Prof. Skledar currently serves as the Director of Experiential Learning and Continuing Professional Development. She is a Professor in the Department of Pharmacy & Therapeutics at the School of Pharmacy, precepting students and lecturing in the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum. She has been a faculty member since 1992. She received her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and Master of Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh (PITT). She is a Fellow of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. She was awarded Pitt Pharmacy Preceptor of the Year in 2010, 2011, and 2016, and Teacher of the Year in 2021.
In her role in Experiential Learning since 2016, Prof. Skledar works with students, preceptors and faculty in the Pittsburgh region, and around-the-globe, to create meaningful and robust real-world student learning experiences. Over 500 preceptors and 1000 learning sites are part of the Pitt Pharmacy experiential learning network, and collaboration with the experiential learning core team and course faculty sustains these experiences to foster personalized learning for our students. She is responsible for development and evaluation of student introductory and advanced pharmacy practice learning sites and delivery of peer-reviewed practitioner continuing education programs. Her didactic focus is application of learning to the hospital/health-system and community/public health environments.
Prior to her work in experiential learning, Prof. Skledar's experiences in clinical practice were based in hospital and health-system pharmacy. Prior to 2016, she served as a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist and Pharmacy Director in formulary management and drug use policy at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). From 1996 - 2012, she was Director for the UPMC Presbyterian Drug Use and Disease State Management Program, leading work in medication use policy/protocol and evidence-based guideline development, medication shortage plans, core quality measures, and implementing technology, such as 'smart' infusion pumps. Precepting student learners has been a continual thread throughout her career.
Prof. Skledar has received national and regional recognition for her work from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), American Pharmaceutical Association, Institute for Safe Medication Practices, National Association of Healthcare Quality, Hospital and Health-System Association of Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania Society of Health-System Pharmacists. She, as part of interdisciplinary care teams, is a two-time honoree of the ASHP Best Practices Award in Health-System Pharmacy in 2000 and in 2012. She was an individual winner of the APhA Pinnacle Award for Healthcare Quality Improvement. In 2013, she received the ASHP Distinguished Service Award for her work in inpatient pharmacy practice advancement and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Susan has been a long-standing member of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, serving as Chair and Vice-Chair of the SICP Educational Steering Committee and Director-at-Large for the Section of Inpatient Care Practitioners. She was the inaugural Chair of the Section of Pharmacy Educators Student Education and Learning Experiences Section Advisory Group. She is a Midyear Clinical Meeting abstract reviewer, and a student pharmacist CV Reviewer. In 2012, she was a national faculty mentor for the ASHP Mentored Adult Immunization Impact Program, in conjunction with ASHP Advantage. She has served on the ASHP Advisory Group for Publications, Ad-Hoc Advisory Panel on Population-Based Medicine, American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy Editorial Board, and was Network Facilitator for the Surgery/OR/Anesthesiology Section. Combined, she has presented over 100 posters and platform presentations at ASHP's national meetings.
Prof. Skledar has authored over 85 publications, book chapters, and articles, and over 125 posters related to her areas of focus in hospital/health-system pharmacy and innovative teaching strategies.
Prior to 1996, Prof. Skledar spent seven years in hospital pharmacy leadership at UPMC as Pharmacy Manager and Director to implement clinical and decentralized pharmacy services to the critical care and anesthesiology/operating rooms areas, Investigational Drug Services, and develop staff education programs.
Continuing Professional Development
Healthcare Quality Improvement
Hospital/Health-System Pharmacy Practice
Dec 1999: Innovations in Pharmaceutical Care Award
"The Role of the Data Analyst Pharmacy Technician in a Drug Use and Disease State Management Program. "Ervin KC, Skledar SJ.
Sponsored by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board and Baxter Healthcare
Dec 2000: ASHP Best Practices in Hospital Pharmacy Award
"Drug Use and Disease State Management Program"
Skledar SJ, Hess MM. Sponsored by the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists and Pfizer, Inc.
