Meet the Director of Clinical Pharmacy for Oncology Services

On March 7th, Khang H. Pham, PharmD. joined the team at the Memorial Cancer Institute as the Director of Clinical Pharmacy for Oncology Services. “I was the pharmacy director at a hospital in Beaufort, South Carolina, where I oversaw both inpatient pharmacy and outpatient oncology pharmacy services. When this job came along I saw it as an opportunity for me to specialize more, plus the future growth plans of MCI and my professional development were a great opportunity as well,” says Pham. He continues, “I report to two bosses, one of them is a pharmacist. Pharmacy is very unique in that way. It is nice to have a direct boss that knows the pharmacy language.” For Pham, having a pharmacist boss means having the support he needs to be at his very best. They understand the job, the challenges and how best to overcome them.

A major player in the field of Oncology

One of the things that set us apart from other oncology pharmacies in the region is the technology and training we use. “We have Epic, the best EHR out there. It’s very transparent and makes finding information to do clinical work very easy. Plus our Alaris infusion pumps integrate with Epic, making compliance and safety stronger,” explained Pham. “We utilize DoseEdge IV Workflow, so our pharmacists do not have to go in and out of the cleanroom constantly; they can view their technician’s work over the camera.” The medications used in oncology can be toxic, so the safety of our staff is always a priority. To prevent the escape of hazardous drugs into the work environment, the Memorial Cancer Institute fully implemented Closed System Transfer Device system (CSTD). “We have set a goal to be USP 800 compliant by December,” Pham added.

At the Memorial Cancer Institute, our top-notch pharmacist and technicians treat over 4,300 patients every year. To keep up with the demand, our well-trained cleanroom technicians work closely with the pharmacist to ensure patients receive the proper dosage of medication. Pham says, “Our pharmacist to patient ratio is at the national standard, and our technician to staff pharmacist ratio is approaching 1 to 1. This is good because 100% of technicians are qualified to mix chemo, giving our pharmacist more time to focus on their clinical work.” Building a bigger team like this takes a positive attitude and willingness to learn. So, if you’re open to it, we can train you to be at your best.

Learn more about #teamMHSflorida’s Oncology Pharmacy and take advantage of our Pharmacy career opportunities.