Northwell Health’s Ashley Galla reflects on her career, her new ASHP scholarship and her connection to Binghamton

Ashley Galla, vice president of clinical operations at Northwell Health’s Vivo Health Pharmacy, recently spoke about her pharmacy journey and induction as a fellow of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).

Galla’s journey to Northwell Health began at Northeastern University in Boston, where she earned her Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree. After graduation, Galla was drawn to ambulatory care, where she built meaningful relationships with patients and participated in clinical decision-making.

“During my final year of pharmacy school, a few rotations opened my eyes to the world of outpatient care, where pharmacists can practice at the highest level of their license, helping to manage patients’ chronic diseases,” she said. “Over time, I’ve had the opportunity to build relationships with patients and see them achieve their treatment goals.”

To hone her skills, Galla completed postgraduate residency training at Bay Pines Veterans Affairs Health System in Florida, where she specialized in ambulatory care.

“Postgraduate residency training is not a requirement, but I felt it was something I needed to do to be my best,” she said. “It allowed me to specialize in outpatient care and provided me with a well-rounded experience that was crucial to my professional development.”

Her career took a significant turn when she joined Long Island University as an assistant professor, providing clinical services and learning experiences at St. Luke’s Hospital in Manhattan. There, Galla was instrumental in expanding pharmacists’ clinical practice and introducing collaborative practice agreements. Her commitment to residency training and desire for a new challenge led her to Long Island Jewish Medical Center, part of the Northwell system, where she led a residency program and contributed to the expansion of residency services. inpatient clinical pharmacy.

“I realized the power of networking,” she said. “Some graduates of my residency program had taken ambulatory care positions in New York, and through them I was offered the opportunity to interview for a position at Long Island University. Networking has been instrumental in my career progression.

Galla’s commitment to improving patient care and fostering professional growth has caught the attention of his colleagues. This led to her current role at Vivo Health Pharmacy, where she played an integral role in establishing Northwell’s outpatient pharmacy network and specialty pharmacy program. Galla’s expertise in developing outpatient clinical pharmacy services and his involvement in accreditation and quality programs have been critical to his successful transition to outpatient care.

Recently, Galla was awarded the ASHP Fellowship, a recognition she describes as a highlight of her career.

“For me, it’s like a lifetime achievement award,” she said. “It’s special because it requires you to demonstrate significant and sustained achievement to the profession. I set this personal goal early in my career, and it’s incredibly rewarding to have achieved it.”

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Galla has been actively involved in the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Binghamton University. Northwell Health and Binghamton University have developed a strong partnership, providing quality education and innovative opportunities for students. Gala emphasized the importance of this relationship, emphasizing the mutual benefits and collaborative efforts to continually improve the quality of the program.

“Binghamton has always been very supportive of providing training and listening to our feedback,” she said. “We collaborated on an innovative initiative, the Downstate Clinical Education Center, where students took classes at the same time as their upstate peers, giving them a better understanding of our organization and what we do.”

Galla attributes her success to the power of networking, ongoing professional development and the support of her colleagues and mentors. As Northwell Health continues to expand its services and innovate in the healthcare industry, it remains a driving force, committed to improving patient care and advancing the profession of pharmacy.