Kristin K. Hanson, MS, RPh
Medication Safety Officer, Residency Program Director
Froedtert Hospital

Role
Residency Program Director – coordinate all aspects of our PGY1 residency training program including resident recruitment and training as well as preceptor development.

Medication Safety Officer – lead Froedtert Hospital’s medication safety efforts by chairing the Medication Safety Committee, identifying risk points, establishing priorities, and participating on interdisciplinary teams dedicated to complex projects. 

How They Got There
Two years as a pharmacy intern at a large community teaching hospital in Minneapolis solidified my desire to work in a hospital environment, however, as I neared the mid-point of my final year of pharmacy school, I decided I wanted a different type of challenge.  I was fortunate to have a number of great mentors both personally and professionally, Dave Zilz being one of them.  Anyone who has had the opportunity to listen to Dave speak, read what he has written, or better yet work with him; knows that he is an incredible visionary.  After a Saturday breakfast meeting with Dave, my next steps were evident – a pharmacy residency program.  I completed the two-year ASHP-accredited administrative residency program at University of Wisconsin Hospital & Clinics in Madison while completing my MS degree in Hospital Pharmacy Administration.  Mentors & preceptors were invaluable – I learned so much in those two years.  Not only about the practice of pharmacy, but also about myself.

Upon completing the residency program, I accepted the position of Assistant Director, Clinical Pharmacy Practice at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee.  One of my first major goals was to establish a residency program at Froedtert – our first resident started two years later.  As Froedtert and the department of pharmacy continued to grow and strengthen, so did our residency training program.  To date, we have trained 42 residents.  This year have five PGY1 residents and one PGY2 administrative resident with the hope to expand again in the near future to help meet the demand for clinical pharmacists with advanced training.

Other Professional Activities
As Froedtert has grown and the department of pharmacy has expanded over the years, my role has changed and allowed me to focus on a few key areas including medication safety and clinical research.  As Froedtert’s Medication Safety Officer, I lead and participate in many interdisciplinary projects and committees aimed at improving safety for our patients.  Through my involvement in these projects and Six Sigma training, I have had the opportunity to speak at many conferences and training programs both locally and nationally.  I also oversee clinical research and investigational drug services and co-chair one of the IRB committees.

Beyond my role within the hospital, I am on a Novation taskforce looking at safety aspects related to IV pump technology and the University Health-System Consortium (UHC) Performance Improvement and Compliance Committee.  I am also a current member of ASHP’s Commission on Credentialling and serve as a surveyor for residency training programs throughout the country.

Advanced Training
One to two years of residency training are essential as is experience.  Practice management skills are necessary especially when developing a new program.

Advice

• Set goals & work toward them – don’t get so caught up in the day-to-day tasks that you lose sight of what is important. 
• Always be open to change and improvements. 
• Communication is vital – be open, honest, timely & complete in both written and in-person conversations. 
• Maintain a balance between your professional and personal life. 
• Enjoy what you are doing and be proud of your accomplishments.