Associate Professor Lisa W. Goldstone took office as president of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP) on July 1, 2019. She assumed the post of president-elect effective July 1, 2018.
The national position recognizes Goldstone’s significant achievements in the field, which include over 20 years of clinical experience working with persons with psychiatric disorders across all age groups in a variety of settings, as well as extensive involvement within the CPNP.
As president, she plans to address the shortage of psychiatric pharmacists and the need to increase opportunities for training and mentorship to improve outcomes for persons with psychiatric and neurologic disorders. It is crucial, she says, to develop key partnerships with both pharmacy and non-pharmacy leaders who can advocate for the specialty as decisions are made regarding the required qualifications for a pharmacist to be allowed to provide certain services.
“Because of my extensive history in the behavioral health field, including my experience as a non-pharmacy provider, I know I can help us bridge this gap and build these relationships,” says Goldstone, who earned her Master of Science in Clinical Psychology and worked as a counselor prior to becoming a pharmacist. “I am excited about the future of our organization and look forward to helping move us forward in achieving our mission of advancing psychiatric pharmacy practice and becoming a national leader in the area of psychiatric and neurologic disorders.”
No stranger to leadership positions, Goldstone served as chair of the CPNP’s Program Committee and the Pharmacist Position Paper Workgroup and was also co-leader of the Patient Medication Education Groups Community. Other CPNP activities have included being an author for the Psychiatric Pharmacotherapy Case Series, writer and reviewer for Mental Health Clinician, and member of the Curriculum Paper Task Force. Currently she is an editor for the Theory to Practice Case Product, co-leader of the Teaching Community, and an author for the Psychiatric Pharmacotherapy Review course.
Within the USC School of Pharmacy, she serves as associate director of Residency Programs, overseeing resident teaching and evaluation. She also works on several committees including admissions, curriculum and peer review of teaching, and plans to provide comprehensive medication management services in a psychiatric ambulatory care clinic.
With this election, Goldstone — who joined the school in June 2017 — becomes the third USC School of Pharmacy faculty member to serve as president of the national organization, which has nearly 2,000 members and more than 30 student chapters nationally. Professors Julie Dopheide and Glen L. Stimmel are founding members and past presidents of CPNP, as well as having served on the board of the CPNP Foundation. Additionally, Associate Professor Michael Z. Wincor and Stimmel have each earned the CPNP Judith J. Saklad Memorial Award.
“Lisa is an exceptional psychiatric pharmacist who can capably provide the needed leadership for CPNP,” says Stimmel, associate dean for Academic Affairs, who received the CPNP Foundation Career Achievement Award in 2016. “As both a licensed professional counselor and board certified psychiatric pharmacist, Lisa brings to CPNP a rich background as a clinician and faculty member at the University of Arizona — and now at USC to lead this dynamic specialty of pharmacy.”
Most recently, Goldstone served as meeting facilitator for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration project on optimizing pharmacists as members of the health care team for persons with mental health and substance-use disorders. These meetings involved both pharmacy and non-pharmacy leaders from across the country.
Her research interests include patient medication education groups, pharmacy interventions to improve outcomes for patients with psychiatric disorders, health disparities for adults with serious mental illness, stigma associated with having a psychiatric disorder and educational techniques to improve pharmacy student communication skills.
Board certified in both Psychiatric Pharmacy and Pharmacotherapy, Goldstone received her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Arizona, where she served as an assistant professor before joining the USC School of Pharmacy.