Kim McKeirnan, a Washington State University alumna and longtime pharmacy educator, will begin a four-year appointment as chair of the Department of Pharmacotherapy at the WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences on November 1.
With more than 13 years at the college and a background in community pharmacy, McKeirnan has dedicated her career to improving patient care and expanding access to health services. Her work bridges pharmacy education, clinical practice and research, with an impact that reaches far beyond WSU.
“Kim is passionate about making patient care more accessible and truly embodies the ethos of the Coug pharmacist who cares about the community she serves,” said Dean Julie Akers. “She is always looking for ways to improve health care access backed by research. It has been a joy working with Kim as interim chair, and I look forward to continuing this successful collaboration to move the college forward.”
One of McKeirnan’s most notable contributions came in 2016, when she developed immunization training for pharmacy technicians. The American Pharmacists Association later adopted the training, helping establish a national standard for pharmacy technicians administering vaccines. This work has helped expand the role of pharmacy teams in delivering immunizations and made it easier for communities to access these important preventive health services.
McKeirnan joined the college in 2013 after five years in community pharmacy and earned her pharmacy degree from WSU in 2008. As an educator, she has taught courses in point-of-care clinical services, medication therapy management, and clinical assessment and documentation. Her research focuses on expanding community pharmacy practice to improve patient access to high-quality care.
As department chair, McKeirnan will help shape pharmacy education, support faculty development and advance initiatives that promote student success. Her appointment comes as the college continues to strengthen its academic programs and prepare future pharmacists to meet the evolving health needs of their communities.
Through her leadership, teaching and research, McKeirnan exemplifies how pharmacy education can translate into meaningful improvements in health care—both in Washington and across the country.