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Renown's Dr. Kate Ward Honored with Nevada Society of Health System Pharmacists (NVSHP) President's Award
The award is given annually to a member of the Nevada pharmacy community making significant and sustained contributions to the field Kate Ward, Pharm.D., BCPS Director of Clinical Pharmacy at Renown Health is the 2022 recipient of the Nevada Society of Health System Pharmacists (NVSHP) President’s Award. Dr. Ward has been with Renown for over a decade, starting as a Clinical Pharmacist in 2009. As the Director of Clinical Pharmacy, she is responsible for the oversight of all clinical pharmacy activities at Renown Regional, South Meadows and Rehab. Additionally, Dr. Ward is the Residency Director of the Post-Graduate Year 1 (PGY1) Pharmacy Practice Residency at Renown Regional Medical Center. “We are so proud that Kate has been recognized by the Nevada Society of Health System Pharmacists with the President’s Award and for her many accomplishments as a member of our Renown Pharmacy team. With 66% of adults taking five or more drugs per day and 27% taking 10 or more per day, a pharmacist’s review is critical in supporting patient safety and well-being,” says Tom Graf, MD, interim CEO, Renown Health. “Beyond that, pharmacists have the ability to suggest methods for accurately and effectively taking prescribed medications, discuss medication safety, identify and manage side effects and assist patients and families in managing chronic health conditions.” As a licensed pharmacist, Dr. Ward holds The Doctor of Pharmacy degree (abbreviated Pharm.D. or PharmD) from the University of Colorado. The Pharm.D. is a professional degree similar to a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS). As a doctorate, it represents the increasing responsibility pharmacists have in healthcare systems and the high trust Americans have in pharmacists. The Doctor of Pharmacy degree takes three to four years of undergraduate pre-professional (prerequisite) coursework, followed by four academic years in a professional program. Most students need four years to complete their prerequisite courses. Thus, it usually takes eight years of college study to earn a Pharm.D. and become a pharmacist. Pharmacists working in hospitals and health systems often complete additional post-graduate training after a Pharm.D. degree. Dr. Ward completed a PGY1 Residency at Stanford prior to joining the Pharmacy Department at Renown. “Dr. Ward is such an asset to Renown and our community. Her incredible perseverance to reach for and achieve higher aspirations has resulted in this important recognition by our peers across the state. She consistently contributes her pharmacy expertise to patients, physicians, clinicians and healthcare students and volunteers her time to advance the profession at both the state and national level through pharmacy professional organization participation. It is wonderful to have her efforts recognized by NVSHP,” says Adam Porath, Pharm.D., BCACP, BCPS, FASHP, Vice President, Pharmacy. On Sept. 24, NVSHP and the Nevada Pharmacy Alliance held their annual joint meeting at Renown Regional Medical Center. During this meeting, Dr. Ward was awarded the NVSHP President’s Award. The President’s Award is awarded annually at NVSHP President's discretion to a member making significant and sustained contributions to NVSHP. Dr. Ward was specifically recognized for representing the State of Nevada at the American Society Health System Pharmacists House of Delegates for several consecutive years, as well as her continuous contributions to the annual NVSHP Student Symposium. Established in October 2006, NVSHP has diligently worked on continuing the strong foundation developed to better meet the needs of health-system pharmacists in Nevada. The organization was established on a strong mission statement that enables Nevada's pharmacists to be heard, from all regions of the state and in one collective voice to advocate for patient care. Are you interested in working with this award-winning team? The Renown Health Pharmacy is hiring for multiple roles, including pharmacy technician and clinical pharmacist. For more information, visit careers.renown.org. About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 6,500 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest, locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown is currently enrolling participants in a community-based genetic population health study, the Healthy Nevada Project®.
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Meet Gabby, Renown Regional ER Nurse and Miss Rodeo Nevada
Renown Health is proud to embrace the Reno-Sparks culture that makes our community stand out, which is why we sponsor the Reno Rodeo, an early summer staple with roots in the community as deep as our own. One of our many ties with the Reno Rodeo includes Renown Regional’s own emergency room nurse and Miss Rodeo Nevada 2022, Gabby Szachara. A Reno native, Gabby developed a love for the Reno Rodeo at a very young age. “I loved watching the girls on the Reno Rodeo Flag Team when I was little and knew I wanted to be part of the Reno Rodeo someday,” said Gabby. “As I got older, I started to make connections and build relationships with some people in the rodeo scene, and they generously lent me their horses so I could participate in the Reno Rodeo Flag Team.” Gabby was on the flag team for three years before being crowned Miss Rodeo Nevada 2022 last year. Before joining the Reno Rodeo Flag Team, Gabby was a student at the University of Nevada, Reno, and a member of the women’s volleyball team. In December 2017, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in public health. At first, Gabby was interested in a career in sports medicine – it made sense with her background in athletics. But, after working in the medical field as a certified nurse assistant and an emergency medical technician, she grew passionate about patient care and decided she wanted to become a nurse. “I’ve always loved teamwork and helping others,” said Gabby. “It’s important to me to be there for others, especially when it might be their worst day.” In December 2021, Gabby graduated from Truckee Meadows Community College with a nursing degree and joined Renown Health this February. “I love Renown for various reasons. Everyone here is so nice and welcoming, and there is a great team dynamic,” said Gabby. “And I love that Renown’s main color is purple because that is my favorite!” When Gabby isn’t in her scrubs and caring for patients, she is in western wear and carrying out her duties as Miss Rodeo Nevada. “I do a lot of traveling across the country to attend other rodeos,” said Gabby. “I enjoy meeting so many wonderful people and experiencing the culture of different states.” Gabby’s main goals as Miss Rodeo Nevada are to promote the western way of life, agriculture, rodeo and community benefit. In addition, she visits local schools to talk with kids about how they can get involved in these areas and inspires them to turn their dreams into reality. Gabby has a special place in her heart for the Reno Rodeo. “Reno is my home, and the Reno Rodeo is the heart and soul of summer in northern Nevada. Everyone comes together and dusts off their boots to have fun and also contribute money to important causes in our community,” said Gabby. “I love the comradery, the friendly and healthy competition and the great people.” If you’re going to the Reno Rodeo this weekend, watch for Gabby and her horse, “Torque.” And if you see Gabby in the halls at Renown Regional, give her a high-five for all her hard work as a nurse and Miss Rodeo Nevada!
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Reno Home to CNO to Know: Chief Nurse Executive Melodie Osborn, Named to Becker’s National List
Becker’s annual list of Chief Nursing Officers to Know list for 2023 has been published, recognizing professional nurse healthcare leaders across the country. Melodie Osborn, MBA, BSN, RN, NEA-BC of Renown Health, Reno’s only not-for-profit, charitable health care organization, is one of the 153 professional nursing leaders nationally to be listed, and one of two from Nevada. “These leaders bring a unique blend of clinical and leadership experience to their roles. These nursing healthcare leaders have navigated their hospitals and health systems through the COVID-19 pandemic, and are now addressing staffing shortages, managing labor budgets, and creating professional pathways for the next generation of nurses,” Becker’s stated. In their announcement, Becker’s highlighted that Melodie Osborn, MBA, BSN, RN Chief Nurse Executive for Renown Health (Reno, Nev.), oversees nursing and seamless care across Nevada’s largest not-for-profit integrated delivery system. In 2023, she worked with donors and University of Nevada, Reno, to create an academic pipeline to address the nursing shortage via full-ride scholarship funding for up to 24 nursing students each year. Scholarship recipients may also complete a paid apprenticeship at Renown with a guaranteed hospital job following graduation and licensure. In 2020, Ms. Osborn volunteered to lead Renown’s COVID-19 vaccine effort and helped personally vaccinate over 50,000 community members. She is past president of Nevada Organization for Nurse Leaders. Under her leadership, Renown’s ICUs are three-time AACN Beacon Award winners for demonstrating excellence in patient care, healthy work environment and ongoing and evidence-based care.” “We are so pleased that Melodie has been nationally recognized for her stellar leadership, said Brian Erling, MD, MBA, President & CEO for Renown Health. “Over the last twelve years, she has built high-performing teams and created a supportive environment that enhances patient-centered care. Melodie has an incredible work ethic, strong principles and has worked to achieve a consistently high standard of nursing practice across Renown Health. Melodie takes her responsibility as the executive nursing voice for more than 2,700 nurses very seriously. Her dedication to improving health and care has inspired teams to work together to achieve significant results that have benefited many. Melodie is the definition of a dedicated and committed leader and is well deserving of this recognition. We are very proud of her accomplishments and thank her for her exceptional leadership.” Melodie Osborn is a member of the executive leadership team at Renown Health. Renown Health earned Forbes' Best Healthcare Employer in Nevada for combatting burnout and ensuring well-being and safety of caregivers. Renown Health is hiring exceptional nurses and offers a culture of dignity and respect with opportunities for flexibility and growth. As a national health leader, Renown provides access to state-of-the-art technologies, advanced facilities, and integrated patient systems. For more information, visit renown.org/careers.
