The Center for Leading Healthcare Change (CLHC) has two part-time pharmacist ambassadors who visit with practitioners in their practices. The result has been an even closer relationship between the college and the profession.

Jason Varin is one of the college’s new outreach ambassadors. “This is one of the most rewarding roles that I’ve played in my career,” he said.

According to Varin, being an outreach ambassador is an opportunity to act as an interface between the college and the practitioner. “It’s a dynamic process to meet with leaders in the profession and harvest their insight and life experience to help develop future leaders,” he said. “Most pharmacists understand that we need to be proactive in dealing with issues that affect our profession. By providing informational resources to our contacts, we enable them to participate in leading change.”

Marsha Millonig says the outreach visits help to keep the lines of communication open between practitioners and the college. “The profession has changed so much in the past 25 years,” she said. “It’s important that the college is one of the foremost in the country in having pharmacists as outreach staff. During our visits, we seek feedback and bring that back to the college to help shape pharmacy practice and policy in the state—and nationwide.”

The CLHC offers a national platform for developing pharmacist leaders in both practice and policy, and the pharmacist ambassadors are part of CLHC’s commitment to listening and ensuring that the voice of the profession is heard, and reflected in the offerings of the college.

Both Millonig and Varin have been active in shaping the future of the pharmacy profession throughout their careers. A key to CLHC’s success has been its pharmacist practitioner involvement, and listening to and being responsive to the needs of practitioners: from talent needs and career advancement, to practice profitability and professional fulfillment.

We encourage all practitioners to visit with one of the college’s outreach ambassadors, when contacted.

Pharmacist Ambassadors

Marsha Millonig
millo004@umn.edu
651-905-9002

• College of Pharmacy alum
• Operates a national health care consulting practice, Catalyst Enterprises, LLC
• Part-time relief pharmacist in the Twin Cities area
• Board chair for the college’s National Board of Advisors
• Has held leadership and executive positions nationally in pharmacy trade associations.

Jason Varin
vari0001@umn.edu
952-688-6626

• College of Pharmacy alum
• Past president of the college’s alumni board
• Community pharmacist since 1992
• Involved in developing and promoting professional services at the community level