Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Rogers.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am a pharmacist by background and a graduate of the University of Houston College of Pharmacy. I worked for five years at a top oncology hospital here in Houston, specializing in investigational IV chemotherapy for patients on study protocols.
Outside of that role, I collaborated with a friend and colleague, Ben Brown, on several research projects. Most recently, we worked to create an algorithm to identify patients who could most benefit from certain types of genetic testing. In doing this research, we quickly realized that side effects from medication, or “adverse drug events,” are a tremendous cause of patient injury, death and a top contributor to healthcare costs.
In fact, ADE’s are the fourth leading cause of death in the US, something that I wasn’t aware of even as a pharmacist. As there appeared to be no concerted effort to address this problem, Ben and I co-founded the American Society of Pharmacovigilance (ASP). We created ASP as a platform to unify different areas of expertise to have a bigger impact.
Since there is a strong genetic component in the way that patients respond to medications, I have become actively involved in an area of medicine called pharmacogenomics. I am a member of the group that writes the guidelines on how to dose or change medications based on a person’s genetic profile. Pharmacogenetic testing has been shown to reduce the side effects of medications, help doctors choose drugs that are more likely to work and decrease the overall cost of care.
Unfortunately, since it is not typically covered by insurance, testing is not routinely performed. To address this, I work with a group called PARC (Pharmacogenomics Access and Reimbursement Coalition) to engage insurers in expanding the adoption of pharmacogenomics in their healthcare plans. Ultimately, I hope that these efforts will lead to improved health outcomes for patients across the US, regardless of socioeconomic status.
Though I am passionate about improving patient care, I also believe in the importance of giving back to one’s community. Through the Junior League of Houston, I have been afforded many different opportunities to give back, including assisting job-ready women in preparing for interviews at Dress for Success Houston and supporting the League’s efforts as a Charity Ball Ad Salesman.
Houston is a great city, and I am always looking for ways to support the community that helped shape me into the person I am today.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has been a winding road, filled with roadblocks, dead ends and changes in direction. I quit a job doing great work at a world-renowned institution to start a nonprofit. It was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made. I felt that I could affect change on a grander scale if I took a risk in creating something new. There is no question that the state of healthcare is changing, and I intend to instigate change that improves the health of our country.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
The American Society of Pharmacovigilance is 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. ASP is a national biomedical and healthcare network with membership open to all healthcare professionals. Our mission is to rapidly and dramatically reduce the high rate of suffering and mortality due to adverse drug events in the US. We believe that everyone who works in and around healthcare can play a role in improving health outcomes for patients.
To create awareness, we started the ASP Blog, where leading experts write about topics related to medication safety. We also encourage patients to share their story on how adverse drug events have affected them.
Other efforts of the organization include educational activities for healthcare providers, building a report to showcase the extent of adverse drug events in the US and creating an open access journal to expand research in the areas of precision medicine and pharmacovigilance. We believe that bringing these issues to the forefront will foster a culture of collaboration in improving patient care across America.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Absolutely. Houston is arguably the best city for anyone who works in healthcare. I was first drawn to Houston because of the Texas Medical Center. Many of the institutions are top in their specialty, and some of the greatest innovations in health start here. I feel lucky to work alongside many leading thought experts and encourage anyone with a role in healthcare to consider Houston.
Pricing:
- Individual Membership $119
- Healthcare Partnership $5,000+
Contact Info:
- Website: www.stopADR.org
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/American-Society-of-Pharmacovigilance-1550337011755594/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/amsocietypharm
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-society-of-pharmacovigilance/
Image Credit:
Kris Kehe/University of Houston, Brewster Productions, YTAC Houston
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