2023 IPA Board & Academy Election Candidate Bios

Position Nominee Profile Picture Current Employer and Position History of Involvement with the IPA Why do you want the position?
IPA President-elect Chelsea Baker Purdue University College of Pharmacy
Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice		 I have been a member of the Indiana Pharmacy Association since 2010 and have held several leadership positions including Co-Chair of the New Practitioners Council, Board Member of the Indiana Academy of Community Pharmacy (IACP), Board Member of the Indiana Academy of Non-Traditional Pharmacy (IANTP), and current President of IANTP. I have also served as a State Delegate for Indiana at the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) House of Delegates in 2017, 2020, 2021, and 2022. I want to become the President Elect of the Indiana Pharmacy Association because I am motivated to serve others, understand and amplify the voice of the association, and advocate for the pharmacy profession. I believe that by holding this position, I will be able to make a positive impact and contribute to the growth and development of the association and the profession as a whole.
IPA President-elect Cory Holland Kindred Hospital Indianapolis North
Director of Pharmacy		 I have been an active member of IPA for the past 4 years serving in various capacities on the Legislative and Regulatory Council. I am also a current member of ISHP. I have served the past two years as IPA delegate to APhA, serving last year as an alternate and this year as an elected delegate. During my time with IPA, I have been a frequent attendee in conferences, webinars, and volunteer activities. I have worked to increase pharmacist, student, and technician involvement in the organization as well.  I am running to be IPA President-Elect because I believe in the mission of this organization, and I believe in the pharmacy profession. Since I've become active with IPA, I have grown professionally and personally. I have met many pharmacists and reconnected with others. I have had the opportunity to mentor and be mentored by amazing people I may not have ever met otherwise. My time with IPA has given me a renewed love and a renewed sense of responsibility to the organization and profession that has provided so much for me. We have done great things together and we will do so much more. 
IPA Congressional District 4/7
Mary Escalante
Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana
Current Board of Directors District 4 & 7
It would be an honor to keep serving IPA and provide a diverse perspective from an Executive leadership standpoint, veteran, project management and lean, and working for a non for profit Rehab hospital with over 20 years of pharmacy experience.
IPA Congressional District 8 Corey Fortwendel Sheldon's Pharmacy Current Board of Directors District 8  
IPA Congressional District 6/9 Kellie Knight IU Health South Central Region
Director of Pharmacy		 I have been a member of IPA since 2017.  For the past 2 years, I have served as a Board Member-At Large for ISHP.  I have also participated in the Education council and served as a co-chair for the meeting planning sub-committee for the Fall 2022 meeting and the upcoming 2023 annual meeting. I have really enjoyed my increased involvement with IPA and ISHP over the past few years.  This organization has allowed me to connect with other pharmacists and technicians across the state with common interests and to continue to advocate for the profession of pharmacy.  This past year, I was able to participate in the Legislative Day at the statehouse.  It was a great opportunity to be able to continue to discuss pharmacy legislation and to continue to promote innovative solutions that can help optimize patient care in all our communities.  I am excited about opportunities that have been created to better develop pharmacy team members and to encourage our talent to work at the top of their licenses.  Throughout my career in pharmacy, I have been fortunate to be able to work in many pharmacy settings (large academic health centers to rural critical access hospitals).  I feel my background and experience will allow me to serve ISHP/IPA and represent all pharmacists and technicians across the state.  I am honored to be considered for this role.    
IPA Congressionla District 6/9 Ryan Engleking Engleking Rx
Owner and Pharmacist		 I have been a member of IPA for several years.  I have contributed my time participating in the legislative days at the state house.  I also actively meet with and host both state and federal legislators in my pharmacy.  I am a luminary of CPESN Indiana and have been actively involved with Flip the Pharmacy initiative, working to transition community pharmacy to a more clinically focused profession.   Having become more involved in the legislative process the last couple of years, I feel that I can build upon the relationships I made, furthering education to legislators about matters that affect the pharmacy profession as well as the health of their constituency.  I believe that the profession of pharmacy is in a transition phase.  I would like to see Indiana become a trailblazer for the services that we can provide.  I feel that my relationships with current legislators, educators, and pharmacists within the state would make me a good fit to serve on the IPA Board of Directors.
