NABP 2021-2022 Executive Committee Inaugurated at Association’s 117th Annual Meeting

Delegates to the 117^th National Association of Boards of Pharmacy^® (NABP^®) Annual Meeting, held virtually on May 13-14, 2021, elected individuals to fill the president-elect, treasurer, and open member positions on the Association’s 2021-2022 Executive Committee.

The newly elected officers of the NABP Executive Committee are:

• President-elect Reginald B. “Reggie” Dilliard, DPh;
• Treasurer Lenora S. Newsome, PD;
• Member Deborah C. Mack, RPh, CHC, CCEP, three-year term (District 6); and
• Member Nicole L. Chopski, PharmD, BCGP, ANP, second three-year term (District 7). 

The following NABP Executive Committee officers and members are continuing to fulfill their terms:

• NABP President Caroline D. Juran, BSPharm, DPh (Hon), who assumed the office after serving a one-year term as NABP president-elect;
• Chairperson Timothy D. Fensky, RPh, DPh, FACA, who assumed the position after serving one-year terms as president and president-elect;
• Member Bradley S. Hamilton, RPh (District 1);
• Member Tejal J. Patel, MBA, PharmD, RPh (District 2);
• Member Jeffrey J. Mesaros, PharmD, JD, RPh (District 3);
• Member Fred M. Weaver, RPh (District 4);
• Member Shane R. Wendel, PharmD, RPh (District 5); and
• Member Kamlesh “Kam” Gandhi, PharmD, RPh (District 8).

Abbreviated biographies for the officers and members of the Association’s 2021-2022 Executive Committee follow.

Chairperson: Timothy D. Fensky, RPh, DPh, FACA

Mr Fensky, a member of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Pharmacy, automatically assumed the position of chairperson on the NABP Executive Committee. Prior to becoming chairperson, he served one-year terms as president, president-elect, and treasurer and a two-year term as an Executive Committee member (District 1). As a member of NABP, Mr Fensky has made many contributions to the NABP/American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) District 1 meetings and previously served as president of the Massachusetts Board. Mr Fensky served on the Task Force on Best Practices for Veterinary Compounding and the Task Force on Pharmacist Prescriptive Authority. He currently represents NABP on the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee to the United States Food and Drug Administration. Mr Fensky is the pharmacy administrator at Bournewood Health Systems and the chief pharmacy officer at Sullivan’s Health Care. Further, he is recognized as a full fellow for the American College of Apothecaries, and is an adjunct faculty member at both the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Northeastern University, Bouvé College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Mr Fensky earned his bachelor of science degree in pharmacy from Northeastern University, Bouvé College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and received an honorary doctor of pharmacy license from the Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy. 

President: Caroline D. Juran, BSPharm, DPh (Hon)

Ms Juran, executive director of the Virginia Board of Pharmacy, automatically assumed the position of NABP president. Prior to becoming president, she served one-year terms as president-elect and treasurer and served a three-year member term (District 2) on the Executive Committee. An active member of NABP, Ms Juran served as a member of the 2012 Task Force to Review and Recommend Revisions to the Controlled Substances Act, represented NABP on the Pharmacist Minimum Data Set Workgroup, and served as a member of the Committee on Law Enforcement/Legislation, serving as chair for two years. She also served as Executive Committee liaison for the Task Force on the Pharmacist Integrated Communications Skills Examination. Ms Juran also served as District 2 secretary/treasurer between 2013 and 2016. Under her leadership, the Virginia Board of Pharmacy received NABP’s Fred T. Mahaffey Award for contributions to the regulation of the practice of pharmacy and its efforts to ensure that compounding is performed in a safe and compliant manner. She served as deputy executive director of the Virginia Board from 2005-2010 before assuming the duties of executive director in 2010. Between 1995 and 2005, Ms Juran practiced as a community pharmacist and long-term care pharmacist. Ms Juran completed her studies at the College of William and Mary and earned her bachelor of science degree in pharmacy from Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia, and received an honorary doctor of pharmacy license from the Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy.

President-elect: Reginald B. “Reggie” Dilliard, DPh

Dr Dilliard, executive director of the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy, was elected to serve as president-elect. Prior to the election, Dr Dilliard served a one-year term as treasurer, and a three-year member term on the NABP Executive Committee (District 3) from 2005 to 2008 and a two-year member term from 2017 to 2019. Before serving as executive director of the Tennessee Board, he served as a member from 2000 to 2006. Prior to working with the Board, Dr Dilliard worked as a pharmacy manager at Walgreens for almost 30 years. Dr Dilliard was also the pharmacist and owner/manager of Super D Drugs for more than a decade. As an active member of NABP, he has served on many of the Association’s task forces and committees, including the Task Force on the Regulation of Pharmacist Care Services, the Task Force to Develop Recommendations to Best Reduce Medication Errors in Community Pharmacy Practice, the Committee on Law Enforcement/Legislation, and the Committee on Constitution and Bylaws. Dr Dilliard is an active member of several other pharmacy organizations, including the Tennessee Pharmacists Association, where he served as president and chaired several committees. Dr Dilliard earned his bachelor of science degree in pharmacy from the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy.

