Neal J Benedict, PharmD
Dr. Neal Benedict is an Associate Professor of Pharmacy and Therapeutics and Director of Assessment at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. He is a Critical Care Pharmacist at UPMC-Presbyterian hospital.
Dr. Benedict received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2002 from Duquesne University, completed a Pharmacy Practice residency through Kaleida Health in 2003, and a Critical Care Specialty residency through the University of Pittsburgh in 2004. Dr. Benedict is a course coordinator within the PharmD curriculum and serves as a preceptor for Introductory and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPE/APPE). At UPMC Presbyterian hospital, Dr. Benedict's clinical practice sites include the Surgical/Trauma and Medical Intensive Care Units.
Dr. Benedict's educational research focuses on the effective use and assessment of patient simulation and educational technologies to propel students to higher levels of mastery regarding patient care outcomes. His clinical research focus involves the management of resistant alcohol withdrawal syndromes. Dr. Benedict holds publications in Clinical Therapeutics, Journal of Critical Care, Drug and Alcohol Dependence, Annals of Pharmacotherapy, American Journal of Health-System Pharmacists and American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education.
In 2009 and 2014, Dr. Benedict received the Pitt Pharmacy "Cohen Teacher of the Year Award" for exceptional dedication, knowledge, and teaching skills. In 2011, Dr. Benedict received the Rho Chi "Innovations in Teaching Award" recognizing professors implementing new and creative methods to teach. In 2012 and 2019, Dr. Benedict received the Pitt Pharmacy "Faculty Preceptor of the Year" for his work and dedication to training the next generation of clinical pharmacists. In 2014 and 2017, Dr. Benedict received the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP)
Innovations in Teaching" and "Excellence in Assessment" awards, respectively. These awards recognize a commitment to innovative teaching and learning strategies. In 2016, he received the University of Pittsburgh "Chancellor's Distinguished Teaching Award[ which recognizes teaching excellence by members of the University of Pittsburgh's faculty. In 2018, Dr. Benedict was awarded AACP's Rufus A. Lyman Award presented annually to the author of the best paper published in the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education (AJPE). In 2023, Dr. Benedict received the AACP Distinguished Teaching Scholar Award which recognizes excellence of academic pharmacy faculty engaged in and/or supporting scholarly teaching and the scholarship of teaching and learning.
Director of Assessment
2010 Provost's Advisory Council on Instructional Excellence Innovations in Education Award. vpSim: A Novel Virtual Patient Authoring System for Student and Resident Education
2011 Rho Chi Society Innovations in Teaching Award; University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy
2011 Provost's Advisory Council on Instructional Excellence Innovations in Education Award. Innovative Instructional Approach to Foster Self-Directed Learning
2012 University of Pittsburgh "Faculty Preceptor of the Year"; University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy
2014 Cohen Teacher of the Year Award; University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy
2014 American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Innovations in Teaching Award
2016 Provost's Advisory Council on Instructional Excellence Innovations in Education Award. Readiness Assessment: an authentic assessment of practice "œreadiness" through blended simulation progress testing
2016 University of Pittsburgh Chancellor's Distinguished Teaching Award
2017 Rho Chi Pharmacy Honor Society faculty induction
