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Indian-Americans lead the way as they helm top pharmaceutical bodies
Alex C Varkey is the first Indian-American to serve as president in American Pharmacists Association’s 172-year history.
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Alex C Varkey, Anandi Law and Nishaminy (Nish) Kasbekar. / University of Ohio, LinkedIn/Anandi Law, Pennsylvania Society of Health-System Pharmacists
For the first time, Indian-Americans are simultaneously holding presidential positions at three major US pharmacy organizations.
Anandi Law, BPharm, MS, PhD, FAPhA, is the president-elect of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP). Nishaminy (Nish) Kasbekar, PharmD, BSPharm, FASHP, is serving as the president of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). And finally, Alex C Varkey, PharmD, MS, FAPhA, is the president of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA).
Varkey has dedicated his career to enhancing the role of pharmacists in patient care. His commitment to professional service started during his student years when he was the national president of the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA–ASP), APhA said in a statement on May.28.
For the past two decades, Varkey has consistently contributed to various pharmacy organizations and currently serves as the 169th President of APhA. Notably, he is the first Indian-American to hold the presidency in APhA's 172-year history.
“It’s an honor to serve as APhA president and I am acutely aware that I not only represent my colleagues in the profession, but I also represent my family and heritage,” said Varkey. “My parents came to this country to provide opportunities for their children they wouldn't otherwise have; because of that, their expectations were very high. They’re no longer here physically, but I know how proud they would be of my commitment to APhA and to our entire profession.”
Meanwhile, Law is a professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Administration and the associate dean for assessment in the College of Pharmacy at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California.
Law, who has been with WesternU since July 1999, holds a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the University of Mumbai, India, and both a Master of Science in Pharmaceutics and a PhD in Pharmaceutical Administration from the Ohio State University. She previously served a three-year term on AACP’s Board of Directors as the chair of the Council of Faculties. Her term as president will commence in July 2024.
Finally, Kasbekar is the vice president and chief pharmacy officer at the University of Pennsylvania Health System in Philadelphia. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and PharmD degrees from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science and completed residencies in pharmacy practice and infectious diseases at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
As the first Indian American to serve as ASHP president, Kasbekar was elected in 2022 after decades of dedicated service to national and state pharmacy organizations. She is a fellow of ASHP and a past president of both the Pennsylvania Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the Delaware Valley Society of Health-System Pharmacists.
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