June 2001: UPMC-P President's Performance Improvement Team Quality Award, 1st place. 'Promoting Safe Use of Patient Controlled Analgesia." Dunwoody CJ, Arnold R, Skledar SJ, Kowiatek JG, Verrico MM, Peitz J
June 2003: UPMC-P President's Performance Improvement Team Quality Award, 1st Place. Improving Pharmacy Services by Implementing a Decentralized Pharmaceutical Care Model"
Weber RJ, Sirianni C, Skledar SJ, Yourich B, Martinelli B, Krosse J, McAteer C, Patterson, D, Grbach W, Schaefer S, Frank S, Valalik S, Rupert L, Schmid A, Smith N, Reuss C
December 2003: ISMP Cheers! Award - 'A Systems-Approach to Region Wide Patient Safety." Institute for Safe Medication Practices. Pittsburgh Regional Healthcare Initiative (PRHI): Part of AHRQ Grant Team
February 2004: Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) Achievement Award. 'Impact of hospital pharmacist and technician decentralized pharmaceutical care teams.' Weber RJ, Skledar SJ, Sirianni C, Yourich B, Martinelli B, Frank S, Schmid A.
July 2004:UPMC-P President's Performance Improvement Team Quality Award, 1st place. 'Promoting Optimal Use of Antimicrobials through Implementation of an Antibiotic Management Program"
Potoski B, Capitano B, Paterson D, Sipe-Russo K, Connelly N, Cherpes T, Patel S, McKinnon J, Nwaigwe C,Silviera F, Clarke L,Bandlamuri L, Skledar S,Muto C,Weber R
Oct 2004: PSHP Innovative and Collaborative Practice Award
A Consistent Approach to Optimal Formulary Decisions and Innovative Off-Label Drug Use Management. Ansani NT, Branch R, Skledar S, Fedutes B, Sirio C, Smitherman T, Weber R.
June 2005: UPMC-P President's Performance Improvement Team Quality Award, 1st place. Sustained Achievement in Continuous Quality Improvement. 'Vaccinating Our Elderly: UPMC-Presbyterian Efforts to Promote Public Health.' Ervin KC, Sokos D, Skledar SJ , Santarelli D, Dinella J, Towers A, Middleton D, Zimmerman R.
June 2006: UPMC-P President's Performance Improvement Team Quality Award, 1st place, Patient Safety. 'Balancing Safety and Variation in Practice: Standardizing Continuous Infusions.' Ervin KC, Skledar SJ, George B, Tasota F, Kowiatek JG, Gross PR, Rutter P, Guttendorf S, Malich C, Michalec D, Martinelli B, Quinlan J, DeVita M, Simmons R et al.
December 2006: ISMP Cheers! Award.ISMP Medication Safety Alert® Subscriber Award. Institute for Safe Medication Practices
UPMC Presbyterian Pharmacy Medication Safety/Formulary Management Team.
May 2006: Circle of Excellence in Patient Safety Award. American Association of Critical Care Nurses, Atlanta GA. 'Balancing Safety and Variation in Practice: Standardizing Continuous Infusions'
George E, Skledar SJ, Tasota F, Malich C, Michalec D, Gross P, Guttendorf S, Ervin KC, Kowiatek J, Martinelli B, Shearn D.
June 2007: UPMC-P President's Performance Improvement Team Quality Award, 1st place. Sustained Achievement in Continuous Quality Improvement.'Improving the Care of the Patient With Pneumonia: the Focus Continues. Dinella J, Skledar SJ, Ervin KC, Santarelli D, Towers A, Sheth H, Yealy D, Kusajewski M, Bertoty D, Richards P, Fritzley S.
June 2007: Chairman's Award, 2007. University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy & Therapeutics. Resident Research Series faculty mentor award
June 2008: UPMC-P Presiden's Performance Improvement Team Quality Award, 1st place. Patient Safety and Quality
'Improving Care Processes for Surgical Patients: Focus on Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) Antibiotic Core Measures.' Culley CM, Skledar SJ, Simmons R, Simms S, Alarcon L, Quinlan J, Miller D, Coffey , Fleck D, Buches L, Clontz A, Pais MB, Guttendorf S, Guttendorf J, Maslonek K, Benedict N, Falcione B, Brancolini K, McMillen K, Fritzley S, Yetiskul B, Donis J.
