Speaker Bios
Stephanie Kiser, RPh, is the Executive Director of the Rural Pharmacy Health Initiative and Professor of Practice with UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. This initiative focuses on advancement of pharmacy practice while building the pharmacy workforce needed to provide high-quality health care for rural communities that are medically underserved. Previously, Stephanie served as Director for Interprofessional Education & Practice with UNC Health Sciences at Mountain Area Health Education Center and Director for Rural Health with UNC Eshelman. She continues to lead the Rural Pharmacy Health Certificate program for UNC; an approved graduate certificate uniquely offered through the school of pharmacy.
Over the course of her 32-year pharmacy career, Stephanie has held a variety of pharmacy leadership roles that position her well as a convener and connector to rural pharmacists, providers, and community members. She has extensive knowledge and background in disease state management, medication assistance programs, health and wellness programming, public health, social determinants of health and has presented on these topics locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
Amanda Savage is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Practice Advancement and Clinical Education at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and Director of Professional Education for the Asheville Campus. Prior to her faculty position, she spent 12 years in community pharmacy and ambulatory care practice settings across Western North Carolina. Clinical interests include community pharmacy practice, women’s health, rural health, and vaccines. She currently practices part-time in an independent community pharmacy Black Mountain, NC. In addition, she was active Buncombe County’s immunization efforts both as an immunizing pharmacist as well as engaging and supervising learners in large-scale vaccination clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic. She has a broad background in community pharmacy practice with specific training and expertise in pharmacist-based immunization delivery, medication therapy management, pharmaceutical compounding, and pharmacist-initiated hormonal contraception.
Savage is the faculty director for the Rural Pharmacy Health Program, a unique graduate certificate focused on improving the health of those living in rural and underserved communities, creating a foundation for pharmacists who desire to develop innovative, interprofessional practice models. Additional teaching includes communication skills, immunization techniques, and women’s health topics such as contraception and menopause.
Scholarly pursuits include several grant funded projects focusing on the delivery of services such as immunizations and contraception in community-based pharmacy practice settings. Her experiences teaching pharmacy students and practicing as a community pharmacist provides a wealth of understanding around the importance of the community pharmacist as an access point for medications and vaccines, particularly in rural communities. Amanda has presented at the state, national, and international level about community pharmacy practice topics. She has been involved in the legislative efforts in North Carolina for pharmacist-prescribed hormonal contraception including contributing to the standing orders and developing training materials for pharmacists.
Angela Kashuba, B.Sc.Phm., Pharm.D., DABCP, FCP, is the John A and Margaret P McNeill, Sr. Distinguished Professor and Dean of the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. She has been on faculty at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill since 1997 and served as the Chair of the Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics from 2015 to 2019. Dr. Kashuba serves as Director of the UNC Center for AIDS Research Clinical Pharmacology and Analytical Chemistry Core and leads a research laboratory focused on optimizing antiretroviral pharmacology in the treatment, prevention, and eradication of HIV infection. Her laboratory has authored over 300 manuscripts and received over $25 million in research funding. She is the recipient of the 2024 Faculty Service Award from the Carolina Alumni, the 2020 ASCPT Rawls–Palmer Progress in Medicine Award from the American Society of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, the 2017 ACCP (Pharmacology) Honorary Fellowship Award, and the 2017 ACCP (Pharmacy) Therapeutic Frontiers Lecture Award. Dr. Kashuba received her Bachelor’s in Pharmacy Degree from the University of Toronto and her Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from SUNY Buffalo. She completed a residency at Women’s College Hospital and a clinical pharmacology research fellowship at the Clinical Pharmacology Research Center at Bassett Healthcare in Cooperstown, NY.
Dr. Kylie Futrell is an Oklahoma native currently residing in Bakersville, NC. Dr. Futrell is a
member of the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Class of 2023 and a graduate of the Rural Pharmacy Health Scholar Program. She is currently completing a two-year academic pharmacy fellowship at the ETSU Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy in Johnson City, TN. Her program focuses on preparing postgraduates for a career in academic pharmacy and has an emphasis on public health in rural and medically underserved communities. As part of her fellowship, she completed a Master’s of Public Health concentrated on Community Health and Global Health, and spent the majority of her program working on evaluating and expanding medical services in remote, medically underserved areas of Belize. Her training and interests throughout her career have primarily been targeted towards serving rural and medically underserved patients, and it
served her well when disaster struck close to home during Hurricane Helene. Her experiences working with rural communities and in low-resource settings helped her navigate the challenges brought forth during this time of disaster. Following completion of her fellowship, she hopes to secure a position as a faculty member at a college of pharmacy with the goal of expanding and improving rural and public health experiences for students.
Dr. Frayne is a family physician living, working, and serving in Western North Carolina since 2002. Initially practicing as a rural family doctor in Avery County, he spent most of his career training the next generation of healthcare providers with MAHEC and UNC, focusing on access to comprehensive and quality care, eliminating health inequities, and improving preconception/interconception care to improve maternal and child health.
Beginning in March of 2023, he joined ABCCM (Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry) as the Director of Medical Ministry and Medical Director of the free clinic. Prior to this transition (and transformation) he served in many leadership positions at MAHEC including Medical Director, Assistant Residency Director, Medical Director of the Department of Continuing Professional Development and the Simulation Center, and finally as President. He is a Professor of Family Medicine with UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine and is a clinical preceptor for medical students at the UNC School of Medicine Asheville Campus.
