2024 PPS Planning CommitteeSpecial thanks to our committee members for their work in putting this program together. |
Rannon Ching, Pharm.D.
Pharmacist in Charge
Tarrytown Pharmacy
Rannon is the Pharmacist-In-Charge at Tarrytown Pharmacy, an independent pharmacy that’s been serving the community of Austin Texas since 1941. He was born in Honolulu Hawaii, living there until his family moved to Lake Travis in Austin, Texas in 2000. Rannon completed his undergraduate pre-requisites and his Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. Rannon manages and operates Tarrytown Pharmacy, an Austin-based independent pharmacy, and their numerous advanced clinical services; including their PGY-1 community pharmacy residency, immunization and point-of-care testing program, 3rd and 4th year IPPE and APPE UT College of Pharmacy students, and health-care facility relations. The Texas Pharmacy Association awarded him with the 2019 Excellence in Innovation award, which recognizes an individual who has demonstrated innovative pharmacy practice resulting in improved patient care and/or advancement of the profession of pharmacy. Rannon was also honored with the 2019 Distinguished Young Alumnus Award from the UT Austin College of Pharmacy Alumni Association. He currently serves as the Speaker for the Texas Pharmacy Association’s House of Delegates. He works closely with the University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy, and is involved with teaching third and fourth-year pharmacy students, developing research projects, and is a member of the college’s Experiential and Admissions committee. In addition, he equips and encourages his pharmacy team to pursue new and innovative advanced clinical services for the pharmacy.
Disclosure: Rannon Ching does not have any relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies (as defined by the Standards for Integrity and Independence).
Mikaela DeBarba, Pharm.D.
HEB Pharmacy Manager
Adjunct Assistant Professor at UT COP
Disclosure: Mikaela DeBarba does not have any relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies (as defined by the Standards for Integrity and Independence).
K. Ashley Garling-Nañez, Pharm.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice
UT College of Pharmacy
President, Capital Area Pharmacist Association
Dr. Ashley Garling graduated Rho Chi with honors from the MCV/Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy. Her career path went from community pharmacy management, inpatient pharmacy with an oncology focus, to corporate clinical coordinator, and media spokeswoman. She is now a clinical assistant professor at The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy where she serves as a communication, media, and patient engagement specialist. Dr. Garling is the principal investigator (PI) and Co-PI for research projects in community pharmacy settings spanning from telehealth, HIV PrEP, mental health, patient counseling, and medication adherence. She currently serves as president of the Capital Area Pharmacist Association, Affairs Public Policy Council Member, and Public Policy Council Member of the Texas Pharmacist Association. Her career pillars are focused on public activation, empowerment of underheard voices, and health education. In 2020-21, Dr. Garling was awarded the Dr. Carolyn Brown DEAI Champion Award and the 2021 Teaching Excellency Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to diversity, inclusion, and pharmacy education.
Disclosure: Ashley Garling does not have any relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies (as defined by the Standards for Integrity and Independence).
Thomas Guerra, R.Ph.
Director of Pharmacy, SA/West
HEB Grocery Co.
Thomas Guerra is a 1986 Graduate of The University of Texas College of Pharmacy. He has worked in multiple Pharmacy environments as is currently in his 24th year with HEB Pharmacy. Although a 1986 Graduate, he has remained active at the UTCOP and has proudly served in several committees including this Pharmacy Practice Seminar to help to ensure that Pharmacists in Texas have access to the most up to date information to help them provide the best Pharmacy care possible and advance the Profession of Pharmacy.
Disclosure: Thomas Guerra does not have any relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies (as defined by the Standards for Integrity and Independence).