2017 American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Award for Excellence in Assessment
2018 Rho Chi Society Innovations in Teaching Award; University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy
2018 American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Rufus A. Lyman Award
2019 University of Pittsburgh "Faculty Preceptor of the Year"; University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy
2023 Phi Lambda Sigma Honorary Member of the Year Award; University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy
2023 Distinguished Teaching Scholar Award; American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP)
Seybert A, Laughlin K, Benedict N, Barton C and Rea R. Pharmacy Student Response to Patient-Simulation Mannequins to Teach Performance-based Pharmacotherapeutics. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. 2006;70(03):Article 48
Benedict N. Sitaxsentan in the Management of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy. 2007;64:363-368
Benedict N, PharmD; Seybert A, PharmD; and Mathier M, MD. Evidence-Based Pharmacologic Management of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Clinical Therapeutics. 2007;29(10):2134-2153
Jones K, MD; Puccio A, RN PhD; Harshman K, RN BSN; Falcione B, PharmD; Benedict N, PharmD; Jankowitz B, MD; Stippler M, MD; Fischer M, BS; Sauber-Schatz, E, MPH; Fabio, A, PhD; Darby, J, MD and Okonkwo D, MD, PhD. Levetiracetam versus Phenytoin for seizure prophylaxis in severe traumatic brain injury. Neurosurgical Focus. 2008;25(4):1-5
Smithburger PL, Kane-Gill SL, Benedict NJ, Falcione BA, Seybert AL. Grading the severity of drug-drug interactions in the intensive care unit: a comparison between clinician assessment and proprietary database severity rankings. The Annals of Pharmacotherapy. 2010 Nov;44(11):1718-24
Benedict N. Virtual Patient and Problem-Based Learning in Advanced Therapeutics. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. 2010; 74 (8) Article 143
Benedict N and Schonder K. Patient Simulation Software to Augment an Advanced Pharmaceutics Course. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. 2011;75(2) Article 21
Benedict NJ, Schonder KS, and McGee JB. Promotion of Self-directed Learning Using Virtual Patient Cases. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. 2013; 77(7): Article 151
Smith M, Mohammad R, and Benedict NJ. Use of Virtual Patients in an Advanced Therapeutics Pharmacy Course to Promote Active, Patient-Centered Learning. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. 2014; 78(6): Article 125
Benedict N, Felbinger M, Ridenour T, Anthes A, Altawalbeh S, Kane-Gill S. Correlation of patient reported outcomes of sedation and sedation assessment scores in critically ill patients. Journal of Critical Care. 2014;29(6):1132.e5-e9
Wong A, Benedict N, Kane-Gill S. Multicenter evaluation of pharmacologic management and outcomes associated with severe resistant alcohol withdrawal. Journal of Critical Care. 2015;30:405-409
Wong A, Benedict NJ, Armahizer MJ, Kane-Gill SL. Evaluation of adjunctive ketamine to benzodiazepines for management of alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Annals of Pharmacotherapy. 2015;49:14-9
Smith M and Benedict N. Educational technology in pharmacy curricula to improve patient care. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. 2015; 79(1): Article 15
Wong A, Benedict NJ, Lohr BR, Pizon AF, and Kane-Gill SL. Management of benzodiazepine-resistant alcohol withdrawal across a healthcare system: Benzodiazepine dose-escalation with or without propofol. Drug and alcohol dependence. 2015,154:296-299
Wang T, Benedict N, Olsen K, Luan R, Zhu X, Zhou R, Tang H, Peng Y. Effect of critical care pharmacist’s intervention on medication errors: systematic review of observational studies. Journal of Critical Care. 2015,30(5):1101-1106
