The Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association (PPA) Board of Directors has named Victoria E. Elliott, RPh, MBA, CAE as Chief Executive Officer.  Elliott will succeed Patricia A. Epple, CAE, who is retiring at the end of 2020.

“Pat has been an outstanding leader of PPA for the last almost two decades,” said Chuck Kray, president of PPA. “She is leaving a strong organization in the hands of an equally strong successor. We are looking forward to welcoming Victoria Elliott.” Epple has been with PPA since 2002.

As CEO, Elliott will blend her training as a registered pharmacist with her 24 years of experience in association management to lead PPA in its mission promoting the profession through advocacy, education, and communication to enhance patient care and public health. She will manage PPA operations, membership growth and engagement, and all program development and implementation. In addition, she will oversee PPA’s affiliated entities including its Educational Foundation, the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Care Network, and PharmPAC – PPA’s political action committee. 

A Certified Association Executive since 2003, Elliott’s qualifications include alliance-building, volunteer engagement, board governance, leading legislative advocacy, and grassroots efforts to affect laws and regulations that critically impact healthcare professionals and the patients they serve. “I look forward to joining the PPA management team and am excited to work with my pharmacy colleagues and the PPA Board of Directors to advance the state of pharmacy practice across Pennsylvania,” said Elliott.

Prior to this appointment, Elliott was the CEO of the Association for the Advancement of Wound Care (AAWC), where she led a management transition, implementation of a three-year strategic plan, a branding campaign, and the launch of a series of educational summits focused on critical wound care issues. She also served as Executive Director for the American Neurological Association, Dermatology Nurses’ Association, Attention Deficit Disorder Association, and the Society For Biomaterials at Association Headquarters, and was the Executive Director for the Pennsylvania Society of Health-System Pharmacists from 1998 to 2005.

Before her career in association management, Elliott spent six years as a pediatric pharmacist in the Jefferson Health System, and two years as the Assistant Director of Pharmacy at Hahnemann University Hospital. In addition to her pharmacy degree from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, now part of the University of the Sciences, Elliott earned an MBA in Health and Medical Services from Widener University.

She is a Past President of the Mid-Atlantic Society of Association Executives (MASAE) and the Delaware Valley Society of Association Executives. She is also a member of the American Society of Association, the organization that confers the CAE designation. Elliott is a recipient of the MASAE Service Award for her distinguished service to the Association and in 2001, was recognized by the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy as the Young Alumnus Award winner. 

Ms. Elliott will begin her new role on December 1, 2020.  PSHP congratulates Ms. Elliott on this appointment and looks forward to working with her, and PPA, on Pennsylvania pharmacy issues. 

Pennsylvania Society of Health System Pharmacists