Kathryn Litten, Pharm.D., BCACP
Clinical Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice Division
Clinical Pharmacist at CommUnityCare Health Center
The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy
Dr. Kathryn Litten is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy (UT-COP) and a board-certified ambulatory care pharmacist with a practice site at CommUnityCare Health Center’s Southeast Health and Wellness Center in Austin, TX. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Belmont University College of Pharmacy. She then completed a PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, NC and a PGY-2 Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Residency at CommUnityCare Health Centers. As a professor in the department of Pharmacy Practice she serves as an Ambulatory Care IPPE/APPE preceptor and coordinates the Ambulatory IPPEs. She teaches in the Pharmacotherapy and Pharmacy Practice courses and several clinical electives, including Patient-Centered Diabetes Care, Herbals and Botanical Supplements, and Ambulatory Care. Within her clinical practice she provides comprehensive therapy management for chronic disease states via a collaborative practice agreement, with interests including diabetes and cardiology. She is engaged in multiple professional organizations, including AACP, ACCP, and APhA. She is the President of the Austin-Area SHP chapter, and APhA’s faculty advisor for the UTCOP chapter.
Disclosure: Dr Litten does not have any relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies (as defined by the Standards for Integrity and Independence).
Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice
The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy
Sharon Rush, R.Ph
Clinical Associate Professor
Pharmacy Practice Division
The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy
Sharon Rush received her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy degree in 1986. She practiced as a staff pharmacist, pharmacy manager, Central Texas Immunization Coordinator, and PGY-1 residency preceptor during her 23 years with a large community pharmacy chain. She joined the faculty of the Division of Pharmacy Practice at The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy in July 2010. She is the Community Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience Coordinator for the college and the Austin/Temple/Waco Community Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience Coordinator for the fourth-year professional students. Professor Rush has been involved with direct patient care programs for many years, such as pharmacy-based immunizations, health screenings, Medication Therapy Management, and Disease State Management. She is a certified instructor for the APhA Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery certificate program for both pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, the APhA Medication Therapy Management certificate program, and the NACDS Point of Care certificate program. All PharmD students at UT earn their immunization and medication therapy management certificates under her instruction. She provides the annual 3-hour continuing education Immunization Update for the Texas Pharmacy Association and The University of Texas College of Pharmacy Pharmacy Practice Seminar.
Disclosure: Sharon Rush does not have any relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies (as defined by the Standards for Integrity and Independence).
Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Director, HEB/UT Community Pharmacy Residency Program
The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy
Amanda comes to the College of Pharmacy from H-E-B where she was a Residency Site Preceptor and Interim Co-assistant Residency Program Director. She has also served as the Pharmacist in Charge at a local H-E-B Pharmacy for the last four years. Amanda received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Purdue University College of Pharmacy in 2015. She completed her PGY1 Community-based Pharmacy Residency through The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy and H-E-B Pharmacy under Lauren Clark and Nathan Pope. As a community pharmacist and former residency graduate, she has worked to advance patient care each day by providing excellent patient-centered education and clinical services such as medication therapy management and immunizations. During her leadership with H-E-B Pharmacy, she oversaw the implementation of the COVID-19 vaccine program at her site and the integration of several technician immunizers into the workflow. She strives to give back to the underserved in our community by volunteering as a pharmacist at the Volunteer Healthcare Clinic. Additionally, she has pursued leadership roles in professional organizations by serving on the board of directors and as past president of the Capital Area Pharmacy Association.
Disclosure: Amanda Stallings does not have any relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies (as defined by the Standards for Integrity and Independence).
Jeffrey Warnken, R.Ph.
Owner / Pharmacist
38th Street Pharmacy
Disclosure: Jeffrey Warnken does not have any relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies (as defined by the Standards for Integrity and Independence).
Lynh Warnken, Pharm.D.
Director of Business Development Martin’s Wellness and Compounding PharmaciesLynh Warnken is the Director of Business Development and a pharmacist for two independent pharmacies, Dripping Springs Pharmacy and Lamar Plaza Drug Store. She was born and raised in Austin, Texas. She attended The University of Texas at Austin, where she received her bachelor’s degree in 2012 and her Doctorate of Pharmacy in 2016. She joined Martin’s Wellness and Compounding Pharmacies in 2018 after working in independent and chain community pharmacy for 8 years. Her duties include implementation and management of new pharmacy services, including COVID-19 vaccines, point-of-care testing, and various pilot programs for the pharmacies. She is a preceptor for P4 APPE UT College of Pharmacy students on their advanced community rotations.
Disclosure: Lynh Warnken does not have any relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies (as defined by the Standards for Integrity and Independence).
