Brian Erstad named to pharmacy specialties board of directors
Brian Erstad, PharmD, a professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Arizona R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, has been appointed to a three-year term on the Board of Pharmacy Specialties board of directors.
“It is always an honor to serve on any board of directors that has recognition at the national and international level,” said Erstad, who is also a member of the BIO5 Institute. “In this role, I hope to gain recognition for my department, college and the University of Arizona while advancing the mission of the Board of Pharmacy Specialties, which is to improve patient care and outcomes.”
Brian Erstad, PharmD, MCCM, FCCP, FASHP, BCPS
According to the Board of Pharmacy Specialties website, its mission is “to improve patient care by positioning BPS board-certified pharmacist specialists as integral members of interprofessional health care teams, through recognition and promotion of specialized training, knowledge and skills for pharmacists in the United States and internationally. Board certification is a recognized credential for determining which pharmacists are qualified to contribute at advanced practice.”
Erstad, who is the former head of the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, was selected for one of two board positions from a pool of more than 50 applicants. He has served on three BPS councils and was elected as the first chair of the newly created certification for critical care pharmacists, his area of research and expertise.
“The UArizona Health Sciences, and particularly Michael D. Dake, MD, our senior vice president, have been very supportive of my efforts over the years as exhibited by their appointments of me to various leadership positions,” said Erstad. “As head of the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, I am fortunate to have the best faculty and staff members I could hope for. I cannot thank them enough for the support they have given me over my decade of service in this role.”
Erstad’s research focuses on critical care medicine with an emphasis on patient safety and related outcomes. He has authored more than 300 peer-reviewed articles, monographs and book chapters.
Erstad graduated from the UArizona College of Pharmacy with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 1987. He joined the UArizona faculty in 1988 and led the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science from 2012-2024. From 2011 to 2015, he served on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee.