Meena Murugappan, PharmD, MPH

Dr. Meena Murugappan is a pharmacist, public health professional, and an aspiring Health Policy & Systems Researcher. She has a passion for designing, implementing, and evaluating innovative global health interventions that can effect policy change and in turn improve population health outcomes. She hopes to establish a career in public health pharmacy and work in interdisciplinary teams to optimize medication use and access across populations worldwide.

After graduating with her Pharm.D. in 2016, she worked as a clinical pharmacist at the University of Utah Hospital, gaining experience in critical care, HIV, and transitions of care. She also worked as a community pharmacist at Rite Aid Pharmacy in Salt Lake City, serving a community of low-income migrant workers. She began her MPH with a minor in Epidemiology and certificate in Global Health at the University of Minnesota in 2017. During her MPH, Meena had the opportunity to work as a Research Associate in Mental Health & Substance Use Disorders at the U of M College of Pharmacy. She worked on multiple research projects involving both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Upon completion of her MPH in the summer of 2018, she transitioned into the PhD program in Social & Administrative Pharmacy.

In her spare time, Meena enjoys passion projects such as developing social entrepreneurship models and small business ideas to fund womens' health activities in Sierra Leone and Kenya. Having been born in India and raised in Zambia, Meena enjoys traveling and learning about other cultures. 

Languages

• English
• Hindi
• Spanish
• Tamil

June 2018: Provost Recruiting Scholarship

-For a top applicant to the PhD program in Social and Administrative Pharmacy.

Dec 2015: Century Mortar Club, Minneapolis, MN - Annual Student Award
-For a professional student who has exhibited a commitment to the promotion of the profession of pharmacy and the safe and effective use of medications.

Mar 2015: APhA Foundation Student Scholarship - Marvin and Joanell Dyrstad Scholarship
-For leadership, vision and dedication as a student pharmacist.

Sep 2014: University of Minnesota, College of Pharmacy - Peters Achievement Scholarship
-In recognition of extracurricular involvement and contribution.

Mar 2014: MN Academy of Family Physicians - “Next Generation Scholar” title
-For the HIV/HCV testing initiative establishment at HOPE Clinic.

Sep 2013: University of Minnesota, College of Pharmacy - Deborah A. Kaskey Memorial Scholarship
-For the Pharm.D. I student who has contributed most to class esprit de corps in the course of everyday college studies.

Aug 2010: Fairleigh Dickinson University - Colonel Fairleigh S. Dickinson Scholarship
-For academic excellence.

Aug 2008: International School of Lusaka - IGCSE (High School) Full Tuition Scholarship
-For academic excellence.

Professional Associations

Peter's Institute for Pharmacy Practice Innovations 

Expertise

Global Health
Mental Health
Substance Use Disorders
Health Policy & Systems Research

Research Summary/Interests

I am interested in Health Policy & Systems Research (HPSR) with a focus on medication use and pharmacy practice in resource-limited settings. 

Research Methods/Techniques

Qualitative research projects: Jun 2018 - Stigma and socio-cultural experiences of women living with PCOS in Mumbai, India Jan 2018 - National veterans’ study on perceptions of and attitudes towards the VA Opioid Safety Initiative Nov 2017 - Role of the pharmacist during care transitions of patients with substance use disorders Oct 2017 - Exploring the medication experience of Assertive Community Treatment clients through Photovoice Quantitative research projects: Apr 2018 - Antimicrobial stewardship program for optimization of cesarean section surgical antibiotic prophylaxis in Kampala, Uganda Sep 2017 - Investigating the impact of integration of a psychiatric pharmacist at a rural community mental health center Dec 2017 - Patient-provider relationships and barriers to medication and treatment adherence among HIV positive, stimulant using, MSM patients Dec 2016 - Development of a systematic and standardized method for documenting symptomatic adverse events to systemic anticancer treatment Dec 2015 - Investigating antimicrobial prescribing practices at University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia Nov 2015 - Impact of Crisis Prevention Training on Student Confidence in Patient Encounters Sep 2014 - Investigation of Health care Utilization of Low-Income Adults in Duluth, MN

Carlson, Sarah, Ben Dresow, Meena Murugappan, Emma Sieling, Jason Srnec, Allison Levy, Ruth Westra, DO, MPH, Raymond Christensen, MD, & Tim Stratton, PhD, BCPS. " Impact of Crisis Prevention Training on Student Confidence in Patient Encounters." Journal of Student-Run Clinics [Online], 2.2 (2016): n. pag. Web. 26 Nov. 2018

In The News

https://globalhealthcenter.umn.edu/events/global-health-case-competition/2018-results

https://globalhealthcenter.umn.edu/research/research-training-collaborative/rtc-cohorts

Magazine Publications:
https://www.pharmacist.com/article/eat-sleep-pharmacy-dance-repeat
https://www.pharmacist.com/article/hope-student-run-free-clinic

Award announcements/ Recognitions:
http://www.aphafoundation.org/2015-marvin-and-joanell-dyrstad-scholarship-recipient
https://www.mpha.org/mpage/SmallDoses2015_12_04
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/pharmacy/internship/_docs/SummerInternshipProgramClassof2014.pdf