Sandra Leal, PharmD, MPH, FAPhA is the Vice President of Pharmacy Practice Innovation and Advocacy for CVS Health and served as the 166th President of the American Pharmacists Association. Dr. Leal has had diverse experience as a pharmacist, medical director, public health clinician, and as a board member for various groups including the National Center for Farmworker Health.

Dr. Leal received her PharmD from the University of Colorado and her MPH in Public Health Practice from the University of Massachusetts. Dr. Leal completed her residency at the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System and a Primary Health Care Policy Fellowship with the Department of Health and Human Services. 

She has published and presented her work in numerous national and international publications and venues. She has been recognized as the Good Government Pharmacist of the Year by the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) for her advocacy work on pharmacist provider status. Dr. Leal is a two-time recipient of the Pinnacle Award from the APhA Foundation for her progressive practice innovations and received the ASHP Best Practice Award for her leading practice in diabetes management.

Two themes that govern Dr. Leal’s professional life are a passion to eliminate barriers to care and to improve access and outcomes for patients. Dr. Leal has led efforts on both local and national levels to integrate pharmacy, public health, and advocacy to improve the healthcare system and to reduce health inequity. 

Dr. McElhiney is the Senior Compounding Pharmacist for Indiana University Health Integrated Service Center (ISC) in Plainfield, Indiana. The ISC provides centralized compounding services to the largest health-system in the state of Indiana. She has worked 30 years in compounding.

She is a featured author for the International Journal of Pharmaceutical Compounding, author of Compounding Guide for Ophthalmic Preparations, and contributing author in other pharmacy and medical textbooks. She has served on several national committees in Kappa Epsilon, the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacist, American College of Apothecaries, and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. She also served 2 terms on the USP Experts on Compounding Committee. She has served on the board of directors for several professional pharmacy organizations, including KE Grand Council Secretary (1989-1991) and received several awards, including the KE Merck Vanguard Leadership Award, the KE Linda T. Rogers Memorial Award, and the KE Career Achievement Award. Dr. McElhiney served as the President of the ACA during the COVID-19 pandemic and just completed her term as the Chairman of the Board. She currently serves on the FDA-Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee.

Dr. McElhiney earned a B.S. in Pharmacy from Purdue University in 1984. She also earned a Pharm.D in 2002. and a Masters in Pharmaceutical Policies and Outcomes from the University of Florida in 2014.

Dr. Speedie completed her BS in Pharmacy at Purdue University in 1970 and Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy in 1973. While at Purdue, she joined the Pi Chapter of Kappa Epsilon. Joining the University of Maryland in 1975, she rose through the ranks, teaching and conducting research in biotechnology areas of science until 1996. Dr. Speedie was dean of the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy from 1996 – 2017. Her leadership interests include developing the college’s education, research and clinical practice missions, drug development, pharmacogenomics and advancing pharmacy practice to serve patients and increase patient safety. During her tenure as dean she expanded the pharmacy program to the campus of the University of Minnesota, Duluth, resulting in an increased admission rate of 50 students per year, established the College of Pharmacy’s Center for Leading Healthcare Change which she also co-directs, and has built a national presence for the College of Pharmacy through service in AACP, USP and other organizations. Dr. Speedie is fully retired and remains active in the advocacy for the profession. She enjoys time with her husband, two children and four grandchildren.