Dr. Seifert is currently the Peter’s Institute for Pharmacy Innovations Endowed Chair and Professor at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy and the College’s Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives.
He began his pharmacy career at North Dakota State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy in 1975. After a short time practicing community pharmacy in Manchester New Hampshire, he entered the University of Minnesota Doctor of Pharmacy Program and graduated in 1978. He subsequently stayed at the University to complete a research fellowship in clinical pharmacokinetics at St. Paul Ramsey Medical Center. Dr Seifert joined the North Dakota State University clinical faculty in 1979 and became the Director of Clinical programs in 1983. While at North Dakota State University he initiated a clinical practice at Dakota Hospital where he was the clinical pharmacist on the pharmacokinetic consultation service. In addition, he provided consultation services to the North Dakota State Psychiatric Hospital.
He left the University in 1987 and entered private practice in Santa Barbara, California. While in California he practiced as a long-term care consultant and pharmacy manager, clinical trials director at California Clinical Trials, and VP of Pharmacy, Clinical Research and Disease Management at Santa Barbara Medical Foundation Clinic. He started Seifert and Associates a managed care pharmacy consulting company in 1997. He returned to academics at the University of Minnesota in 2005. In 2007, Dr. Seifert initiated the first medication therapy management program as an employee health care benefit at the City of Duluth. Subsequently in 2008, Dr. Seifert was able to convince U Plan, the University of Minnesota’s health care benefit plan, that a medication therapy management program would be important for improving faculty, staff and dependent health outcomes. This effort resulted in the first medication therapy management clinic in the United States staffed by a pharmacy faculty on the University of Minnesota – Duluth campus. In 2009, U Plan launched the medication therapy management program on all campuses and University extension sites. In addition to the City of Duluth and University of Minnesota, Dr. Seifert has been extensively involved in the development of medication therapy management benefits for the City of Superior, St. Louis County, the State Employee Group Insurance Plan and U Care benefit program.
Dr. Seifert has extensive experience in pharmacy benefit design, managed care, medical group risk management and pharmacy services management. He acquired pharmacy benefit management experience in several settings, including at Health Net a HMO, multi-specialty medical groups, and consulting for employer groups.
As the Peter’s Endowed Chair Dr. Seifert will focus on the pharmacist workforce in mental health care and the workforce impact on health disparities and the interface of mental health care and primary care. He is actively involved in legislative initiatives to add pharmacist specialist to mental health specialty services such as Assertive Community Treatment, Behavioral Health Homes and Certified Community Mental Health Centers.