Dr. Frayne’s vision is to improve the health of the community by impacting the system from the ground up, both personally and professionally. He believes that the health of our community will be transformed if we focus on healthcare through an intergenerational lens – improving the health of women before pregnancies to achieve a healthier mother and child, and ultimately a healthier family and community. We can only do this well if we transform the way we deliver healthcare. Transformation can happen by focusing on quality outcomes and population health, expanding beyond the clinic structure and into the community while concurrently dedicating ourselves to ending racism and creating equity for all. To do this, the community of believers of “The Way” must rededicate ourselves to gospel centered approaches and effective Church engagement to love our neighbor for the greater glory of God.
Katie Neligan is a Registered Nurse with certifications in Clinical Nurse Leadership (CNL) and Progressive Care Nursing (PCCN). She has a passion for teaching nurses and other healthcare professionals of all experience levels. With a background in medical-surgical nursing, surgical-trauma intensive care at a level 1 trauma center, and cardiovascular surgery, she brings a vast array of clinical knowledge and expertise to her classes. She joined the MAHEC Simulation Team in January of 2021 where she serves the Clinical Simulation Curriculum Manager and Coordinator for the NC AHEC RN Refresher Program for Western North Carolina. She is also an adjunct instructor for UNC-Chapel Hill School of Nursing and WCU School of Nursing.
Lyndsey is a Bilingual School-Based Behavioral Health Therapist who serves English and Spanish-speaking clients at Buncombe County Schools. She received her Master of Social Work graduate degree from Western Carolina University and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate (LCSWA). Lyndsey’s therapeutic practice is advocacy and social justice-oriented. She is committed to walking alongside you as you work towards becoming your most authentic self. She believes that pursuing therapy is a courageous choice in working towards increased well-being. Lyndsey is dedicated to creating a space where clients feel seen, heard, and valued. She seeks to provide integrated, trauma-informed services to diverse populations through a person-centered, culturally-responsive lens.
Greene Shepherd, Pharm.D., is a clinical professor at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. He holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Appalachian State University, Doctor of Pharmacy from Campbell University and completed a fellowship in clinical toxicology at the University of Maryland.
Shepherd is a diplomate of the American Board of Applied Toxicology and a fellow of the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology. He has authored numerous journal articles and textbook chapters relating to clinical toxicology, emergency medicine, and disaster preparedness.
Dr. Hitch is the Vice Chair of Pharmacotherapy at the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) in Asheville, NC and an Associate Professor of Clinical Education at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Eshelman School of Pharmacy and an Associate Professor in the School of Medicine at UNC. He received his PharmD degree from the University Of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy and completed a specialty residency in Ambulatory Care through Mission Hospitals and MAHEC. His practice is in inpatient family medicine where he rounds with an interdisciplinary team on the Family Practice Service at Mission Hospitals and serves as a preceptor for pharmacy students as well as PGY1 and PGY2 residents. He is a Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner at MAHEC Family Health Center, which has been recognized as a Level III Patient Centered Medical Home. Areas of interest include interdisciplinary education, transitions of care, infectious disease, and global health.
Jonna Munroe received her PharmD from the University of Pittsburgh in 2012 and went on to complete a PGY1 residency in ambulatory care pharmacy at Mission Hospital and MAHEC in Asheville. She worked as the director of pharmacy for the ABCCM Medical Clinic before settling back into ambulatory care with Mission Outpatient Clinical Pharmacy Services. In January of 2020, Jonna and her husband Taylor Jones purchased HealthRidge Pharmacy in Black Mountain, NC. She now works as the Director of Clinical Pharmacy Services for HealthRidge Pharmacy and is a UNC preceptor for immersion and advanced immersion pharmacy students. She volunteers as Pharmacy Director for the Neighbor Care Clinic at Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry in Black Mountain, NC.
Taylor Jones received his PharmD from the UNC in 2013 and has worked in various Community and retail pharmacy settings. In January of 2020, Taylor and his wife Jonna Munroe purchased HealthRidge Pharmacy in Black Mountain, NC. Taylor performs the duties of Pharmacy Manager as well as Director of Compounding at HealthRidge Pharmacy, and is a licensed insurance producer and owner of Expert Insurance Agency. When he is not working on his two or three full-time jobs, he can usually be found wrangling his and Jonna’s two-year-old son, and sometimes playing a guitar or mountain biking.
Olivia Caron, PharmD, BCACP, CPP is a clinical pharmacist practitioner at Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC), Residency Program Director for MAHEC PGY2 in Ambulatory Care, the Director of Research at Project CARA, and an Assistant Professor at UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. She received her Bachelors of Science in Chemical Engineering and Bachelors of Art in Spanish from Virginia Tech in 2015. She graduated in 2019 from Virginia Commonwealth University with her Doctorate of Pharmacy and a Certificate in Aging. She completed two years of residency at MAHEC with a focus in Ambulatory Care and Academia. Olivia is fluent in French and Spanish and splits her professional time between family medicine, perinatal substance use, precepting, teaching, and research. Her areas of interest include substance use disorders, chronic pain, and rural health.