Nishaminy (Nish) Kasbekar, PharmD, BSPharm, FASHP, is vice president and chief pharmacy officer at the University of Pennsylvania Health System in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science and completed residencies in pharmacy practice and infectious diseases at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Kasbekar began her career providing direct patient care as a clinical pharmacy specialist in infectious diseases, implementing an antimicrobial stewardship program. In her 26 years at Penn Medicine, she has led many strategic and programmatic initiatives expanding the scope, services, and influence of the pharmacy department in inpatient and ambulatory areas.
Her ASHP service includes Board of Directors (2019-2025); chair, Section Advisory Group on Multi-Hospital Pharmacy Executives; chair, Council on Pharmacy Practice; Women in Pharmacy Leadership Steering Committee; AJHP Editorial Board; and delegate to the ASHP House of Delegates for over eight years. In addition, she has served as chair, Vizient Practice Advancement Committee; president, Pennsylvania Society of Health-System Pharmacists; president, Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association Educational Foundation; and president, Delaware Valley Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Dr. Kasbekar has also received numerous recognitions for her work and contribution to pharmacy, including the PSHP Pharmacist of the Year Award, Joe E. Smith Award, Sister M. Gonzales Duffy Award, and as a Fellow of ASHP. She has also published and presented on a variety of topics, including leadership development, process improvement in healthcare, well-being and resilience, and innovative practice models.