IACP President-elect Wendy LeMasters Ascension St. Vincent Indiana Director of Outpatient Pharmacy Services I have been an on and off member since being a student and have been actively involved in IACP for the last three years. I have been a part of the Academy of Community pharmacists for several years. This group has given me the opportunity to work with others in my practic area, discover each other's challenges, and share each other's strengths and ideas. I have been so fortunate to be a part of this group. As a group we can encourage students and new grads to become active members and make a difference in the profession. I would like to help lead this work. I have spent my career as a community pharmacist in numerous leadership roles, encouraging and challenging learners and pharmacists to grow our profession as well as patient care skills. I would like to serve as president elect to continue the great work that has been started.
IACP At-Large Pharmacist  Alexa Ruse Pharmacy Intern at Kroger Pharmacy (Graduates 2023) I have served on the student board (IASP) for the past 3 years, during which I played a key role in starting an IPA chapter at Manchester University. Since the chapter was new and developing, I served as president for 3 semesters. My major role was getting the word out about IPA around campus to increase membership and involvement in IPA. I facilitated the growing relationship between the state organization and the Manchester chapter, and set the groundwork for students to continue that relationship in the future. Over the past 3 years, I have also served as student liaison for IACP, IAIP, and the New Practitioner Council.   I love this organization because it has provided me a sense of community. Prior to learning of my nomination for an IACP At-Large representative I had already planned to maintain involvement with IPA after I graduate in May. My background in community pharmacy has given me a good idea of the value that community pharmacies bring to patients, but also the struggles of community pharmacists and technicians that still go largely under-recognized. My involvement in IPA thus far has shown me the difference that I can help create by doing simple things like creating flyers that recognize pharmacists, technicians, and students, or educate about the profession to those who don’t work in the pharmacy world. Although I don’t yet know what area of pharmacy I will land in after graduation, I would be honored to continue to serve IACP as an At-Large representative.
IACP At-Large Pharmacist  Samantha Champion Manchester University; Office of Experiential Education and Pharmacy Practice Teaching staff (14 years at Meijer previously) Member since July 2022 In the past, I have been uninvolved in advocating for our profession largely because I didn’t think I had time to be involved and not being able to attend meetings without utilizing vacation time. With my new position, I want to try to advocate for the direction of our profession to ensure it is a desirable career for the next generations of pharmacists. 
IAIP At-Large Pharmacist  Rachel Busch InTouch Pharmaceuticals (formerly DeVille Pharmacy before closure) Current member of IAIP Board of Directors  
IANTP President Elect
Leslie Durham
Optum Legislative and Regulatory Committee; Board Member at Large for IANTP I think this will be a great opportunity to work with the IANTP board members to bring awareness to the more unique roles that pharmacists can hold during their careers, as well as a growth opportunity for myself.  I look forward to working with the IPA leaders to keep the practice of pharmacy moving forward. 
IANTP At-Large Pharmacist  Kathy Shoemaker (I) Retired (formerly Premier) Current member of IANTP Board of Directors; Education Council, Legislative & Regulatory Council and Pharmacists Education Foundation Board  
IANTP At-Large Pharmacist 
Raylene Rospond (I)
Retired (formerly Manchester University) Current member of IANTP Board of Directors and Education Council  
IANTP At-Large Pharmacist Alana Washington (I) Eli Lilly & Co.  IPA member as a student and pharmacist, Most recently served on the IANTP council.
 		 One thing I have loved about serving on the council is that we challenge ourselves to see how we can offer resources for and drive awareness of non-traditional roles and connect with students throughout the state.  The initiatives we have in place resonate with me, particularly as I look at my own career in transitioning from student to working professional and also from traditional roles to a non-traditional role.  I want to continue to use my experience and skills to offer recommendations and lead initiatives that ultimately help IPA to continually live out its mission and vision of advancing the profession of pharmacy in Indiana.  I would love your vote to keep me on the board.
 
