Keynote Speaker
Alex C. Varkey, PharmD, MS, FAPhA, has dedicated his career to advancing the pharmacist's role in patient care. His passion for professional service began as a student pharmacist, when he served as national president of the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA–ASP). Varkey's service and dedication to APhA and other pharmacy organizations have continued for two decades, including his current service as APhA President. Varkey is passionate about promoting practitioner well-being as an essential component of a well-functioning health care system, and is a recognized pharmacy thought leader in this space. As the former chair of APhA's Well-Being Steering Committee, Varkey has promoted awareness of well-being concerns in pharmacy and resources to help individuals and organizations address these concerns. Varkey is currently director of pharmacy at Houston Methodist Hospital. In this 950-bed academic medical center, he and his team have implemented innovative technologies to enhance efficiency and safety in medication-use processes and developed thriving learner programs including their award-winning two-year health-system pharmacy administration and leadership residency. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Varkey and his team coordinated efforts to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to over 150,000 Houstonians. Varkey received his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Houston and Master of Science in Health-System Pharmacy Administration from The Ohio State University. He completed a two-year health-system pharmacy administration residency at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, OH.
Where to park
Please see this map
- Go to campus maps then to the East bank PDF map.
- Church Street Garage may be full due to an event prior to commencement.
- Wheelchair Accessible Drop-off Area
- There is a temporary passenger loading area for drop-off and pick-up with direct, no-elevation entrance into Northrop. It is located on the east side of Northrop.
- Take a right turn from Church Street at Lily Plaza immediately before the Church Street Garage entrance.
- There is a temporary passenger loading area for drop-off and pick-up with direct, no-elevation entrance into Northrop. It is located on the east side of Northrop.