about me

Education

Meridee attended and graduated Cum Laude from Washington State University with a 5-year Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy in 1988. At the time of her commencement, she was also chosen from amongst her peers to be awarded both the coveted WSU Pharmacy Faculty Award and the Roche Pharmacy Communications Award, conferred upon the student exhibiting exceptional clinical and communication skills.

Professional Experience/Recognitions

Immediately following graduation, Meridee began employment, and the equivalent of a first-year residency, at Pullman Regional Hospital (Pullman, WA), at which she ultimately served for 15 years as a clinical pharmacist, WSU preceptor and assistant director of pharmacy.

Upon moving to Tucson, AZ, Meridee served as Pharmacy Supervisor at St. Mary’s Hospital, overseeing day-to-day operations with a staff of 40 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians as well as precepting University of Arizona and Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ pharmacy students, leading several teams and committees related to JCAHO patient safety and medication management standards compliance. Meridee was chosen in 2004 to receive special recognition and training as an Arizona Healthcare Leadership Academy selectee.

When Oro Valley Hospital in Oro Valley, AZ was in its final stages of construction and about to open its doors to its community, Meridee made the move to OVH as a clinical pharmacist in 2004. With her years of managerial and clinical informatics experience, she was able to assist in the establishment of policies, procedures, protocols, and operational structure in addition to leading in multiple information systems’ conversions throughout her 17-year tenure at OVH. She was named an OVH Employee of the Year in 2007.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, hospital staff worldwide instinctively mobilized and engaged without fear or question of personal safety. This was no exception in Meridee’s case, however, there was a cancer battle in her mother that she was simultaneously fighting at home. After working through nearly 2 years of the pandemic while also guiding and monitoring her mother’s cancer treatment and progress, Meridee ultimately had to relinquish her 35-year hospital clinical pharmacy career in January 2022 for the care of her mother.

Shortly thereafter, intuitively knowing that time and experience were on her side, Meridee’s mother commissioned her to continue caring for and sharing her ease with which she navigates and communicates within the healthcare system with others that have complex conditions, like hers, when she emphatically stated, “You have so much expertise left to give.”

Therefore, I willingly pledge to serve wholeheartedly, love unconditionally and intervene with wisdom on your behalf to establish the BEST possible Quality Health and Quality Life for you and those you love.