy school, he has an interest in pursuing a residency and practicing clinically. Marvin has worked with CVS Pharmacy for 4 years as both a pharmacy technician and student pharmacist intern and now works for a consulting pharmacy, Pinnacle Pharmacy, as a student pharmacist consultant. When he’s not working or studying, Marvin enjoys cooking, running outside, working out, traveling and spending time with friends and family.
Ishaq Lat is a Director of Pharmacy at the Shirley Ryan Abilitylab. Ishaq earned his PharmD from UMKC, PGY1 at Emory Healthcare, PGY2 in Critical Care at IU Health/ Methodist Hospitals, and MBA from University of Illinois. Over the course of his career, Ishaq has advanced in progressive patient care and leadership roles and served the profession in a variety of capacities. In his spare time, Ishaq enjoys spending time with his family and volunteering in the community.
Shirley Peralta is a 37 year old Certified Pharmacy Technician with Swedish American Hospital, A Division of U.W. She is from San Diego California, and was previously employed by Mercyhealth and CVS/Pharmacy. She has been working in the pharmacy industry for 16 years, having worked in California, Florida and now Illinois. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, dancing, movies, and spending time with her husband and 2 boys.
Krystal Preston is a native of Chicago’s south side. She is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she completed a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 2006. She then went on to obtain a Doctor of Pharmacy at Chicago State University where she graduated in 2015.