Ridenour TA, Wittenborn AK, Raiff BR, Benedict N, Kane-Gill S. Idiographic methods for translation research: Moderation effects, natural clinical experiments, and complex treatment-by-subgroup interactions. Translational Behavioral Medicine. 2015: 1-10
Benedict N and Hess M. History and Future of Critical Care Pharmacy Practice. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacists. 2015;72:2101-5
Sorensen TD, Shapiro NL, Benedict N, Edwards KL, Chan A, Covey D, Daniels C, Hagemann T, Hemstreet B, Miller W, Musselman ME. Recommendations for Aligning PGY2 Pharmacy Residency Training and Pharmacy Specialist Board Certification. Pharmacotherapy. 2016 May;36(5):e34-9
Smith M, Siemianowski L, Benedict N. Virtual patient case sharing across two schools of pharmacy. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. 2016;80(9): Article 153
Lichvar A, Hedges A, Benedict N, Donihi A. Combination of a flipped classroom and a virtual patient case to enhance active learning in the classroom. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. 2016; 80(10): Article 175
Wilkening GL, Gannon JM, Ross C, Brennan JL, Fabian TJ, Marcsisin MJ, and Benedict NJ. Evaluation of Branched-Narrative Virtual Patient for Interprofessional Education of Psychiatry Residents. Academic Psychiatry. 2017; 41(1):71-75
Benedict N, Smithburger P, Donihi A, Empey P, Waters T, Kobulinsky L, Drab S, Seybert A, Lutz J, Farkas D, and Meyer A. Blended Simulation Progress Testing for Assessment of Practice Readiness. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. 2017;81(1): Article 14
Pizon AF, Lynch MJ, Benedict NJ, Yanta JH, Frisch A, Menke NB, Swartzentruber GS, King AM, Abesamis MG, Kane-Gill SL. Adjunct ketamine use in the management of severe ethanol withdrawal. Critical Care Medicine. 2018;46(8):e768-71
Benedict NJ, Wong A, Cassidy E, Lohr B, Pizon A, Smithburger P, Falcione B, Kirisci L, and Kane-Gill S. Predictors of Resistant Alcohol Withdrawal (RAW): A Retrospective Case-Control Study. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 2018;192:303-308
Coon JC, Benedict NJ, Seybert A, Iasella C, Skledar S, Smith R, Saul M, Ensor C. Pharmacotherapy scholars program: intensive longitudinal training to enhance post-graduate readiness. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. 2019;83(9): Article 7327
Seybert A, Smithburger P, Benedict N, Kobulinsky L, Kane-Gill S, and Coons J. Evidence for Simulation in Pharmacy Education. Journal of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy. 2019;2:686-692
Babichenko D, Drudzel M, Benedict N, Tabas G, McGee J. Moving Beyond Branching: Evaluating Educational Impact of Procedurally-Generated Virtual Patients. Information (open-access). 2019; Aug 5 (pp. 1-8). IEEE.
Coons JC, Iasella CJ, Thornberg M, Fitzmaurice MG, Goehring K, Jablonski L, Leader D, Meyer A, Seo H, Benedict NJ, Smith RE. Clinical Outcomes with Unfractionated Heparin Monitored by Antiâ€Factor Xa vs. Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time. American Journal of Hematology. 2019;94(9):1015-9
Malinowski A, Benedict N, Levent, K, Meng-Ni H, and Kane-Gill S. Patient Reported Outcomes Associated with Sedation and Agitation Intensity in the Critically Ill
American Journal of Critical Care. 2020;29(2):140-4
Williams VL, Smithburger PL, Imhoff A, Groetzinger L, Culley CM, Burke C, Murugan R, Mahmud M, Benedict NJ, Kellum JA, Kane-Gill SL. Barriers and solutions to the implementation of a program that uses a stress biomarker test to identify patients at risk for drug associated acute kidney injury. Ann Pharmacother 2022; (in press)
2005 Impact of a Computerized Adverse Event Alerting System on Identifying Patients at High Risk for Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT). Benedict NJ, Seybert AL, Saul MI, Rea R, Kane-Gill SL. American College of Clinical Pharmacy; Orlando, FL [poster presentation]
