PGx ECHO

Logo PGx ECHO

The University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy is proud to host the nation's first Project ECHO program focused on pharmacogenomics-informed clinical treatment.

As a profession, pharmacy is at the beginning stages of readying its current workforce for healthcare guided by pharmacogenomics (PGx). PGx is not yet used clinically in most healthcare organizations, and active integration of PGx into pharmacists' practices is especially a need in rural areas and those primarily caring for underserved groups. To fully realize the potential for PGx, the clinical workforce must have equitable access to training in its use.

About PGx ECHO

PGx ECHO is a collaborative effort of the Hub Site at the University of Minnesota and seven Spoke Sites: Children's Minnesota, Ferris State UniversityM Health Fairview, Manchester UniversityNorth Dakota State UniversitySanford Health, and South Dakota State University. PGx ECHO aims to address the lack of PGx education and support for implementation across rural and underserved areas in the Midwest; a further goal is to assist other regions of the U.S. in creating their own PGx ECHOs. 

PGx ECHO focuses on improving the confidence of healthcare professionals in the use of PGx in patient care by providing them with education and consultation through telementoring as they incorporate evidence-based PGx information into their clinical practice. PGx ECHO meets monthly and is composed of PGx specialists and healthcare professionals who desire patient consultation, advanced case-based learning and short didactic education in PGx. Current programming is free and open to licensed healthcare professionals involved in direct patient care with a priority for those in rural and underserved areas. To maintain the objective and commercial-free programming of the PGx ECHO, attendees' affiliation must be academic and / or clinical in nature. 

The Four Principles of the ECHO Model

  • Use technology to leverage scarce resources
  • Share "best practices" to reduce disparities
  • Apply case-based learning to master complexity
  • Evaluate and monitor outcomes

Program Objectives of PGx ECHO

  • Disseminate PGx knowledge by providing consultation on participants PGx patient cases and recommendations for improving medication outcomes
  • Support participants in building practice-relevant skills and applying PGx knowledge
  • Build a PGx community of practice and collaboratively model practice for PGx guided care delivery
  • Promote health equity by expanding patient access to PGx-guided medication management

PGx ECHO Commitment to Collaboration

In the spirit of collaboration, PGx ECHO is committed to working with community partners. PGx ECHO will:

  1. Offer regular didactic presentations on PGx-related topics.
  2. Offer special curricula and training opportunities on PGx-related topics.
  3. Review patient cases presented by clinicians at partnering clinics and provide timely, written recommendations.
  4. Provide routine, remote IT user support to facilitate connectivity and participation.
  5. Be available, when possible, outside of teleconference times for emergent questions or issues, as necessary.

PGx ECHO meets the third Friday of every month at 12:00PM central time. 

Interested in joining? pgxecho@umn.edu

Connect with us on Twitter: @pgxecho

Session Format

Session Format

PGx ECHO holds monthly, hour-long Zoom sessions PGx ECHO holds monthly, hour-long Zoom sessions comprising an educational mini-lecture or paper, case presentations and discussions. "All teach, all learn" is a foundational element supporting each participant to share and contribute to the sessions and learn through advanced case-based practice. The design of the session facilitates a community of learning and continued engagement.

2023 Schedule

2023 Schedule

Date of SessionCoordinating Spoke TeamDidactic Topic and SpeakerCase Presenter(s)
January 20, 2023Manchester UniversityPolypharmacy and Deprescribing: Is There a Role for PGx? | Teresa DeLellis, PharmD, BCPS, BCGPTeresa DeLellis, PharmD, BCPS, BCGP
February 17, 2023University of FloridaTPMT / NUDT15 and Mercaptopurine | Kelsey Cook, PharmD, BCPSNathan Seligson, PharmD
March 17, 2023Sanford HealthBeyond 2D6: Integrating Complex Histories and External Results into Psychiatric Pharmacogenomic Care | Sarah Mills, PharmDSarah Mills, PharmD + Jordan Baye, PharmD, MA
April 21, 2023Nemours Children's HealthTBA | Benjamin Duong, PharmDTBA
May 19, 2023NorthShore University HospitalTBA | Dyson Wake, PharmDTBA
June 16, 2023Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical CenterTBA | Laura Ramsey, PhDTBA
July 21, 2023Yale New Haven HealthTBA | Rebecca Pulk, PharmD, MS, BCPSTBA
August 18, 2023University of MontanaTBA | Erica Woodahl, PhDKaren Brown, PharmD + Erica Woodahl, PhD
September 15, 2023MedStar HealthTBA | Max Smith, BCPS, PharmDTBA
October 20, 2023Atrium HealthPGx and Serotonin Syndrome in a Pediatric Patient | Grace Nguyen, PharmD, BCPSTBA
November 17. 2023University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical SciencesTBA | Yee Ming Lee, PharmD, BCPS, ABCPTBA
December 15, 2023Mayo ClinicTBA | Razan El Melik, PharmD, RPhTBA