Treasurer: Lenora S. Newsome, PD

Dr Newsome, president of the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy and member since 1991, was elected to serve as treasurer. In addition to her service on the Board, Dr Newsome has extensive experience practicing pharmacy in rural communities, including 25 years as a pharmacist and pharmacy manager at Brookshire’s Food & Pharmacy in El Dorado, AR, and six years as a pharmacy manager of Walgreens in Camden, AR. As an active member of NABP, Dr Newsome has served as a member of the Committee on Law Enforcement/Legislation, as well as the Task Force on Regulation of Pharmacist Care Services. Dr Newsome has also been active in other pharmacy associations, including the Arkansas Pharmacists Association (APA), the National Pharmacy Association of Arkansas, and the Arkansas Medical, Dental, and Pharmaceutical Association. In 2015, she was honored with the Percy Malone Award for Public Service by APA. Dr Newsome completed her pre-pharmacy coursework at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and earned her bachelor of science degree in pharmacy from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy in Little Rock, AR.

Executive Committee Member: Bradley S. Hamilton, BSPharm, RPh

Mr Hamilton, current president of the Maine Board of Pharmacy, is serving the third year of a three-year member term (District 1) on the NABP Executive Committee. As a member of NABP, Mr Hamilton has made many contributions to the NABP/AACP District 1 meetings and serves the district proudly. Mr Hamilton served on the Task Force on Expanding International Membership, the Task Force to Develop Regulations Based on Standards of Care, and the Overview Task Force on Requirements for Pharmacy Technician Education, Practice Responsibilities, and Competence Assessment. He also has represented the Maine Board as a voting delegate at the NABP Annual Meetings since 2016. Mr Hamilton also served as the Executive Committee liaison to NABP’s Advisory Committee on Examinations. In 2014, Mr Hamilton was the recipient of the Retail Operations Honorary Backpack Award for his role at Hannaford Supermarket and Pharmacy. In 2021, he was recognized by the University of New England School of Pharmacy Phi Lambda Sigma (also known as the Pharmacy Leadership Society), Delta Zeta Chapter as an honorary member and the Excellence in Pharmacy Award. Mr Hamilton earned his bachelor of science degree in pharmacy from Northeastern University, Bouvé College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

Executive Committee Member: Tejal J. Patel, MBA, PharmD, RPh

Dr Patel, a former member of the Delaware State Board of Pharmacy, is serving the third year of a three-year member term (District 2) on the NABP Executive Committee. An active member of the Association, Dr Patel has served as the NABP/AACP District 2 secretary/treasurer since 2016. In addition, Dr Patel served on several NABP task forces, including the Task Force on Mutual-Recognition Licensure, the Task Force on Long-Term Care Pharmacy Rules, the Task Force on Expanding International Membership, and the Task Force on Medication Synchronization. In addition, Dr Patel has served as an item writer for both the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination^® and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination^®. She has also been a panelist at the NABP Interactive Member Forum. Dr Patel has been the recipient of the Walgreens Customer Service Extra Mile Award, and numerous awards for medication therapy management and immunization services. She has also been engaged in several community services such as flu clinics at health fairs, blood pressure screenings, and charity events for children. Dr Patel earned her master of business administration degree in health care administration from Wilmington University, and her doctor of pharmacy degree from the University of Colorado School of Pharmacy.

Executive Committee Member: Jeffrey J. Mesaros, PharmD, JD, RPh

Dr Mesaros, a member of the Florida Board of Pharmacy, is serving the second year of a three-year member term (District 3) on the NABP Executive Committee. Dr Mesaros has been practicing pharmacy for 20 years, including as a pharmacist attorney for almost 15 years. He has served as a staff pharmacist and has also set pharmacy practice and compliance standards in multiple pharmacy settings. As a member of NABP, Dr Mesaros has made many contributions to the NABP/AACP District 3 meetings and served as the District 3 representative on the Committee on Resolutions. In addition, Dr Mesaros served on the Task Force on the Regulation of Pharmacy Benefit Managers and the Task Force on the Definition of a Patient-Pharmacist Relationship. Dr Mesaros is an active member of other professional organizations, including the American Bar Association, the American Society for Pharmacy Law, and the American Pharmacists Association. He has also served as an adjunct faculty member of the University of Florida College of Pharmacy and the University of Hawaii at Hilo – the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy. Dr Mesaros earned his doctor of pharmacy degree from Wilkes University Nesbitt School of Pharmacy and his juris doctor degree from the University of Miami School of Law. He received his master of science degree in pharmacy regulation and policy from the University of Florida.