Sep 2009: UPMC-P President's Performance Improvement Team Quality Cup Winner and Collaboration Award 1st Place Winner
'The Smart Pump: Technology for Safer Intravenous Medication Administration at UPMC.' Skledar SJ, Niccolai C, Leake T, Costello S, Mininni N, Miller M, Schilling D, Guttendorf S, Campbell R, Zaradski K, Donovan L, Ricci L, Simms S, Weber R, Minnier T, Redmond D
Sep 2009: UPMC-P President's Performance Improvement Team Quality Award, 1st place, Sustained Achievement. 'Inpatient Anticoagulation Safety.' Dinella J, Sheth H, Janov C, Skledar SJ, Smith R, Towers A
June 2010: Residency Preceptor of the Year. UPMC Pharmacy Management Residency Program. Junior Administrative Residents Award. UPMC/University of Pittsburgh Residency Program, Pittsburgh, PA
Oct 2010: UPMC Presbyterian President's Performance Improvement Team Quality Award. 1st place: Quality Winner and 1st place: Sustained Achievement Award. 'The Smart Pump: Ongoing Medication Safety Improvements at UPMC.' Niccolai C, Skledar SJ, Costello S, George B, Mininni N, Miller M, Leake T, Schilling D, Guttendorf S
Nov 2010: PSHP Innovative and Collaborative Practice Award
The impact of centralized distribution of barcode readable medications and daily review of scanning failures on scanning compliance in the health-system pharmacy setting." Pennsylvania Society of Health System Pharmacists. Mulvanity M, Wasicek KA, Culley CM, Skledar SJ, Mark SM.
Nov 2011: The Fine Foundation Award for Teamwork Excellence, Silver Fine Award for Teamwork Excellence. The Jewish Healthcare Foundation. Venous Thromboembolism Prevention Project." Available at http://www.prhi.org/ppc_2010_fine.php. Ambrosino R, Batross J, Burke A, Campbell S, Cairns L, Kammerer PW, Larkin J, McConnell M, Titus A, Schmieder K, Skledar SJ, Sweeney J, Thurner K, Chai X.
June 2011: Residency Preceptor of the Year. University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy Residency Program. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center/University of Pittsburgh Residency Program, Pittsburgh, PA
December 2011: ASHP Best Practice Award in Health-System Pharmacy. 'Keeping Our Smart Pumps 'Smart.' University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Health System. Sponsored by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and Amgen, Inc.
April 2012: UPMC Shadyside and UPMC Presbyterian President's Performance Improvement, Team Quality Award. Sustained Achievement in Collaborative Practice. 'Low dose Ketamine for Analgesia: Improving Pain Management While Ensuring Process Safety. Pizzi L, Skledar SJ, Chelly J, Pummer T, Morris T, Haas L, Schilling D, Burke A, Bates L, Ross J, Kammerer P, Guttendorf S, Culley CM
December 2013: Distinguished Service Award 2013, Section of Inpatient Care Practitioners. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. http://www.ashp.org/menu/AboutUs/ForPress/PressReleases/PressRelease.aspx?id=785
April 2016: Faculty Preceptor of the Year 2016, Formulary Management and Drug Use Policy, UPMC Health System. University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy.
April 2021: Stanford I. Cohen Teacher of the Year, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. Doctor of Pharmacy Program
CV available upon request for full listing
Ansani NT, Sirio C, Smitherman T, Fedutes-Henderson B, Skledar SJ, Weber RJ, Zgheib N, Branch R. Designing a strategy to promote safe innovative off-label use of medication. Am J Med Qual 2006 Jul/Aug; 21 (4): 255-261.
Ansani NT, Sirio C, Fedutes-Henderson B, Smitherman T, Weber R, Skledar S, Zgheib N, Branch R. United States practice summary: innovative off-label medication use. Am J Med Qual 2006 Jul/Aug; 21 (4): 246-254.
Corman SL, Culley CM, Skledar SJ. Evaluation of conflicting literature and application to formulary decisions. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2007 Jan 15; 64: 182-5.
Tortorici MA, Skledar SJ, Zemaitis MA, Weber RJ, Smith RB, Kroboth PD, Poloyak SM. The clinical scientist associate: a model for supporting and training clinical pharmaceutical scientist PhD students. Am J Pharm Educ 2007; 71 (2): Article 32.
Sokos D, Ervin KC, McKaveney T, Fox D, Skledar SJ. Designing and implementing a hospital-based vaccine standing orders program. Am J Health-Syst Pharm 2007 May 15; 64: 1096-102.
Skledar SJ, McKaveney TP, Sokos DR, Ervin KA, Coldren M, Hynicka L, Lavsa S, Reynolds R, Beauchamp R. The role of student pharmacists in a hospital-based standing orders pneumococcal vaccination program. J Am Pharm Assoc 2007; 47: 404-409.
Skledar SJ, Williams BA, Vallejo MC, Dalby PA, Waters JH, Glick R, Kentor ML. Eliminating post-operative nausea and vomiting in outpatient surgery with multimodal strategies including low doses of non-sedating, off-patent antiemetics: is zero tolerance achievable? The Scientific World JOURNAL 2007; 7: 959-977.
Williams BA, Kentor ML, Skledar SJ, Orebaugh SL, Vallego MC. A 10-Year History of Routine Multimodal Antiemesis Including Low-Dose Perphenazine in an Ambulatory Surgery Unit of a University Hospital. The Scientific World JOURNAL 2007; 7: 978-986. Available at www.TheScientificWorld.com
Skledar SJ, Martinelli M, Wasicek K, Mark S, Weber RJ. Training and recruiting future pharmacists through a hospital-based student internship program. Am J Health-Syst Pharm 2009; 66:1560-4.
Skledar SJ, McKaveney T. A method for teaching continuous quality improvement to student pharmacists through a practical application project. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning 2009; 1(2): 79-86.
Skledar SJ, Saenz R, Yourich B, Mark S. Educational program for pharmacists at a multi-facility academic medical center. Am J Health-Syst Pharm 2010 Aug 15; 67: 1368-72.
Poloyac SM, Empey KM, Rohan LC, Skledar SJ, Empey PE, Nolin TD, Bies RR, Gibbs RB, Folan M, Kroboth PD. Core Competencies for Research Training in the Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. Am J Pharm Educ 2011; 75 (2): Article 27.
Clinical practice guidelines for antimicrobial prophylaxis in surgery: ASHP Report. Culley CM, Skledar SJ. Contract authors. American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists. Am J Health-Syst Pharm 2013; 70: 195-283.
Skledar SJ, Niccolai CN, Schilling D, Costello S, Mininni N, Ervin KC, Urban A. Quality improvement analytics for intravenous infusion pumps. Am J Health-Syst Pharm 2013 Apr 15; 70: 680-6.
Henao JP, Peperzak KA, Lichvar AB, Orebaugh SL, Skledar SJ, Williams BA. The incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms following administration of oral perphenazine 4 or 8 mg: an 11-year retrospective analysis. Eur J Anaesthesiol 2014; 31: 1-5.
Skledar SJ, Doedyns A, Yourich BE. Building an outpatient cancer center pharmacy program across a tri-state region. Am J Health-Syst Pharm 2015 Jan 15; 72: 127-132.
Skledar SJ, Corman SL, Smitherman TC. Addressing innovative off-label medication use at an academic medical center. Am J Health-Syst Pharm 2015 Mar 15; 72:469-77.
Skledar SJ, Lachell CM, Chelly JEA. Pharmacodynamics and clinical efficacy of fentanyl iontophoretic transdermal system for postoperative pain in hospitalized patients. Exp Opin Drug Metab Tox 2015 Nov. DOI:10.1517/17425255.2015.1112788.
Zavilla C, Skledar SJ, Lang MB, Gross C. Implementation of a new dantrolene formulation for care of patients with malignant hyperthermia across a 15-facility health care system. Am J Health-Syst Pharm 2016; 73: 463-7.
Pruskowski J, Arnold R, Skledar SJ. Development of a health-system level palliative care clinical pharmacist position. Am J Health-Syst Pharm 2017 Jan 1; 74 (1): e6-8.
