Kara Scalzo
Dunedin
Summary
Focused professional with 10+ years of experience and a proven knowledge of regulatory compliance, inventory management, and operational efficiency. Aiming to leverage my skills to successfully fill the pharmacy leadership opportunities.
Experienced with strategic planning, team leadership, and operational excellence. Utilizes proven methodologies to drive business growth and enhance organizational performance. Track record of successfully leading diverse teams and managing complex projects.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Director of Pharmacy Operations
Community Health Systems, CHS
01.2022 - Current
- Responsible for regulatory oversight and formulary management of 70+ acute care facilities and more than 1100+ physician practice clinics.
- Optimized project timelines by effectively delegating tasks and prioritizing workload among team members.
- Cultivated a culture of innovation by promoting creative thinking and encouraging employees to take calculated risks in pursuit of solutions.
- Developed strong relationships with key industry partners, fostering collaboration and mutual growth opportunities.
- Directed design and execution of business transformation initiatives to drive performance, profit optimization and growth opportunities.
- Achieved departmental goals by developing and implementing strategic plans and initiatives.
- Established data-driven decision-making processes and implemented best practices in analytics to optimize performance across the organization.
- Responsible for organizational business relationship with Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs and integration of their solutions into pharmacy sourcing.
Corporate Director of Pharmacy
Community Health Systems, CHS
10.2020 - 01.2022
- Responsible for regulatory and operational oversight of the pharmacy departments for 24 Acute Care facilities across 4 states (FL, NC, GA, MS)
- Provide consultation services to pharmacy departments on key safety, quality, financial, and operational efficiency metrics
- Identify, develop, and implement cost saving initiatives in order to manage monthly and annual operating expenses
- Assist with the optimization of processes and procedures to assist the pharmacy departments in achieving their financial, quality, and service related goals and initiatives
- Led cross-functional teams to achieve project goals on time and within budget constraints.
- Enhanced company productivity by implementing streamlined operational processes and workflow systems.
Market Director of Pharmacy Services
Bayfront Health St. Petersburg
01.2020 - 10.2020
- Alignment of pharmacy distribution, clinical processes, and policies for seven hospital pharmacy departments
- Implementation and execution of market based meetings for Antimicrobial Stewardship to allow for a more comprehensive and cohesive review of stewardship initiatives
- Implementation of standardized initial and annual competencies for all pharmacy staff with in the market
- Execution of a centralized distribution process for a select number of high-cost, low utilization drugs to reduce overall inventory costs
- Continued day-to-day operational management of the flagship pharmacy department as the Director of Pharmacy at Bayfront Health St. Petersburg
- Developed comprehensive training programs for new hires, ensuring a skilled workforce capable of achieving business objectives.
Director of Pharmacy Services & Clinical Research
Bayfront Health St. Petersburg
06.2017 - 10.2020
- Manage day-to-day pharmacy operations of a 24-hour institutional pharmacy serving a 480-Bed Level 2 Trauma Center
- Responsible for the legal and regulatory oversight of seven pharmacy permits including ambulatory surgery centers, a free standing emergency room, and various clinics and diagnostic centers associated with the flagship hospital
- Development and implementation of a comprehensive pharmacy intern program of 8-10 interns per month which allowed for expansion of pharmacy clinical services and provided access to clinical faculty from 4 accredited schools of pharmacy
- Implementation of inventory optimization processes which resulted in a $1 million dollar reduction in drug spend from 2017 to 2020
- Designated person for USP and USP compliance for the facility
- Including, responsibility as consultant pharmacist of record for the Sterile Compound Permit for the facility
- Responsible for the supervision and mentoring of more than 42 full time pharmacy employees and two Post Graduate Year-1 Pharmacy Residents
- Ensured compliance with all legal, ethical, financial, and regulatory requirements regarding the practice and documentation of clinical research
- Clinical trials ranged from large, multi-center studies to primary investigator standalone grants
- Developed comprehensive medication management programs for enhanced patient care and safety.
- Launched successful pharmacist-led clinical services, enhancing the level of expertise on offer to patients.
- Oversaw regulatory compliance, ensuring all aspects of pharmacy practice adhered to state and federal guidelines.
Pharmacy Operations Coordinator
Bayfront Health St. Petersburg
11.2013 - 06.2017
- Management of pharmacy informatics systems: Electronic Health Record: Cerner PharmNet, Clinical Alert Systems: Sentri7, Theradoc, Automated Dispensing: Acudose, Omnicell, Diebold, Intravenous Pumps: Alaris, CADD, Medfusion
- Development and implementation of a comprehensive didactic and practical assessment of sterile compounding competency
- Responsible for ensuring pharmacy records are maintained according to local, state, and federal requirements
- Pharmacy Administration Lead Preceptor for Post Graduate Year-1 Pharmacy Residency Program
- Implemented an automated dispensing stocking and inventory surveillance program to optimize delivery times and quantities stocked to enhance efficiency and decrease loss of product due to expiration
Clinical Pharmacist
Lakeland Regional Health
06.2012 - 11.2013
- Collaborate with other health care professionals to plan, monitor, review, or evaluate the quality or effectiveness of drugs or drug regimens, providing advice on drug applications or characteristics
- Analyze prescribing trends to monitor patient compliance and to prevent excessive usage or harmful interactions
- Interdisciplinary rounding with cardiology and trauma service lines
- Publish educational information for other pharmacists, doctors, or patients
- Implementation of a pulmonary hypertension clinic that was operated by pharmacy under a collaborative practice agreement
- Resulted in recruitment of new critical care/pulmonology group and expansion of hospital services to this patient group
- Development of defined daily doses calculator to provide normalized rates of antibiotic utilization to more readily allow for medication use evaluations by drug, drug class, or level of care
- Developed strong relationships with healthcare providers, facilitating communication and collaboration for better patient care coordination.
Education
Doctor of Pharmacy -
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
Gainesville, FL05.2012
Master of Business Administration -
LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
Baton Rouge, LA12.2019
Skills
- Collaborative leadership
- Culture transformation
- Team management
- Policy development
- Data analytics
- Policy implementation
Certification
- Registered Pharmacist, Florida, PS49027
- Consultant Pharmacist, Florida, PU7936
- Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist, 3152066
- Board Certified Sterile Compounding Pharmacist, B12100856
Personal Information
Title: PHARMD, MBA, BCPS, BCSCP
Memberships And Awards
- HealthTrust Pharmacy Advisory Board Member, CHS, Present
- 2018 Clinical Manager of the Year, Bayfront Health St. Petersburg
Timeline
Senior Director of Pharmacy Operations
Community Health Systems, CHS
01.2022 - Current
Corporate Director of Pharmacy
Community Health Systems, CHS
10.2020 - 01.2022
Market Director of Pharmacy Services
Bayfront Health St. Petersburg
01.2020 - 10.2020
Director of Pharmacy Services & Clinical Research
Bayfront Health St. Petersburg
06.2017 - 10.2020
Pharmacy Operations Coordinator
Bayfront Health St. Petersburg
11.2013 - 06.2017
Clinical Pharmacist
Lakeland Regional Health
06.2012 - 11.2013
Master of Business Administration -
LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
Doctor of Pharmacy -
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
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