Trailblazers Podcast

Episode 10: Leadership Lessons Learned on a Bicycle – Helen Eddy

During this episode of the Trailblazers Podcast, IPA CEO Kate Gainer sits down with IPA President Jim Hoehns, Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy and Ambulatory Care Preceptor at Cedar Valley Primary Care, and Helen Eddy, Director of the Polk County Health Department (PCHD), to discuss her career journey, Friday dance parties, RAGBRAI rules, and much more!
Helen Eddy, RPh, MBA, received her B.S. in Pharmacy from the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy and her MBA from Drake University. She has served as the Director of Public Health for Polk County, Iowa, since 2018. Her responsibilities include planning, organizing and directing Polk County’s long-term community health strategy. Additional duties include the enforcement of health laws and regulations, community leadership responsibilities, disease control and prevention, emergency preparedness planning, health planning and education, and clinical and laboratory services.  
Prior to joining the Polk County Health Department, Helen was an executive at Hy-Vee and enjoyed a 30-year career, leading pharmacy and health and wellness initiatives. During her tenure at Hy-Vee, she implemented pharmacy education and training initiatives, including immunization, asthma, and diabetes education. Helen also served as the Executive Director of the Healthiest State Initiative.
Connect with us on LinkedIn:
Helen Eddy
Jim Hoehns
Kate Gainer
Iowa Pharmacy Association
Watch for a new episode of the Trailblazers Podcast each month. Subscribe today so you don’t miss an episode!

Episode 9: Stay Out of the Minutia – Brett Faine

During this episode of the Trailblazers Podcast, IPA CEO Kate Gainer sits down with IPA President Jim Hoehns, Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy and Ambulatory Care Preceptor at Cedar Valley Primary Care, and Brett Faine, Clinical Associate Professor and Director of Research Operations at the University of Iowa Department of Emergency Medicine, to discuss career missteps and lessons learned, work-life balance with young kids at home, and more!
Brett Faine, PharmD, MS, is a Clinical Associate Professor of Pharmacy and Emergency Medicine at the University of Iowa and Director of Research Operations at the University of Iowa Department of Emergency Medicine. Dr. Faine graduated from the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy in 2007 and completed a PGY1 Acute Care Pharmacy Residency at UIHC. Upon completion of his residency, he started the Emergency Medicine Pharmacy program at UIHC, where he continues to practice. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Faine teaches at UI College of Pharmacy and is active in EM clinical research. He co-founded the Emergency Medicine PHARMacotherapy Research NETwork (EMPHARM-NET), the first multi-center network of EM clinical pharmacist researchers in the U.S. He is also a current member of the IPA Board of Trustees.
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Brett Faine
Jim Hoehns
Kate Gainer
Iowa Pharmacy Association
Watch for a new episode of the Trailblazers Podcast each month. Subscribe today so you don’t miss an episode!

Episode 8: So. Many. Mentors. – Jackie Gravert

During this episode of the Trailblazers Podcast, IPA CEO Kate Gainer sits down with IPA President Jim Hoehns, Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy and Ambulatory Care Preceptor at Cedar Valley Primary Care, and Jackie Gravert, PGY1 Acute Care Pharmacy Residency Program Director at the University of Iowa Health Care and Pediatric Pharmacy Operations Manager at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.
Jackie Gravert, PharmD, MPH, received her PharmD from the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy and completed a combined PGY1/PGY2 Health System Pharmacy Administration Residency at UI Health Care while earning a Master of Public Health at the University of Iowa College of Public Health. She has experience working in large health-systems and community hospitals, both in Iowa and Minnesota, and her professional areas of interest include human resource management, medication safety, and lean process improvement. She recently completed two years of service on the IPA Board of Trustees and remains active through committees and the House of Delegates. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.
Connect with us on LinkedIn:
Jackie Gravert
Jim Hoehns
Kate Gainer
Iowa Pharmacy Association
Watch for a new episode of the Trailblazers Podcast each month. Subscribe today so you don’t miss an episode!

Episode 7: Iowan Through and Through – Jim Hoehns

During this episode of the Trailblazers Podcast, IPA CEO Kate Gainer sits down with IPA President Jim Hoehns, Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy and Ambulatory Care Preceptor at Cedar Valley Primary Care, to discuss what IPA membership means to him, his involvement in clinical trials, and more!
Jim Hoehns, PharmD, BCPS, FCCP, was installed as the association’s 146th President at the IPA Annual Meeting in June. Hoehns earned his BS in Pharmacy and PharmD from the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy. He currently serves as the Division Head of Applied Clinical Sciences at the college. Hoehns has received numerous awards for his research, as well as Faculty Preceptor of the Year and Teacher of the Year awards. IPA is excited for the year ahead under his leadership!
Resources from today’s episode:
Meet IPA President Jim Hoehns (Video)
BPS Frequently Asked Questions
APhA: Chronic Care Management
Connect with us on LinkedIn:
Jim Hoehns
Kate Gainer
Iowa Pharmacy Association
Watch for the next episode of the Trailblazers Podcast on the first Friday of the month. Subscribe today so you don’t miss an episode!

Episode 6: Living in the Grey – Ben Miskle

During this episode of the Trailblazers Podcast, IPA CEO Kate Gainer sits down with IPA President John Hamiel, Regional Director of Pharmacy at MercyOne Northeast Iowa, and Ben Miskle, a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, to discuss his unique work with substance use disorders, engaging your local pharmacy associations, and more!
Ben Miskle, PharmD, completed a psychiatric pharmacy residency program at the Chillicothe Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Chillicothe, Ohio. He has published articles on addiction treatment services across the United States, substance use and stigma in pregnancy, older adult first-time admissions for substance use disorders, and cannabis use disorder treatment, to name a few. Dr. Miskle helped start the Naloxone in Schools project to assist schools across the state of Iowa on overdose and naloxone education. Dr. Miskle currently works in the University of Iowa Addiction and Recovery Collaborative, where he works in an interdisciplinary team setting providing care for patients with substance use disorders.
Resources from today’s episode:
How Adding a Clinical Pharmacist Improves Access to Addiction Care – Online Training by Ben Miskle, PharmD and Alison Lynch, MD, MS
Connect with us on LinkedIn:
Ben Miskle
Kate Gainer
John Hamiel
Iowa Pharmacy Association
Watch for the next episode of the Trailblazers Podcast on the first Friday of the month. Subscribe today so you don’t miss an episode!

Episode 5: What’s a Tweener? – Micaela Maeyaert

During this episode of the Trailblazers Podcast, IPA CEO Kate Gainer sits down with IPA President John Hamiel, Regional Director of Pharmacy at MercyOne Northeast Iowa, and Micaela Maeyaert, Director of Pharmacy at Spencer Hospital, to discuss innovation at a “tweener” hospital, work-life balance as a mom of two, and more!
Micaela Maeyaert, PharmD, BCPS, DPLA, received her Doctor of Pharmacy in 2014 from North Dakota State University. After graduation, she moved to northwest Iowa where she started her career in community pharmacy practice with an emphasis in long-term care. She further challenged her development by transitioning to heath-system practice at Spencer Municipal Hospital and achieved her BCPS certification. Maeyaert has served as the Director of Pharmacy for Spencer Hospital since 2019, supporting pharmacy services and operations of the hospital, Abben Cancer Center, two dialysis centers, and surrounding clinics. Maeyaert is passionate about providing rural care and envisioning the future of healthcare.
Resources from today’s episode:
IPA PAI 2030 Task Force
ASHP PAI 2030 Recommendations
PAI 2030 Self-Assessment Tool
Connect with us on LinkedIn:
Micaela Maeyaert
Kate Gainer
John Hamiel
Iowa Pharmacy Association
Watch for the next episode of the Trailblazers Podcast on the first Friday of the month. Subscribe today so you don’t miss an episode!

Episode 4: 10% Success – Aaron McDonough

During this episode of the Trailblazers Podcast, IPA CEO Kate Gainer sits down with IPA President John Hamiel, Regional Director of Pharmacy at MercyOne Northeast Iowa, and Aaron McDonough, Co-Owner and Chief Innovation Officer of Towncrest Pharmacy Corporation, to discuss rejection, professional identity, and more!
Dr. Aaron McDonough, PharmD, is a Co-Owner and Chief Innovation Officer of Towncrest Pharmacy Corporation. Towncrest Pharmacy has six ambulatory community pharmacy sites, one long-term care pharmacy, and one cash-based functional medicine clinic, compounding and cost plus pharmacy. Dr. McDonough spends a majority of his time growing the cash-based practice by offering comprehensive functional medicine/wellness consultations to diverse patient populations targeting drug-induced nutrient depletion, chronic pain, mental health, cardiometabolic, pediatric, and more.
Connect with Towncrest Pharmacy:
TikTok
Facebook
Instagram
Connect with us on LinkedIn:
Aaron McDonough
Kate Gainer
John Hamiel
Iowa Pharmacy Association
Watch for the next episode of the Trailblazers Podcast on the first Friday of the month. Subscribe today so you don’t miss an episode!

Episode 3: Happy Chaos – Sara Wiedenfeld

During this episode of the Trailblazers Podcast, IPA CEO Kate Gainer sits down with IPA President John Hamiel, Regional Director of Pharmacy at MercyOne Northeast Iowa, and Sara Wiedenfeld, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, to discuss failing forward, career changes, and more!
Sara Wiedenfeld, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP, is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist for the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. She practices in family medicine at UIHC – Sioux City. She has previously been on faculty at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy and practiced at MercyOne Siouxland. She is a 2007 graduate of Drake University and completed a PGY1 residency at Siouxland Medical Education Foundation. Dr. Wiedenfeld is certified by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties in Pharmacotherapy and Ambulatory Care. Her practice interests include primary care, wellness and women’s health.
Resources from today’s episode:
Pharmacist-Led Annual Wellness Visits: A Review
Pharmacist led Medicare annual wellness visits at a family medicine clinic
The ABCs of the Annual Wellness Visit (AWV)
Connect with us on LinkedIn:
Sara Wiedenfeld
Kate Gainer
John Hamiel
Iowa Pharmacy Association
Watch for the next episode of the Trailblazers Podcast on the first Friday of the month. Subscribe today so you don’t miss an episode!