Director of Pharmacy Services
Houston Methodist Hospital
Sugar Land, Texas, United States
Dr. Alex C. Varkey 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[1]ASP). As APhA-ASP President, Varkey initiated several new national patient care programs as part of his campaign to promote professional and public service for pharmacy. Alex’s service and dedication to APhA has persisted for almost two decades, including his current service as Trustee on the APhA Board of Trustees.
Dr. Varkey is passionate about promoting practitioner well-being as an essential component to a well-functioning health care system. As Chair of APhA’s Well-Being Steering Committee, Alex is developing awareness of well-being concerns in pharmacy and resources to help individuals and organizations address these concerns. Recognized as a pharmacy thought-leader on practitioner well-being, Varkey has been invited to speak at numerous conferences and has authored several publications in this area.
Dr. Varkey is Director of Pharmacy Services at Houston Methodist Hospital, where he has implemented innovative technologies to enhance efficiency and safety in medication-use processes, and developed thriving learner programs including an award-winning 2-year Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership residency. Most recently, he has coordinated efforts to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to over 150,000 Houstonians.
Dr. 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 2-year Administration Residency at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.