2008 Levetiracetam for seizure prophylaxis in Traumatic Brain injury (TBI). Jones LR*, Jones JH*, Kuo CJ, Janjic BM, Puccio A, Day RD, Falcione B, Benedict N. ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting; Las Vegas, NV [poster presentation]
2008 Levetiracetam versus Phenytoin as seizure prophylaxis in severe traumatic brain injury. Jones K, MD; Puccio A, RN PhD; Harshman K, RN BSN; Falcione B, PharmD; Benedict N, PharmD; Jankowitz B, MD; Fischer M, BS; and Okonkwo D, MD PhD. National Neurological Conference [poster presentation]
2010 Significance of Drug-Drug Interactions in Cardiac Intensive Care Units. Havrilla P, Seybert A, Benedict N, Falcione F, Kane-Gill S. SCCM Annual Conference; Miami, FL [poster presentation]
2010 Student Satisfaction and Learning with PharmaCAL: A Branched-Outcome Decision Making, Virtual Patient Simulator. Benedict N, Schonder K. AACP Annual Conference; Seattle, WA. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 2010; 74(5):Article 96 [poster presentation]
2010 Patient Reported Outcomes of Sedation in the Critically Ill. Felbinger M*, Benedict N, Halle H Kane-Gill S. ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting; Orlando, FL [poster presentation]
2011 Building Branched-Outcome Virtual Patients into Your Curriculum. Benedict N, Schonder K. AACP Annual Conference; San Antonio, TX [podium presentation]
2012 Management of benzodiazepine-resistant alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Rindfuss S* and Benedict N. ASHP Annual Conference; Las Vegas, NV [poster presentation]
2012 Incorporation of high-fidelity simulation learning experiences within a didactic and experiential curriculum. Benedict N, Skirvin A, Douglass M, Vyas D. AACP Annual Conference; Kissimmee, FL [podium presentation]
2013 Patient Reported Outcome (PROS) For Quality of Sedation and the Correlation with the Sedation Agitation Scale (SAS). Benedict N, Felbinger M*, Anthes A, Ridenour T, Altawalbeh A, Kane-Gill S. SCCM Critical Care Congress; San Juan, Puerto Rico. Critical Care Medicine 2012;40(12)(Supplement 1):1-328 [poster presentation]
2013 Patient Reported Outcome (PROS) For Quality of Sedation and the Correlation with the Sedation Agitation Scale (SAS). Benedict N, Felbinger M*, Anthes A, Ridenour T, Altawalbeh A, Kane-Gill S. Rho Chi "Posters, Professors, & Progress": University of Pittsburgh [poster presentation]
2013 Using virtual patients to replace lecture and promote self-directed learning. Benedict N, Schonder K, and McGee J. "Innovations in Education" School Poster. AACP Annual Conference, Chicago, IL; July 2013. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 2013; 77(5): Article 109 [poster presentation]
2013 Risk factors and clinical outcomes associated with severe alcohol withdrawal.
Supko AE*, Rubin EC*, and Benedict NJ, PharmD. ASHP Annual Conference; Orlando, FL [poster presentation]
2013 Pharmacologic Therapy Following Benzodiazepine-resistant Alcohol Withdrawal. Wong A**, Benedict N, Kane-Gill S. SCCM Critical Care Congress; San Francisco, CA. Critical Care Medicine 41(12):A229 [poster presentation]
2013 A multicenter evaluation of the incidence of severe, refractory alcohol withdrawal. Benedict N, Forsberg E, Lohr B, Smithburger P, Falcione P, Kane-Gill S. SCCM Critica Care Congress; San Francisco, CA. 41(12):A223-A224 [poster presentation]
2013 How To Use Web-Based Simulations to Build Clinical Reasoning Skills Across the Healthcare Education Spectrum - From Novices to Expert Teams. McGee J, Benedict N, Tabas G, Doshi A. International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare; San Francisco, CA. [podium presentation]
2014 A multicenter evaluation of the incidence of severe, refractory alcohol withdrawal. Benedict N, Forsberg E, Lohr B, Smithburger P, Falcione P, Kane-Gill S. Rho Chi "Posters, Professors, & Progress": University of Pittsburgh [poster presentation]
2014 Use of virtual patients to promote active, patient-centered learning in an advanced pharmacy therapeutics course. Smith M**, Mohammad R, Benedict N. AACP Annual Conference; Grapevine, TX [poster presentation]
2014 Curricular Integration of Virtual Patients: Eight Years of Simulation. Benedict N. AACP Annual Conference Innovations in Teaching Award; Grapevine, TX [podium presentation]
2014 Patient risk factors in severe alcohol withdrawal. Merkel A*, Miller A*, Benedict NJ. ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting; Anaheim, CA [poster presentation]
2015 Clinical outcomes of adjunctive ketamine for managing alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Wong A**, Benedict N, Armahizer M, Kane-Gill S. SCCM Annual Critical Care Congress; Phoenix, AZ [poster presentation]
2015 Management of severe, resistant alcohol withdrawal with or without the addition of propofol. Wong A**, Benedict N, Kane-Gill S. SCCM Annual Critical Care Congress; Phoenix, AZ; Critical Care Medicine. 42(12): A1483-A1484 [poster presentation]
2015 Evaluation of Virtual Patient Technology for Interdisciplinary Education of Psychiatry Residents. Wilkening GL**, Gannon J, Fabian T, Ross C, Brennan J, Marcsisin M, Benedict N. Annual Meeting of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists; Tampa, FL [poster presentation]
2015 Assessing Development of Professional Competence Across the Curriculum through Capstone Cases. Schonder KS, Hall DL, Farrah RM, Ruby-Scelsi CM, Benedict NJ, Thorpe CT, Kane-Gill SL, Coley KC, Meyer SM. AACP Annual Conference; Washington DC [poster presentation]
2015 Combination of a Flipped Classroom and a Virtual Patient Case to Enhance Active Learning in the Classroom. Lichvar A**, Hedges A**, Benedict N, Donihi A. ACCP Global Conference on Pharmacy; San Francisco, CA [poster presentation]
2015 Integrated Progress Testing through Blended Simulation to Assess Clinical Readiness. Benedict N, Meyer S. AACP Annual Conference; Washington DC [podium presentation]
2015 Comparison of Normal Saline and Plasma-lyte for Fluid Resuscitation in Septic Shock. Vacchani M*, Stimach T*, Benedict N. ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting; New Orleans, LA [poster presentation]
2015 Blended Simulation Progress Testing in a PharmD curriculum. Benedict N, Kobulinsky L, Farkas D, Lutz J, Meyer S. IMSH Annual Conference; San Diego, CA [eposter presentation]
2016 Pharmacological Management and Outcome of Patients with Severe Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms: A Propensity Score Application to Medical Archival Database. Kirisci L, Benedict N, Wong A, Reynolds M, Kane-Gill S. Annual International Conference on Person-centered Medicine; Geneva, Switzerland [podium presentation]
2016 Combination of flipped classroom and virtual patient case to enhance active learning in the classroom. Donihi A, Lichvar A, Hedges A, Benedict N. University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Med Ed Day; Pittsburgh, PA [poster presentation]
2016 Venous Thromboembolism Rates and Missed Doses in the Critically Ill. Clotz A, Sofranko A, Bertoty D, Benedict N, Alarcon L. SWPONL Annual Education Conference, Nemacolin, PA [poster presentation]
2016 Blended simulation progress testing for assessment of practice readiness. Benedict N, Smithburger P, Donihi A, Empey P, Kobulinsky L, Seybert A, Waters T, Drab S, Lutz J, Farkas D, and Meyer S. University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Med Ed Day; Pittsburgh, PA [poster presentation]
2016 Virtual Patient Case Sharing Across Schools of Pharmacy. Benedict N, Smith M. AACP Annual Conference; Anaheim, CA [podium presentation]
2017 Comparative analysis of normal saline and Plasma-Lyte A on change in base deficit after fluid resuscitation in the critically ill. Bastacky M*, Woolley L*, Hardeck B*, Brown S*, Iasella C, Ensor C, Kane-Gill S, Benedict N. ACCP Virtual [poster presentation]