Executive Committee Member: Fred M. Weaver, RPh

Mr Weaver, a former member and past president of the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy, is serving the second year of a three-year member term (District 4) on the NABP Executive Committee. As a member of NABP, Mr Weaver has provided several valuable contributions. Further, he served on the Task Force on Pharmacy Technician Competence Assessment, has been a panelist during the Interactive Member Forum, and served as a delegate for the Committee on Resolutions. Mr Weaver has worked as a pharmacist in a variety of settings for more than 30 years. Since 2000, Mr Weaver has been the pharmacy manager of Giant Eagle Pharmacy in Elyria, OH. In addition to his work on the Board and as a pharmacist, Mr Weaver is an active member of the Ohio Pharmacists Association. He also volunteers his time to serve as a den leader for the Boy Scouts of America and as a member of the Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity. He is also a certified CPR instructor for the American Red Cross, and is a scuba divemaster/instructor. Mr Weaver earned his bachelor of science degree in pharmacy from the University of Toledo.

Executive Committee Member: Shane R. Wendel, PharmD, RPh

Dr Wendel, a member and former president of the North Dakota State Board of Pharmacy, is serving the third year of a three-year member term (District 5) on the NABP Executive Committee. He has been a pharmacist and pharmacy manager for nearly 25 years, working in the retail pharmacy setting. He began his career at Target as a staff pharmacist and as manager of the pharmacy department. He is currently the owner and pharmacist at Central Pharmacy in Carrington/New Rockford, ND, and a partner at Pharmacists Associates, LLC. Dr Wendel has been an active member of multiple other pharmacy organizations, including the North Dakota Pharmacy Service Corporation, National Community Pharmacists Association, and the Professional Compounding Centers of America. He is also a past president and board member of the North Dakota Pharmacists Association. Dr Wendel earned his bachelor of science degree in pharmacy and doctor of pharmacy degree from North Dakota State University.

Executive Committee Member: Deborah C. Mack, RPh, CHC, CCEP

Dr Mack was elected to serve a three-year member term (District 6) on the NABP Executive Committee. Dr Mack is currently serving as a member of the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy and has previously served as president. As an active member of NABP, she has served on task forces and committees, including the Task Force on Mutual-Recognition Licensure and the Committee on Law Enforcement/Legislation. Dr Mack possesses over 30 years of pharmacy experience, most recently working as a consultant assisting retail pharmacists in developing compliant health care strategies. Before that, she served as senior director of pharmacy practice compliance at Walmart, Inc, leading more than 1,800 pharmacies in 17 states to ensure corporate compliance with regulatory requirements and best practices in an effort to maintain high levels of customer satisfaction and safety. Dr Mack has also been active in the Arkansas Pharmacists Association, Texas Pharmacists Association, and the American Society for Pharmacy Law. Dr Mack earned her bachelor of science degree in pharmacy at the University of Texas at Austin.

Executive Committee Member: Nicole L. Chopski, PharmD, BCGP, ANP

Dr Chopski, executive director of the Idaho State Board of Pharmacy, was re-elected to serve a three-year member term (District 7) on the NABP Executive Committee. Dr Chopski has served as a member of the board for 12 years and has made many contributions to the NABP/AACP District 7 meetings and as its former secretary/treasurer. She has served on many of the Association’s committees, including the Committee on Law Enforcement/Legislation, the Task Force on Medication-Assisted Treatment, as a delegate for the Committee on Resolutions, and as a voting delegate at the NABP Annual Meetings. Dr Chopski has been certified as an authorized nuclear pharmacist by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission at Purdue University for more than a decade and is a board certified geriatric pharmacist through the Board of Pharmacy Specialties. She previously served as a hospital pharmacist at Portneuf Medical Center. Dr Chopski earned her doctor of pharmacy degree from Idaho State University.

Executive Committee Member: Kamlesh “Kam” Gandhi, PharmD, RPh

Dr Gandhi, executive director of the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy, is serving the second year of a three-year member term (District 8) on the NABP Executive Committee. Dr Gandhi is a former member and past president of the Nevada State Board of Pharmacy. As an active member of NABP, Dr Gandhi has served on several task forces and committees, including the Task Force on the Regulation of Pharmacist Care Services and the Task Force on the Regulation of Telepharmacy Practice, and the Committee on Constitution and Bylaws. He also served as a panelist during the Interactive Executive Officer Forum. While president of the Nevada Board, Dr Gandhi participated in several committees, including serving as a member of the Nevada Narcotic Coalition Task Force, Roseman University of Health Sciences scholarship committee, and Goodwill partnership. He has also been a preceptor at the University of Arizona and Midwestern University. Dr Gandhi completed his undergraduate pre-pharmacy work and earned his doctor of pharmacy degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago.