Associate Professor
Areas of Interest: Cultural competence and healthcare disparities, medication use and adherence in neuromuscular diseases, service learning and community outreach, any and all Pharmacology topics
Apple Teacher
Education:Post-Doctoral Fellowship, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Ph.D., University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
M.S., University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
B.S., Niagara University
Teaching
Core Courses:
- PHAR 3144 – Systems Pharmacology I
- PHAR 3218 – Introduction to Diversity
- PHAR 3244 – Systems Pharmacology II
- PHAR 4144 – Systems Pharmacology III
- PHAR 4244 – Systems Pharmacology IV
- PHAR 5144 – Systems Pharmacology V
Elective Courses:
- PHAR 5526 – Introduction to Cancer Biology and Treatment
- PHAR 5530 - Peer Instruction
Research
Dr. Parkhill's training was primarily in the areas of opioid receptor pharmacology. Since becoming a faculty member at the Wegmans School of Pharmacy, Dr. Parkhill has pursued her interests in three main subject areas:
- Medication use in myotonic dystrophy patients: Surveys on general medication use and adherence, pain medication use, antidepressant use, and the use of statins were created by pharmacy students and launched to 1900+ National Registry members. Thyroid, antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, antidepressant, and pain medication use is categorized and compared to medication usage in general population.
- Cultural competence and healthcare disparities: As the course coordinator of the Introduction to Diversity course, Dr. Parkhill is passionate about the need to educate pharmacy students on the importance of learning about patients' culture and perceptions of the healthcare system. Along with collaborators, she has published on the need to incorporate LGBTQ+ topics in the pharmacy curriculum and the impact of a transgender panel discussion and a role-reversal exercise led by the Deaf community.
- Service learning and local and international community outreach: Dr. Parkhill has collaborations with the local cancer community, including long-standing partnerships with Hope Lodge Hospitality House and 13Thirty Cancer Connect. She also leads students on medical service trips to Guatemala every summer.
Recent Publications
Papers
- LGBTQ+ Cultural Awareness and Best Practices Continuing Education for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians, Power-Pak CE®, 2019, Co-authored with Jeannie Gainsburg.
Posters
- Schermerhorn SM; Eppinger GM; Kern CL; Parkhill AL; Birnie CR; Conn KM. (2020) Changes in first year pharmacy students’ beliefs of medications after an educational lecture and their perceptions of patients’ and providers’ medication beliefs, Poster presentation at the American Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Midyear Meeting, December 6-10, online.
- Cusack, E, Parkhill, AL. (2019) Assessment of depression onset and prevalence in myotonic dystrophy (DM) and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Poster presentation at the American Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Midyear Meeting, December 8-12, Las Vegas, NV.
Additional Information
In 2016, Dr. Parkhill was awarded the “Make a Difference Award” from 13Thirty Cancer Connect in recognition for her efforts to connect Fisher students to the organization through service-learning courses and volunteer opportunities.