2017 Blended simulation progress testing for assessment of practice readiness. Benedict N, Smithburger P, Donihi A, Empey P, Kobulinsky L, Seybert A, Waters T, Drab S, Lutz J, Farkas D, and Meyer S. AACP Annual Conference; Nashville, TN [poster presentation]
2017 Blended simulation progress testing for assessment of practice readiness. Benedict N. AACP Annual Meeting Award for Excellence in Assessment; Nashville, TN [podium presentation]
2017 Adjunct ketamine use in the management of severe ethanol withdrawal. Pizon T, Lynch M, Yanta J, Frisch A, Benedict N, Menke N, King A, Abesamis, M, and Kane-Gill S. North American Congress of Clinical Toxicology. Vancouver [podium presentation]
2017 Real-world analysis of the effectiveness and safety of direct oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation. Keaton B*, Marchionda O*, Achanta A*, Cheng J*, Coons J, Benedict N, and Iasella C. ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting; Orlando, FL [poster presentation]
2017 Incidence of thrombosis in patients receiving unfractionated heparin (UFH) monitored with anti-factor Xa (anti-Xa) versus activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). Fitzmaurice M*, Jablonski L*, Meyer A*, Seo H*, Coons J, Benedict N, Iasella C. ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting; Orlando, FL [poster presentation]
2017 Readiness Assessment: Blended Simulation Progress Testing to Assess Patient Care Readiness. Benedict N, Mason N, Cain J, Reidt S, Gilliam E, Maxwell W, Mort J. AACP Annual Conference Curricular SIG; Advances in Developing the Affective Domain; Nashville, TN [podium presentation]
2018 Analysis of Associations and Predictive Value of Student-Specific Curriculum-Imbedded Performance Milestone as Measure of Academic Success. Howrie D, Benedict N, Pater K, Schonder K, and Stevenson J. Indianapolis Assessment Institute; Indianapolis, IN [poster presentation]
2018 Readiness Assessment: Blended Simulation Progress Testing to Assess Patient Care Readiness. Benedict N. Indianapolis Assessment Institute; Indianapolis, IN [podium presentation]
2019 Pharmacotherapy scholars program: intensive longitudinal training to enhance post-graduate readiness. Benedict N, Seybert S. AACP Annual Meeting; Chicago, Il [podium presentation]
2020 The Use of Google Cloud Technology in Large Scale Assessments. Lutz J, Farkas D, Benedict N, Kobulinsky L, Pharmpus P. IMSH Conference; San Diego, CA [session developer]
2021 Professional Culture: Considerations in Debriefing. Berg B, Lee-Jayaram J, O’Donnell J, Smitten J, Miller G, Benedict N. IMSH Conference; Los Angeles, CA [podium presentation]
2021 Thrombosis and Bleeding Associated with Time in Therapeutic Range Using Anti-Factor Xa and Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time Monitoring for Patients Receiving Intravenous Unfractionated Heparin. Miklus V*, Mujtaba M*, Tsang A*, Benedict N, Coons J. ASHP Midyear; Las Vegas, NV [poster presentation]
2022 Validity Evidence for Educational Testing in Recent Pharmacy Education Literature. Dell K, Wantuch G, Benedict N, Peeters M. AACP Annual Conference; Grapevine, TX; July 2022 [poster presentation]
2022 Safety of standard- versus intermediate-dose prophylactic anticoagulation in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Schmidt M*, Truong N*, Gibbon L*, Spielberger M*, Iasella C, Benedict N. ASHP Midyear; Las Vegas, NV [poster presentation]
2022 Effectiveness of standard- versus intermediate-dose prophylactic anticoagulation in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Aubin A*, Toole S*, Hisashima J*, Langland A*, Iasella C, Benedict N. ASHP Midyear; Las Vegas, NV [poster presentation]
2023 Professional Culture: Debriefing Workshop. Berg B, Lee-Jayaram J, O'Donnell J, Smitten J, Miller G, Benedict N. IMSH Conference; Orlando, FL [podium presentation]
