Optimizing Bone Health in Cancer Patients

Chad M. Barnett, Pharm.D., BCOP, is Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in the Division of Pharmacy at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. In addition to his patient care responsibilities, Dr. Barnett is the primary preceptor for oncology pharmacy practice residents on the breast medical oncology rotation. Dr. Barnett also serves as clinical faculty for the oncology pharmacy preparatory review course and is a lecturer and clinical preceptor for students at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy in Houston, Texas. He has authored numerous book chapters and articles and has presented nationally on topics related to breast cancer. Dr. Barnett is also actively involved in breast cancer research.

Dr. Barnett received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. He completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas and an Oncology Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Dr. Barnett became a Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist (BCOP) in 2006.

Janet L. Espirito, Pharm.D., BCOP is currently Clinical Coordinator at US Oncology, Inc. where her responsibilities include planning, developing, maintaining, and implementing evidence-based treatment guidelines for the network. She collaborates with network oncologists, evaluates scientific evidence, creates clinical tools and content for the electronic medical record system, researches, writes, and edits drug information, conducts drug utilization and outcomes reviews, and presents information on program content. Previously, Dr. Espirito worked as a clinical pharmacy specialist in the Breast Medical Oncology department at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.

Dr. Espirito has written several journal articles and texts in the field of oncology pharmacy. She has served as a speaker at Hematology Oncology Pharmacy Association and American College of Clinical Pharmacy national conferences.

Dr. Espirito received her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Washington School of Pharmacy in Seattle. She completed a Pharmacy General Practice Residency at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle and an Oncology Pharmacy Specialty Residency at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Dr. Espirito also received her Bachelor of Science in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Washington. She is a Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist (BCOP).

Jane M. Pruemer, Pharm.D., BCOP, FASHP, is Professor of Clinical Pharmacy Practice at the James L. Winkle Cincinnati College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati and Oncology Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at the University Hospital and the Barrett Cancer Center, the Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati. Dr. Pruemer maintains an active clinical adult oncology practice and was the founding program director for an American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)-accredited specialty residency in oncology pharmacy practice at the University Hospital, Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati.  Her primary research interest is the supportive care of cancer patients.

Dr. Pruemer has held various offices and served on several committees for national and state pharmacy associations, including the ASHP Oncology Specialty Practice Group. She was a member of the Advisory Board and Interim Executive Committee for ASHP's Section of Clinical Specialists and served on the Commission on Credentialing as its Chairman. She was a member of the Oncology Pharmacy Specialty Council of the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties. She is currently on the Executive Board of the Hematology Oncology Pharmacy Association, and serves on the Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist (BCOP) Recertification Committee.

Dr. Pruemer received her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the St. Louis College of Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy. She completed an ASHP–accredited residency in clinical pharmacy from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and a fellowship in pharmacokinetics/oncology at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Sciences.  Dr. Pruemer is a Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist.

Rowena N. Schwartz, Pharm.D., BCOP is Director of Oncology Pharmacy at the The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. She also maintains an active clinical practice in the Johns Hopkins Hospital Oncology Anticoagulation Service.  Dr. Schwartz practice and research interest is in drug therapy for the prevention and/or management of cancer and cancer related complications with a focused interest in geriatric oncology.

Dr. Schwartz has authored numerous chapter, journal articles and abstracts in various topics related to pharmacy practice in oncology.  She is a an active member of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP),  American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP), Hematology and Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA), Geriatric Oncology Consortium, and the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy.  She is currently the President of HOPA. 

Dr. Schwartz received her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy at the College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at the Medical Center in Chicago and Doctor of Pharmacy at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.  She completed a two-year fellowship in oncology drug development at the University of Texas.  Dr. Schwartz is a Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist (BCOP).

Christine M. Walko, Pharm.D., BCOP, is Assistant Professor, Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics Division at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Pharmacy and a clinical pharmacist at the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center (LCCC) Clinic, North Carolina Cancer Hospital, Chapel Hill. Additionally, she collaborates with the LCCC investigators to pursue oncology-based research in translational pharmacology, Phase I/II trials, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacogenomics. Dr. Walko is a member of the Institute of Pharmacogenomics and Individualized Therapy (IPIT) and the Director of the Clinical Pharmacology Lab in the North Carolina Cancer Hospital where her research program focuses on the utilization of pharmacokinetics and pharmacogenomics to individualize cancer therapy for patients.

Dr. Walko has authored numerous articles and has presented nationally on the topic of oncology. She is an active member of professional associations including the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Hematology Oncology Pharmacists Association, and Triangle College of Clinical Pharmacy where she is the 2010 Secretary-Treasurer of TCCP and the 2009-2013 ACCP Fellowship Committee.

Dr. Walko received her Doctor of Pharmacy from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and worked as a research assistant at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. She completed a pharmacy practice residency at the Medical College of Virginia and a Hematology and Oncology Specialty Residency at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She also completed an academic fellowship in Hematology and Oncology Pharmacotherapy at the University of North Carolina. Dr. Walko is a Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist (BCOP).