Coons JC, Benedict N, Seybert A, Iasella CJ, Skledar SJ, et al. A pharmacotherapy scholars program to provide intensive training to enhance pharmacy students postgraduate readiness. Am J Pharm Educ 2019; 83 (9); Article 7327.
Dibridge J, Holder-Murray J, Skledar SJ, Subramaniam K, Esper SA. Implementation of a perioperative ketamine shortage mitigation strategy. Kor J Anesthesiol 2020; 73 (3) 259-61.
Mulvaney EA, Wright R, Jantea R, Skledar SJ, Leslie P, Toto PE, Allias MC, Grant C, Hornyak C, Klinger J, Coleman RL, Covaleski KJ. Improving interprofessional practice, knowledge, and skills of health professions students through an experiential geriatrics course. Advances in Social Work 2020 Jun; 20 (2): Summer 2020- IPE: 184-203.
'Mentored Adult Immunization Impact Program.' National moderator for hospital/health systems in creation and implementation of inpatient immunization programs. American Society of Health System Pharmacists ASHP Advantage Program. National webcasts: Aug 23, 2012; Oct 29, 2012; Jan 16, 2013. Available at: http://immunizeadults.org/about.html
'Smart Intravenous Infusion Pumps: The Data Make the Difference.' Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA) Services/Premier Clinical Pharmacy Forum Webinar Series. Northeast US area (New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts). March 26, 2014.
'Mentoring: What's It All About?' UPMC Pharmacy Resident Research Day 2013. Lunch-and-Learn Continuing Education Session. ACPE Program # 0481-0000-14-038-L04P. University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. Pittsburgh PA. June 19, 2014.
'Delivery System Integration for Formulary and Decision Support.' World Congress Summit to Improve Patient Access by Leveraging EHRs and Quality Initiatives. Philadelphia, PA. July 15, 2014.
Mentoring: What's It All About? UPMC St. Margaret's Preceptor Development Series. Continuing Education Session. ACPE Program #0481-0000-14-038-L04-P. UPMC St. Margaret's, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh PA. October 7, 2014.
'Pharmacogenomics: Demystifying the Science and Evidence Through Successful Practices.' ASHP 50th Midyear Clinical Meeting. Anaheim, CA. December 8, 2014. (session moderator)
'Pharmacy Practice Administration and Development: Part I.' ASHP 2015 Critical Care Pharmacy Specialty Certification Review Course, Denver, CO. ASHP Summer Meeting 2015. June 7, 2015.
'Pharmacy Practice Administration and Development: Part II.' ASHP 2015 Critical Care Pharmacy Specialty Certification Review Course, Denver, CO. ASHP Summer Meeting 2015. June 7, 2015.
'Special Topics Elective Course in Healthcare Quality and Medication Use Policy.' Roundtable presentation. American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) & Association of Faculties of Pharmacy of Canada (AFPC) Annual Meeting. Baltimore, MD. July 13, 2015.
'Stand Out from the Crowd: Branding Yourself.' Pharmacy Student Colloquium Series for P2 Class. University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA. February 4, 2016, February 7, 2017, February 13, 2018
'Pharmacy Practice Management: Part 1.' ASHP 2016 Critical Care Pharmacy Specialty Certification Review Course, Baltimore, MD. ASHP Summer Meeting 2016. June 12, 2016.
'Pharmacy Practice Management: Part 2.' ASHP 2016 Critical Care Pharmacy Specialty Certification Review Course, Baltimore, MD. ASHP Summer Meeting 2016. June 12, 2016.
'My Leadership Journey.' Lambda Kappa Sigma/Phi Lambda Sigma Leadership Workshop 2018. University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. November 8, 2018.
'Creating a Challenging and Effective APPE Rotation Curriculum,' PrimeRx Program Event. University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. November 27, 2018.
'Networking 101,' ASHP 2022-23 Midyear Clinical Meeting, on behalf of the Section of Pharmacy Educators. Las Vegas, NV. Dec 6, 2022. Skledar SJ and English D.
