In this episode of DISRxUPT, host Justin Cole and new co-host Shannon Yarosz sit down with Dr. Hillary Blackburn — pharmacist, healthcare leader, author, and founder of the Talk to Your Pharmacist podcast — to explore how purpose, advocacy, and innovation intersect in modern pharmacy practice.

Recently appointed to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), Dr. Blackburn shares her journey from small-town Mississippi to national leadership, discussing how pharmacists can drive equitable access, lead with empathy, and innovate in patient-centered care.

Path to Purpose

• Early experiences in policy through internships on Capitol Hill and with HRSA’s Office of Pharmacy Affairs
• How rural roots and family values inspired a lifelong commitment to service
• The importance of relationships and trust in advancing healthcare innovation

Medication Access & Affordability

• Lessons from leading Dispensary of Hope and building national medication access programs
• Addressing systemic barriers—cost, fragmentation, and inequity—through creative partnerships
• Integrating affordability and access initiatives within large health systems at Ascension Rx

Advocacy & Innovation

• Current efforts to advance a CMS “wellness navigator” role for pharmacists
• Bridging policy and practice to highlight pharmacists as essential providers
• Using data and outcomes research to sustain access programs

Entrepreneurship & Leadership

• Building the Talk to Your Pharmacist podcast and reaching global audiences
• Encouraging pharmacists to take bold steps—write, speak, start new ventures
• Insights from her book How Pharmacists Lead: Answers from Women Who Are Leading, Succeeding, and Impacting Pharmacy
• Common leadership themes: creativity, empathy, collaboration, and resilience

Personal Journey & Perspective

• Lessons from caregiving for her mother during a cancer journey
• The human side of healthcare: advocacy, persistence, and empathy in action
• Finding balance through seasons of life, prioritization, and supportive networks

The Future of Pharmacy

• The rise of AI-enabled care navigation and pharmacist-led value-based care
• Innovations in digital health, food-as-medicine programs, and affordability technology
• A call for pharmacists to lead in prevention and chronic disease management
• Envisioning a future where pharmacists are fully integrated, reimbursed providers

Notable Quotes

“You never know where these things may go… but you never know unless you try.”

“It really changes you when you’re navigating serious illness for a loved one. It deepens your empathy and your urgency to fix what’s broken in healthcare.”

“Pharmacists are great problem-solvers. We need to be bold in creating the future of care - one where no patient has to choose between their medicine and their basic needs.”

Advice for Future Pharmacists

• Embrace adaptability and entrepreneurial thinking
• Develop skills beyond traditional pharmacy training - informatics, business, policy
• Seek mentors and professional involvement early
• Stay curious and connected to community needs

Looking Ahead
Dr. Blackburn envisions a healthcare future where pharmacists are key drivers of prevention, affordability, and innovation. Her story demonstrates how leadership, empathy, and initiative can transform access and outcomes for patients everywhere.

About the Guest: Dr. Hillary Blackburn serves as Director of Medication Access and Affordability at Ascension Rx, is founder and host of the Talk to Your Pharmacist podcast, and author of How Pharmacists Lead. She recently joined the CDC’s ACIP, representing pharmacy at the highest level of public-health decision-making.

Hosts: Justin Cole and Shannon Yarosz, Cedarville University Center for Pharmacy Innovation
Episode Length: 43 minutes
Release Date: October 2025
Episode Number: 52

Subscribe to DISRxUPT wherever you get your podcasts and visit cedarville.edu/pharmacy for more insights into innovation in pharmacy education and practice.