JILL S. BATES, PharmD, MS, BCOP, CPT, FASHP ([email protected]) is the National PHASER Pharmacy Program Manager for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Durham, N.C., and Associate Professor of Clinical Education at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Dr. Bates received a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Illinois University, a master’s degree with a concentration in biochemistry and biophysics from Northern Illinois University, and a doctor of pharmacy from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Bates also completed two years of postgraduate work at Duke University Medical Center, the first year concentrating on pharmacy practice and the second as a resident in oncology pharmacy. She is certified through multiple organizations in precision medicine, pharmacogenomics, and precision oncology.
Throughout her 16-year career, Dr. Bates has cared for hundreds of patients within multiple practice settings. In her current role at the VA and in collaboration with other stakeholders, Dr. Bates leads a movement to develop and grow national programs in pharmacogenomics and precision oncology and establish pharmacy’s role within these programs. Her involvement in ASHP has spanned over a decade. During this time, Dr. Bates has served as Vice-Chair and Chair of the Council on Therapeutics, delegate to the House of Delegates, faculty for the Oncology Board Certification Review course, member of the Women in Leadership Task Force, Chair of the Section of Clinical Specialists and Scientists (SCSS), and a member of multiple committees. In recognition of this service, Dr. Bates was designated ASHP Fellow in 2018 and awarded the SCSS Distinguished Service Award in 2019.
Meet Jill S. Bates
Health is a state of physical, mental, and social well-being, and good health enables people to live abundant lives. Sustaining good health is relational; it requires multiple components working together, ideally in team-based care. As providers and treatment plan experts, pharmacists have tremendous responsibility. We must always focus on the welfare of humanity and the relief of suffering, as we pledged when entering the profession.
Our patients are central to the welfare of humanity. Our service is guided by treatment plan expertise and the culturally universal golden rule to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Compassion should be our benchmark—both for patients and for ourselves. Burnout is at crisis levels within the field, and we must care for our own to maintain a thriving community that provides optimal care for others. The “square of common good” philosophy emphasizes creating systems and relationships that focus on respect, integrity, and compassion to best attain justice.
We also face a pressing need to ensure that all persons have access to pharmacist care. Leading public health efforts that prioritize integrity-based healthcare policies and pricing practices is key. Recognizing that 80% of healthcare spending is focused on preventable chronic diseases, we should advocate for and integrate foundational healthy behaviors within comprehensive medication management.
It is a true honor to be considered for the ASHP Board of Directors. If elected, I pledge to uphold values that support the advancement of pharmacy practice and good health for all persons.