Allison Riffle

Her Story

Dr. Riffle received her Pharm.D. from the University of Toledo in 2008. She also obtained her M.S. in Health-System Pharmacy Administration from Northeast Ohio Medical University in 2014. She is currently completing an International Coaching Federation (ICF)-accredited Professional Coach Training program through the Institute of Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC). 

Dr. Riffle is Associate Chief Pharmacy Officer at Cleveland Clinic.

Facility

 Cleveland Clinic Health System is comprised of 19 hospitals with nearly 6,000 beds and over 220 outpatient locations. In 2020, Cleveland Clinic served over 2.4 million patients with 8.7 million outpatient visits, 273,000 admissions, and 217,000 surgeries. 

Cleveland Clinic is proud to be ranked the number two hospitals in 2021-22 US News Report "Best Hospitals".

Recent Significant Projects

 The COVID-19 pandemic fostered a culture of innovation and collaboration. Early in 2020, Dr. Riffle had the opportunity to partner with a local Whiskey distillery to produce hand sanitizer for The Cleveland Clinic and first responders in surrounding municipalities. Later in the pandemic, Dr. Riffle and her team at Cleveland Clinic partnered with FEMA, the Ohio Department of Health, the National Guard, and Armed Forces to support a Tier 1 COVID-19 Mass Vaccination site. The site provided over 250,000 vaccines to Cleveland-area residents. Dr. Riffle is proud to have received the Ohio Commendation Medal from the Governor for her leadership of the mission. 

The pharmacy technician staffing shortage exacerbated by the pandemic has also created unique opportunities for operational efficiency, workforce creativity, and advocacy.  To mitigate the critical shortage, Dr. Riffle and her team expanded the Pharmacy Apprenticeship program through their ASHP-accredited School of Pharmacy Technology.  In the past year, the program has grown to over 30 apprentices in all Cleveland Clinic Hospitals in Northeast Ohio.  Through a partnership with the OneTen Initiative and the Office of Diversity, the department has intentionally sought to recruit, upskill, and retain pharmacy technician candidates from underrepresented ethnicities and backgrounds.  

Initial Involvement in ASHP

Dr. Riffle has been a member of ASHP since 2008 and is currently serving on the Section Advisory Group on Value, Quality, and Compliance.  She is excited to serve as Vice Chair for the group in the 2022-2023 year. 

Why did you become involved in ASHP? 

 Early in her career, Dr. Riffle became involved in ASHP as a platform to stay informed of current issues and topics affecting the practice.  She participated in the Manger’s Bootcamp at the ASHP Conference for Leaders in 2011.  This experience taught her key fundamentals in her leadership development; moreover, it solidified the virtue that the network of leaders and colleagues across the country that ASHP affords.  

Advice for Someone New to Specialty Area 

Be open to every opportunity; it may not be clear how it will help you grow and achieve your goals until you explore it. Learn from and trust your mentors. And when leading a group, or engaging in a crucial conversation with an employee, the phrases "what else?" and "tell me more" are great tools to uncover opportunities and move forward. 

How would you explain the value of ASHP to a friend or colleague?

ASHP is a home for leaders in the profession to share ideas and learn from each other. The innovative-spirit of the organization is a gift to pharmacy leaders. 

What is the value of ASHP for the profession?

 ASHP advocates for the profession of pharmacy - lending health-system pharmacists a collective voice to advance the practice and serve our patients. ASHP's residency programs promote the highest standard of post-graduate training, preparing new practitioners to practice at the top of their licenses and further advance the profession.