Professional Biography
I am a clinical pharmacist in the DMV area with a passion for advancing underserved communities through providing equitable health care and professional development. I served as Senior Program Coordinator of the Organizational Office of Diversity and Inclusion at University of North Carolina, Eshelman School and Pharmacy. In this role, I founded, co-founded, and facilitated numerous programs and events geared toward professional enhancement, leadership, and DEIB recruitment and retention. I then transitioned to serve as the Regional Clinical Pharmacist at a maximum security prison in Maryland providing care for incarcerated persons. There I held many leadership positions and focused on reducing implicit bias by providing equitable healthcare to the underserved. In my current role, I work primarily with the Medicare and Medicaid patient population. When I am not working with patients I am conducting workshops geared toward professional development for individuals looking to advance their careers within the healthcare industry. My diverse experience and insight has provided me the opportunity to participate in multiple publications and perform numerous presentations in both medical and academic institutions.
I am a clinical pharmacist with a passion for providing care and minimizing harm in underserved populations. My personal life experiences have shaped the lens I use to view the world of healthcare. From my observation, the patients that frequently fall behind lack either information or resources. Oftentimes both. I share my love of disease pathophysiology and drug information with my patients, so that they are empowered to be their own healthcare advocates and make informed decisions. I am a board certified pharmacotherapy specialist with additional practice in primary care, transitions of care, diabetes management, hepatitis C virus, and medicine in corrections. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to read more about my pharmacy journey and view some of my favorite memories along the way!
Clinical Pharmacy
I started medical writing as a pharmacy student, signing up to write clinical pieces in a local clinic newsletter and create disease state presentations for local community residents. As a pharmacy resident, I expanded to writing articles for pharmacy newsletters, such as the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP), and developed three continuing education programs (one written, two live presentations) for Kaiser Permanente. I also developed medication information sheets and presentations regarding medical research, biostatistics, medication safety, and several clinical topics. Since then I have co-written and revised policy and procedure documents such as pharmacy vendor contract request for proposals (RFPs) and statewide infection control policies for HCV and HIV management for the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. In my freelance work I have continued to venture into other sectors of medical writing such as clinical needs assessments and developing laboratory testing protocols.
Medical Writing
I spent the early years of my scientific training gaining research experience right at the lab bench, gaining a deep appreciation of all the brilliance, time, and resources that goes into the primary stages of drug development and testing. As an undergraduate, I worked as a lab assistant in the Laboratory of Immunology at Temple University School of Medicine as a participant of the Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) program. After graduating from Temple, I transitioned into the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Academy of Enrichment Program where I conducted cancer research at the NIH Laboratory of Cell Biology. Despite how life-changing both of these experiences were, I decided to it was time to pharmacy school to pursue my longing to work with patients. Other areas of research I have explored within pharmacy include academia and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Research
I recently decided to do a bold thing and bring my introverted personality to internet. I utilize platforms such as TikTok & Instagram to share tangible and applicable knowledge to the general public surrounding drug information, pathophysiology, lifestyle, and more! Through my Youtube channel I provide an inside look of the fascinating careers and stories of pharmacists from across the country. Follow @DomThePharmacist on all platforms to stay tuned for informative and engaging content!
Media
Last but not least…education. Educating has been interwoven into almost area of my career. Over the years I keep myself open to opportunities to share knowledge such as precepting, guest lecturing and conducting numerous presentations to various audiences. Whether it was mentoring, writing in a newsletter, educating a patient, or presenting on updates to guideline practices…all of it is education. I have sought after and completed trainings to become an extremely effective educator in both written and oral communication. Outside of work I enjoy creating pharmacy related content for both health care professionals and the general public on my Youtube and Instagram platforms.
Educating & Mentoring
Licenses and Certifications
Leading for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Higher Education - University of Michigan
Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist - Board of Pharmacy Specialities
Public Speaking - Heroic Public Speaking
Hepatitis C Provider - John Hopkins University School of Medicine; Division of Infectious Disease
Teaching Certificate - Washington Metropolitan Society of Health System Pharmacists
Immunization Delivery - American Pharmacist Association Foundation
Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (BLS) - American Red Cross
Publications
White, C. Y., Patel, A., Cossari, D. (2022, Fall). Evaluating the Impact of Engagement in Diversity Recruitment Initiatives on Students' Progression. Journal of Best Practices in Health Professions Diversity: Research, Education and Policy, 15(2)150.
White, C, Patel, A, Cossari, D. Organizational commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion: A strategic path forward. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy. August 2021 https://doi.org/10.1093/ajhp/zxab322
Cossari, Dominique. The Big Three; A Review of Current COVID-19 Vaccines on the US Market. Kaiser Permanente Tips on Scripts Newsletter. August 2021.
Cossari D, Patel K, Adigun K. PrEP for Women - The Dapivirine Vaginal Ring. HIV PRN Newsletter. American College of Clinical Pharmacy. Issue 1; Volume 5, Spring 2021.
Robinson AN, Tebase BG, Francone SC, Cossari D, et al Co-expression of ABCB1 and ABCG2 in a Cell Line Model Reveals Both Independent and Additive Transporter Function. Drug Metabolism and Disposition. 2019. doi:10.1124/dmd.118.086181.
Wollebo, H.S., Bellizzi, A., Cossari, D.H. et al. The Brd4 acetyllysine-binding protein is involved in activation of polyomavirus JC. J. Neurovirol. 22, 615–625 (2016). doi.org/10.1007/s13365-016-0435-6.
Cossari, Dominique. Flu Shots-From the Rx Pad. QNotes. October 2018: Vol 33, NO12.
Wollebo HS, Bellizzi A, Cossari DH, Safak M, Khalili K, White MK. Epigenetic regulation of polyomavirus JC involves acetylation of specific lysine residues in NF-κB p65. J. Neurovirol. 21, 679–687 (2015). doi:10.1007/s13365-015-0326-2.
