VSHP Leadership Profile
Donna Truoccolo
What is your current leadership position in VSHP?
I am currently serving as the VSHP Region 1 President.
What benefits do you see in being active in a professional association such as VSHP?
I am passionate about pharmacists maintaining involvement in professional organizations in order to remain active in promoting our profession and optimize patient care. VSHP offers several membership benefits, such as providing the opportunity for members to network and even collaborate with other regional pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. VSHP also supports the advancement of pharmacy practice through legislative efforts and provides wonderful educational opportunities (my favorite benefit!).
What initially motivated you to get involved in VSHP?
When I first moved to Virginia, I wanted to join an organization that would allow me to meet other pharmacists interested in collaborating to improve patient outcomes. I also was interested in finding a group motivated to improve education for pharmacists in the state. A great friend of mine (and fellow Region 1 member), Jeff Sesler, introduced me to VSHP which checked off all of my boxes. I am so thankful he shared this wonderful organization with me (thanks, Jeff!).
Where did you go to pharmacy school?
I attended University of the Sciences (Philadelphia College of Pharmacy) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2011).
Where have you trained or worked?
I completed both my PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency (2012) and my PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency (2013) at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts. I worked at University of Virginia (UVA) Medical Center as a Critical Care Clinical Pharmacist (2013-2014) and as an Emergency Medicine Clinical Pharmacist (2014-2021).
Describe your current area of practice and practice setting:
My career has taken me to a new state (North Carolina), where I now work as an Emergency Medicine Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Medical Center. This position allows me to serve as a team leader and clinical specialist in Emergency Medicine, and allows me to hold prescribing privileges via a collaborative practice agreement and related state pharmacist licensure. I am thrilled to bring the knowledge I obtain in this new role back to the members of VSHP.
What advice would you give to student pharmacists?
Don’t be afraid to get to know your professors and clinical preceptors. We are here to help you.
What pharmacy related issues keep you up at night?
The past two years have highlighted how important it is for organizations, employers, and managers to identify and mitigate factors in the workplace that contribute to employee burnout. I believe that those in the pharmacy profession are especially at risk of burnout due to a general lack of consensus in our profession on how to define and quantify exactly what specific pharmacist work offers the highest value to patients, which in many cases leads to pharmacists simply “doing it all”. In a pandemic, you are by definition working with less resources… so “doing it all” is impossible. Focusing on what tasks are most valuable can alleviate the feeling of underachieving, but I am not convinced we have found the best way of quantifying that value yet.
Do you have any special interests or hobbies outside of work?
Outside of work I enjoy practicing yoga, running, and painting. I also love being outside and taking long walks with my husband and two Shelties.
What is your favorite place to vacation?
This is a difficult question to answer. My husband and I enjoy an annual trip to Cape Charles, VA every summer and it is a trip we look forward to each year. We also love seeing new places and visiting other countries. My absolute favorites so far have been Nicaragua, Iceland, and Germany. Hopefully we can get back to our travels soon!
What 3 adjectives would people use to best describe you?
Daring, determined, and diligent.