2022 Schedule

2022 Schedule

Date of Session Coordinating Spoke TeamDidactic Topic and SpeakerCase Presenter(s)
January 21, 2022Children's MinnesotaPharmacogenomic Testing and Atomoxetine | David Gregornik, BA, BS, PharmDCourtney Paetznick, PharmD; David Gregornik, BA, BS, PharmD
February 18, 2022Mayo ClinicPharmacogenetic Considerations in a Patient with Treatment-Resistant Depression | Dimple Dhakal, PharmD, MSDimple Dhakal, PharmD, MS; Eric T. Matey, PharmD, MBA
March 18, 2022Ferris State UniversityDPYD and Capecitabine: Direction Pharmacogenomic Decisions | Samuel Snowaert, BS, PharmD, MBAMaja Hill, PharmD; Claire Saadeh, BS, PharmD; David Bright, PharmD, MBA
April 15, 2022University of MinnesotaLegislative Update | Pamala Jacobson, PharmD, FCCP Sue Paul, BS
May 20, 2022University of MinnesotaIntroduction to Phenoconversion and Assessment Tools | Jeffrey Bishop, PharmD, MS, BCPP, FCCPMark Schneiderhan, PharmD, BCPP
June 17, 2022Sanford Health / SDSUCYP2C19-Clopidogrel Interactions in the Neurovascular Setting | Jordan Baye, PharmD, MASamantha Frear, PharmD; Jordan Baye, PharmD, MA
July 15, 2022University of MinnesotaCPIC Guideline Development | Jeffrey Bishop, PharmD, MS, BCPP, FCCP Mark Schneiderhan, PharmD, BCPP
August 19, 2022Cleveland ClinicPharmacogenomics and Statin-Associated Muscle Symptoms (SAMS) | Jennifer Hockings, PharmD, PhD; Alexsandra Nilges, PharmD, MBAAlexsandra Nilges, PharmD, MBA
September 16, 2022MHealth FairviewPharmacogenomics and Voriconazole in a Pediatric Patient | Susie Long, PharmD; Nicole Louden, PharmD, BCPPS Nicole Louden, PharmD, BCPPS; Susie Long, PharmD
October 21, 2022SUNY Upstate Medical UniversityPharmacogenomics in a Patient with Epilepsy | Danielle DelVecchio, PharmD, BCPSKaren Albright, PhD, DO, MPH
November 18, 2022Children's MinnesotaPharmacogenomics in a Pediatric Patient with ADHD | David Gregornik, BA, BS, PharmDCourtney Paetznick, PharmD; David Gregornik, BA, BS, PharmD
December 16, 2022Mayo ClinicCYP3A Genetics + Itraconazole | Jessica Wright, PharmD, RPh, BCACPSerena Mitaly, PharmD +Jessica Wright, PharmD, RPh, BCACP

2021 Schedule

2021 Schedule

Date of SessionCoordinating Spoke TeamDidactic Topic and SpeakerCase Presenter(s)
October 15, 2021Manchester UniversityUtility of Pharmacogenomics | David Kisor, BS, PharmDJoseph Brown, BS; Thomas Smith, PharmD
November 19, 2021Sanford Health / NDSUPharmacogenomics Clinical Resources | Natasha Petry, PharmDSamantha Frear, PharmD; Natasha Petry, PharmD, MPH
December 17, 2021Sanford Health / SDSUSSRIs and Pharmacogenomics | Jordan Baye, PharmD, MANatalie Sovell, PharmD; Jordan Baye, PharmD, MA

People | Hub Site

People | Hub Site

Hub Team Member Organization Role
Jeffrey Bishop University of Minnesota ECHO Facilitator/Mentor/Subject Matter Expert
Jacob Brown University of Minnesota ECHO Facilitator/Mentor/Subject Matter Expert
Pamala Jacobson University of Minnesota ECHO Facilitator/Mentor/Subject Matter Expert
Alyssa Johnson University of Minnesota ECHO Program Coordinator/IT Support
David Stenehjem University of Minnesota ECHO Facilitator/Mentor/Subject Matter Expert
Lindsay Sorge University of Minnesota ECHO Project Manager

People | Spoke Sites

People | Spoke Sites

Spoke Lead Organization Role
Jordan Baye Sanford Health/South Dakota State University Mentor/Subject Matter Expert
David Bright Ferris State University and affiliates Mentor/Subject Matter Expert
David Gregornik Children’s Minnesota Mentor/Subject Matter Expert
David Kisor Manchester University and affiliates Mentor/Subject Matter Expert
Natasha Petry Sanford Health/North Dakota State University  Mentor/Subject Matter Expert
Susie Long M Health Fairview, Minneapolis Mentor/Subject Matter Expert
Logo M Health Fairview
Logo Sanford Health
Logo Children's Minnesota
Logo College of Pharmacy
Logo South Dakota State University
Logo North Dakota State University
Logo Manchester University
Logo Ferris State University