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From Renown Intern to Supervisor: Meet Heather Townsend
With a can-do attitude and optimistic spirit, Heather Townsend has dedicated over 15 years to Renown. Climbing her way up from intern to her current role as a Clinical Pharmacist Supervisor, Heather has earned multiple awards for her dedication and achievements in healthcare. Well before her journey started at Renown, Heather’s fascination with pharmaceuticals started at a young age when she was living in rural Nevada and realized healthcare was hard to come by. “My brother was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when he was only 11 months old,” Heather said. “My mom would frequently consult the local pharmacist for medical advice. He was always accessible, knowledgeable and so helpful in my brother’s care. I remember thinking I wanted to be just like him. So, I did.” Inspired by this retail pharmacist, Heather went to school to become a pharmacist in hopes of finding a cure for diabetes and helping people, just like he did. Her son also has Type 1 diabetes, and although she has not yet found a cure, she remains hopeful every day when helping others with their medications and providing guidance. Success and Challenges From Intern to Supervisor Heather started as an intern at Renown during her fourth year of pharmacy school. While working swing shifts and weekends, she was committed to learning from the on-the-job experience. Her love for acute care was sparked by her mentor, Mike Stander, who was the Student Coordinator and Infectious Diseases Clinical Pharmacist at Renown. As she grew her skillset, Heather was promoted to Pharmacy Clinical Specialist and later transitioned into the emergency medicine clinical pharmacy program. Despite the challenges she faced along the way, Heather reflected on the first 10 years of her career as a time of growth and learning. “I had a medication error early in my career that rocked me to my core. As with everyone in healthcare, I started this journey with the intent of helping people and never wanted to cause harm. So, when this happened I needed to re-evaluate my core beliefs, my systems for managing stress, and how I was going to be more safe. These life lessons have contributed to the person I am now, my level of empathy for others and how I manage hiccups in life.” When Heather’s reached the 10-year milestone in her career, she found herself soul-searching and wanted to fuel her love of healthcare again. “There was a 6-month period where I found myself doing less than I would have normally at work and in life. During this time, I relied heavily on my personal support systems and started to find other things I loved to do outside of work. I gave myself grace about not achieving and striving for more and allowed myself time to figure things out. When I did, I had found a new passion for the work I wanted to do.” This passion was found again with teaching, mentoring and supporting others on their healthcare journey. She helped to start a PGY2 Emergency Medicine Pharmacy Residency program, and served as the Residency Director. This helped her prepare for her current role as Clinical Pharmacy Supervisor at Renown. “The resident team keeps me learning and young. They teach me things all the time! The pharmacists are underrecognized and incredible. They have an eye for detail that keeps people safe. They are the unsung heroes.” Heather also has a lot of respect for her medication reconciliation pharmacy technician team. “I love the passion they show for patient care and quality work. They have great ideas, speak up, are funny and care for each other and those around them.” In her current role as a supervisor, she is dedicated to helping her team grow in their own healthcare journeys and continues to refine her skills to become the best leader possible. Heather’s Words of Wisdom In the last 15 years, Renown has continued to grow into the health system it is today. Heather reflected on the growth she’s witnessed in that evolution from Washoe Medical Center to Renown Health. “When I started, I thought of Renown as a hospital to receive care. Today I view Renown as giving back to the community, providing essential care needs to Northern Nevada and the surrounding rural areas. I am amazed by the growth and advancement in care I have seen in the last 15 years and am excited to continue to be a part of it.” Heather has been awarded both personally and professionally. She just celebrated her 17 year wedding anniversary with her husband, Odin, and loves watching her three children grow up and explore their own passions. Heather was awarded the honor of an American Red Cross recognition for helping identify an infection that would have otherwise left a patient paralyzed. She was also named Pharmacist of the Year by the Nevada Society of Health System Pharmacists in 2016, Preceptor of the Year for Idaho State University in 2014 and 2023, top talent of the quarter in 2010 and 2019 and nominated for Nevada Woman of Achievement in 2021 and 2024. Through her life experience, Heather has also learned to keep a positive outlook: “I am known as a Griswald! Like Clark in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, I have an uncanny number of things that happen in my life that go wrong,” Heather Townsend continued. “I have learned that sometimes there is nothing to do but laugh at things (or you’ll spend your whole life crying or mad).” Renown is grateful for Heather’s continued dedication to our health system and how she’s paved the way for the next generation of our talented team members. Inspired by incredible mentors and advisors during her journey at Renown, Heather leaves this advice for those who are growing in their roles in healthcare: “Identify the why behind what you do. Keep that close to your heart. There will be times when you lose track of your vision and motivation, and as long as you have identified this, it will be easy to re-engage and find your path. Once you know what you want, go for it! Find someone to look up to, that will help guide you and that will support you.”
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