Matthew Warnken, Pharm.D.
Pharmacist
38th Street Pharmacy
Disclosure: Matthew Warnken does not have any relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies (as defined by the Standards for Integrity and Independence).
Sandra Warnken, R.Ph.
Owner / Pharmacist
38th Street Pharmacy
Disclosure: Sandra Warnken does not have any relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies (as defined by the Standards for Integrity and Independence).
Zachary Warnken Pharm.D., Ph.D.
Director, Pharmaceutical Development
Via Theraputics
Disclosure: Zachary Warnken does not have any relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies (as defined by the Standards for Integrity and Independence).
Terry Weaver, R.Ph.
Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice
The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy
Terry Weaver has an extensive career in the community pharmacy setting, having worked at various chains and independent locations for over 20 years. Most recently, he led the Forty Acres Pharmacy on campus at UT as pharmacist-in-charge until August, 2021, when the pharmacy ceased business operations and Terry became a full-time faculty member at the College of Pharmacy. As a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of Pharmacy Practice, Terry has a role in the P1 Pharmacy Practice Lab course, the P2 Experiential Pharmacy Practice/Patient Counseling course, the Community Pharmacy Management elective, and the Herbals and Botanical Supplements elective. In addition, Terry is a member of the College’s Experiential Learning Faculty, serving as the Advanced Community Practice Coordinator for the Austin/Temple/Waco region.
Disclosure: Terry Weaver does not have any relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies (as defined by the Standards for Integrity and Independence).
Jill L. Williams, R.Ph., M.S.
Pharmacist
Austin, Texas
Jill has utilized her pharmacy education in many ways over the past years. Jill received her BS in Pharmacy from Butler University, Indianapolis, IN and her MS in Pharmacy Administration (now known as Health Outcomes) from The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy. After completing her graduate studies, she worked in Indianapolis as a community pharmacist for a year before joining Merck, Sharp and Dohme (re: Merck and Company) in their Pharmaceutical Sales Division. Jill worked for Merck and Co for over nine years having several different sales position assignments, before relocating to Merck’s WestPoint headquarters near Philadelphia, PA to join the Sales Training Team. In this role, she worked closely with the Marketing teams to develop and test promotional materials used to educate Military practitioners, and subsequently train the sales representatives calling on the military practitioners and facilities. In 1995 she and her husband, Bill moved back to Austin, and joined The University of Texas College of Pharmacy. Jill was hired on as the first full-time Director of Continuing Education for the College -in 1995 Texas began mandating pharmacists complete 15 hours of CE annually, where prior to 1995 CE was optional for pharmacists. Under her leadership, the department grew to employ three full-time employees and a student intern, diversified the types of CE programs offered, and issued over 20,000 hours of pharmacy CE annually. The two-day Post-Graduate Pharmacy Seminar was the most popular CE seminar offered by the College. The name of the conference was changed in 1998 to Pharmacy Practice Seminar (PPS) to reflect the change in practice and to encourage pharmacists from throughout the state to attend. The seminar grew to over 500 pharmacists attending each year. In 2004, Jill stepped down from the role of Director of CE, to pursue other interests including being a Mom. Through the years, Jill has continued to be active in pharmacy practice in various ways, most recently as a pharmacist certified to vaccinate, she volunteered to help UT Health in the community-wide administration of the Covid vaccine.
Disclosure: Jill Williams does not have any relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies (as defined by the Standards for Integrity and Independence).
Kristin Wilson, R.Ph.
Pharmacy Consultant
Disclosure: Kristin Wilson does not have any relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies (as defined by the Standards for Integrity and Independence).
Stephen Vickers, R.Ph.
Pharmacy Manger (retired)
Randall’s Pharmacy
Stephen Vickers is a 1977 graduate of The University of Texas College of Pharmacy. He received his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Texas Graduate School of Business in 1986. Stephen retired from active practice in 2021. Steve has been apart of the PPS planning committee for many years as well as served on admissions committees and other critical work groups for the College of Pharmacy.
Disclosure: Stephen Vickers does not have any relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies (as defined by the Standards for Integrity and Independence).