Veterinary Clinical Pharmacist - AZ - Animal Health Institute

Position Summary

Are you ready to lead pharmacy operations for a growing veterinary teaching hospital where clinical care, student education, regulatory compliance, and species-specific therapeutics come together?

The Veterinary Clinical Pharmacist acts as the pharmacy manager and oversees the pharmacy operations for the Animal Health Institute (AHI), including medication procurement, inventory control, dispensing practices, controlled substance management, regulatory compliance, and pharmacy staff supervision. This position supports the clinical and educational missions of the College of Veterinary Medicine by serving as a resource for clinicians, students, staff, and clients on medication use, dosing, drug safety, and pharmacy best practices.

The Veterinary Clinical Pharmacist also contributes to student education, formulary management, pharmaceutical preparation, adverse drug reaction monitoring, and development of policies and procedures that support safe and compliant veterinary pharmacy operations.

About Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine

Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine is a fully accredited veterinary college located on the Glendale, Arizona campus. The Animal Health Institute serves as the College’s teaching hospital system and includes the Companion Animal Clinic, Diagnostic Pathology Center, and Large Animal Clinic.

The Veterinary Clinical Pharmacist supports clinical, instructional, and regulatory operations across the Animal Health Institute. This position plays an important role in maintaining safe pharmacy practices, supporting clinicians and students, overseeing pharmaceutical inventory, and ensuring compliance with applicable state and federal regulations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Pharmaceutical Operations and Compliance (25%)

• Supervise procurement, receipt, inventory management, storage, and dispensing of pharmaceuticals, biologicals, and controlled substances used in the AHI’s clinical and instructional programs
• Maintain required records and inventories in accordance with applicable state and federal laws.
• Ensure compliance with DEA regulations and institutional policies for controlled substances
• Lead investigations of controlled substance discrepancies and recommend corrective actions to address process gaps.
• Develop, implement, and enforce pharmacy policies and procedures related to medication safety, compounding, dispensing, storage, waste disposal, and regulatory compliance

Student Education and Training (25%)

• Instruct fourth-year veterinary students and house officers on pharmacy inventory control, purchasing practices, therapeutics, biopharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, and practical pharmacy applications
• Oversee and instruct pharmacy students during rotations to optimize their learning experience within pharmacy operations in a veterinary teaching hospital.
• Provide instruction on laws and regulations related to handling and dispensing pharmaceuticals in veterinary practice, including controlled substances.
• Provide supervised hands-on training in specialized pharmaceutical preparation and compounding.
• Mentor students in balancing therapeutic efficacy, patient safety, client communication, regulatory requirements, and medication cost

Supervision and Administrative Management, 20%

• Supervise pharmacy support personnel, including technical and professional staff, in the operation of the central pharmacy and any satellite pharmacy areas.
• Maintain accurate and complete records of pharmacy activities and prepare reports and statements as needed.
• Ensure pharmacy stock is received, stored, and dispensed according to established procedures and timelines.
• Coordinate with purchasing agents on requisitions for pharmaceuticals and dry goods.
• Monitor medication expenses, reduce waste, and recommend inventory practices that support cost control.
• In collaboration with the Associate Dean of Research, establish processes for management and billing of faculty research accounts involving medications.

Clinical Consultation and Drug Information Services, 15%

• Consult with clinicians, house officers, and students regarding drug selection, dosing, therapeutic effectiveness, cost considerations, adverse effects, and species-specific medication use.
• Provide drug information services for clinicians, students, clients, area veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and staff.
• Advise clients regarding medication administration, side effects, adverse drug reactions, and safe handling of therapeutic agents.
• Participate in clinical rounds and case discussions as needed.

Specialized Pharmaceutical Preparation, 10%

• Prepare or oversee preparation of specialized drug dosage forms as required by specific patients and clinical circumstances.
• Prepare or oversee allergy extracts, reformulations to meet dosage requirements, antineoplastic therapy preparations, and total parenteral nutrition preparations, as appropriate for the facility and patient need.
• Ensure compliance with applicable USP <795>, <797>, and <800> standards for non-sterile compounding, sterile compounding, and hazardous drug handling.

Formulary Management and Committee Participation, 3%

• Create and chair a Formulary Management Committee.
• Consult with hospital clinicians and school administrators on selection, substitution, and discontinuation of formulary items.
• Evaluate new pharmaceutical products for formulary inclusion.
• Monitor drug utilization patterns and recommend evidence-based alternatives.

Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring, 2%

• Record and maintain files of adverse drug reactions within the AHI.
• Report adverse events to the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine and drug manufacturers when appropriate.
• Collaborate with clinicians to implement pharmacovigilance protocols.

Other Duties

• Perform other pharmacy-related duties as assigned.

Supervisor Responsibilities

This position includes direct supervision of pharmacy technicians and support staff. Responsibilities include hiring, training, performance evaluations, scheduling, and ensuring staff competency in pharmacy operations.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Must have regular, predictable, in-person attendance and be able to work in a constant state of alertness and safe manner.

Education and Experience

Required:

• Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree from an ACPE-accredited institution
• Active pharmacist license in the state of Arizona
• Minimum 3-5 years of pharmacy experience

Preferred:

• Experience in veterinary pharmaceuticals
• Willingness to pursue Board certification in Veterinary Pharmacy (DICVP)
• Previous experience in an academic, clinical, or teaching hospital environment
• Supervisory or management experience 

Computer Skills

• Proficiency in pharmacy management systems and ability to learn veterinary practice management software
• Competency in Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Ability to utilize drug information databases and clinical decision support tools
• Experience with inventory management and automated dispensing systems

Language Skills

• Ability to read, interpret, and implement pharmacy regulations, protocols, and clinical guidelines
• Capable of writing detailed reports, SOPS, and educational materials
• Excellent verbal communication skills for consulting with clinicians, students, and clients
• Ability to present educational content to diverse audiences

Application Process must be submitted through Midwestern University’s online employment portal at: https://www.midwestern.edu/employment-mwu

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Midwestern University is a private, not-for-profit organization that provides graduate and post-graduate education in the health sciences. The University has two campuses, one in Downers Grove, Illinois and the other in Glendale, Arizona. More than 6,000 full-time students are enrolled in graduate programs in osteopathic medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physician assistant studies, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nurse anesthesia, cardiovascular perfusion, podiatry, optometry, clinical psychology, speech language pathology, biomedical sciences and veterinary medicine. Over 500 full-time faculty members and 400 staff members are dedicated to the education and development of our students in an environment that encourages learning, respect for all members of the health care team, service, interdisciplinary scholarly activity, and personal growth.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance plans as well as life insurance, short/long term disability and pet insurance.  We offer flexible spending accounts including healthcare reimbursement and child/dependent care account.  We offer a work life balance with competitive time off package including paid holiday’s, sick/flex days, personal days and vacation days.  We offer a 403(b) retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, child care subsidy reimbursement program, identity theft protection and an employee assistance program.  Wellness is important to us and we offer a wellness facility on-site with a fully equipped fitness facility. 

Midwestern University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that does not discriminate against an employee or applicant based upon race; color; religion; creed; national origin or ancestry; ethnicity; sex (including pregnancy); gender (including gender expressions, gender identity; and sexual orientation); marital status; age; disability; citizenship; past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services; genetic information; or any other protected class, in accord with all federal, state and local laws, and regulation. Midwestern University complies with the Smoke-Free Arizona Act (A.R.S. 36-601.01) and the Smoke Free Illinois Act (410 ILCS 82/).  Midwestern University complies with the Illinois Equal Pay Act of 2003 and Arizona Equal Pay Acts.