IANTP Technician Michelle Edmonds (I)   Community Health Network Current member of IANTP Board of Directors.   
IASP President Elect Bryson Tretter Kroger Pharmacy Intern (Richard Koomler, PharmD), Doctor of Pharmacy Candidate IPA-IASP Active Member, Fall 2022 Conference, Legislators on Campus Event (Manchester University) with Dr. Veronica Vernon, Russ Stults and Dr. Molly Corder, 2023 Legislative Day, 2023 Annual Meeting (to come)  I wish to serve in this role to bring the Association strengths of effective communication, public speaking, and passion for protecting and advancing the field of pharmacy. I wish to serve using my leadership experiences and abilities to increase student involvement in the Academy of Student Pharmacists and unite them underneath the single banner that is IPA. Finally, I wish to advance this role by providing professional student viewpoints on advocacy for legislation, continuing development of the Academy and maintaining support for the Association. 
IASP Butler Rep
Brian Cottingim Walgreens Intern. Pharmacy Student Class of 2025
  • IPA Legislative Day 2022
  • IPA Legislative Day 2023
    • Helped organize Butler's student envolvement
    • Organized Butler's student-run health screenings
  • Participation on IPA's LRC since fall of 2021.
  • IPA Volunteer Project: Pharmacy Mapping
 Why you want to serve: IPA has been a wonderful platform for me to express my interests in advocacy and policy work. I've seen the pharmacy profession slowly evolve through my involvement, and it has been very inspiring to see so many passionate pharmacists dedicate so much time towards better health for patients. I want to serve on the IASP board in order to expand the opportunities that IPA can offer to the pharmacy students of Indiana; I would like to see students using IASP as a platform to make change in our community in whatever area peaks their interest. IASP should support students reach their personal and professional goals.
ISHP President-elect & ISHP At-Large Pharmacist (note - will only be to serve in one position) Kellie Knight IU Health South Central Region - Director of Pharmacy I have been a member of IPA since 2017.  For the past 2 years, I have served as a Board Member-At Large for ISHP.  I have also participated in the Education council and served as a co-chair for the meeting planning sub-committee for the Fall 2022 meeting and the upcoming 2023 annual meeting. I have really enjoyed my increased involvement with IPA and ISHP over the past few years.  This organization has allowed me to connect with other pharmacists and technicians across the state with common interests and to continue to advocate for the profession of pharmacy.  This past year, I was able to participate in the Legislative Day at the statehouse.  It was a great opportunity to be able to continue to discuss pharmacy legislation and to continue to promote innovative solutions that can help optimize patient care in all our communities.  I am excited about opportunities that have been created to better develop pharmacy team members and to encourage our talent to work at the top of their licenses.  Throughout my career in pharmacy, I have been fortunate to be able to work in many pharmacy settings (large academic health centers to rural critical access hospitals).  I feel my background and experience will allow me to serve ISHP/IPA and represent all pharmacists and technicians across the state.  I am honored to be considered for this role.     
ISHP President-elect Rachel Kruer Indiana University Health - Adult Academic Health Center, Inpatient Clinical Pharmacy Manager  Currently completing a second term as an ISHP Board Member, and currently serving in second year as a member of the IPA Membership Committee. Previously served as a presidential officer on the Board for the Maryland Society of Health-System Pharmacy, and ASHP House of Delegate Representative. If selected as ISHP president-elect, it would be a privilege to work with the hard-working and dedicated members of the ISHP Board, the IPA leadership team, and the enthusiastic members of Indiana Society of Health System Pharmacists to strengthen membership and engagement within the organization.
ISHP At-Large Pharmacist Molly Locke Community Health Network, North Hospital / Pharmacy Manager I attended an IPA annual meeting while in Pharmacy school; I enjoyed the meeting and what I learned and officially joined IPA a few years after graduating. I have been a member of IPA since 2020. In 2020, I co-presented at the annual meeting on Diversion Monitoring in the Acute Care Setting. In the past year, I have joined several committees – LRC as the ISHP representative and the New Practitioner Council. I attended legislative day in January 2023.   Since starting my career in the health-system setting at an acute care hospital, I have enjoyed many aspects of the job, including - seeing the interventions pharmacists make daily to improve patient care and services in these areas expand with new pharmacy-driven protocols. In January, I had the opportunity to attend legislative day and advocated to legislators about bills impacting pharmacy and our patients. As an ISHP Pharmacy Board member, I would use my effective communication and leadership skills to support and educate legislators and the public on the health-system pharmacy profession and support the mission of IPA.
ISHP Technician Jennifer Fox-Lee (I) MHA, CPhT
IU Health		 IPA member since 2011, technician member-at-large for IAPT in 2015 and a current technician member-at-large for ISHP since 2021 I would love the opportunity to be re-elected to my position as a technician member-at-large for ISHP. During my time on the board, I have been tasked with utilizing a $10,000 grant that was awarded to ISHP for the advancement of technicians. I want to be able to continue working with the board on pursing this work to help boost technician participation within IPA and be a continuous advocate for Indiana pharmacy technicians
ISHP Technician Marc Witcher Community North/Mgr. Pharmacy Technician  New Member attended Legislative Day Pipelines for future technicians and current technicians for growth and retention.


Become A Member

Our Mission:

To be the voice and advocate for the profession of pharmacy in Indiana.

Our Vision:

To lead the advancement of Indiana Pharmacy by promoting legislation and innovations that optimize patient care, safety, and the health of our communities.