HIV Pharmacotherapy: The Pharmacist’s Role in Care and Treatment

Pharmacists now have a new resource to help expand their HIV knowledge, guide their treatment, and provide comprehensive care. HIV Pharmacotherapy: The Pharmacist’s Role in in Care and Treatment by Jason J. Schafer, with Jennifer M. Cocohoba, Elizabeth M. Sherman, and Alice L. Tseng, is the first of its kind to provide pharmacists with a consolidated resource for offering care to patients with HIV infection, including diagnosis, primary care, pharmacological management of co-infections, and more. 

This resource will help prepare pharmacists to take a lead role in the care and treatment of patients with HIV, and will be a valuable guide for students, residents, and clinical pharmacists to build expertise in tailoring antiretroviral regimens to maximize effectiveness and adherence and reduce drug interactions and side effects. 

In this edition:

• Expertise in tailoring antiretroviral regimens, including combination therapies, dealing with short-term and long-term side effects, and adherence challenges
• Essential disease state information to reduce collateral damage and minimize transmission risk 
• Preparation for AAHIVP certification or clinical practice
• Contributions from more than 30 clinical pharmacy specialists in HIV medicine
• Guidance on pharmacological management of HIV, co-infections, and patient care for special populations with HIV

The role of the pharmacist on the HIV healthcare team is evolving to meet the changing needs of HIV patients. Learn about the latest key concepts, expertise, and best practices for clinical decision-making.

Jason J. Schafer, PharmD, MPH, BCPS, AAHIVP

Jason J. Schafer is Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the Jefferson College of Pharmacy and Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, HIV Ambulatory Care, at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Schafer received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Duquesne University and completed a pharmacy practice residency at the Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh and a second residency specializing in infectious diseases at The Ohio State University Medical Center. He received his Master of Public Health degree from the Jefferson School of Population Health. He is a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS) and is certified by the American Academy of HIV Medicine (AAHIVM) as a practicing HIV Pharmacist (AAHIVP).

Dr. Schafer has published numerous articles on HIV medicine and pharmacotherapy in the medical literature. He has also been active in ASHP, most recently serving as the Infectious Diseases Network Facilitator and as Director-at-Large for the Section of Clinical Specialists and Scientist’s Executive Committee.

Jennifer M. Cocohoba, PharmD

Jennifer M. Cochoba is Professor of Clinical Pharmacy in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). She specializes in HIV/AIDS ambulatory care. She serves as the Clinical Pharmacist at the UCSF Womens’ HIV Program where she supports antiretroviral therapy, patient adherence, chronic disease management, and opioid stewardship. She also serves as a faculty advisor and research mentor for the Mabuhay Health Center, a UCSF student-run free clinic. Dr. Cocohoba conducts research on pharmacy-based interventions to improve adherence to HIV antiretroviral medicines, antiretroviral therapy concordance with national treatment guidelines, sex-related HIV treatment disparities, patient/provider communication, and on health of Filipino-Americans. She earned her PharmD from UCSF in 2001 and her MAS, Clinical Research, from UCSF in 2008.

Elizabeth M. Sherman, PharmD, AAHIVP

Elizabeth M. Sherman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and an HIV/AIDS Clinical Pharmacy Specialist providing clinical service for the Memorial Healthcare System. She also serves as Principal Investigator for the Nova Southeastern University Local Partner Site of the Southeast AIDS Education and Training Center in FL. Dr. Sherman received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Nova Southeastern University, completed a pharmacy practice residency with an emphasis in ambulatory care at The Brooklyn Hospital Center and a specialty residency in HIV/AIDS at the University of California San Francisco, and is credentialed as an HIV Pharmacist by the American Academy of HIV Medicine.

Alice L. Tseng, BSc Pharm, PharmD, FCSHP, AAHIVP

Alice L. Tseng is a specialist consultant at the Immunodeficiency Clinic, Toronto General Hospital, and Associate Professor with the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from the University of Toronto, and completed a hospital pharmacy residency at Toronto Western Hospital. Dr. Tseng co-founded and serves on the executive committee of the Ontario HIV Pharmacists Specialty Group and the Canadian HIV and Viral Hepatitis Pharmacists Network. She has published extensively on drug interactions, adverse reactions, and HIV pharmacology and maintains an internationally recognized website/mobile app on HIV and hepatitis C drug interaction and pharmacology information (http://app.hivclinic.ca). Dr. Tseng is a Fellow of the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists and is credentialed as an HIV Pharmacist through the American Academy of HIV Medicine.

A book review for this publication can be found here.