Shannon Chan has been an employee at the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children for five years. She was originally hired as the infectious disease pharmacist who would initiate the implementation of a newly developed antibiotic stewardship program (ASP). She currently serves as the coordinator of this innovative program. The proposal for the antibiotic stewardship program was developed by the Division of Infectious Disease and was funded by the Nemours Clinical Management Program. The ASP originated as a joint effort between the divisions of Infectious Disease, Infection Control, Microbiology, and Pharmacy. Since its inception, the ASP program has had the primary goals of limiting the emergence of multidrug resistant microorganisms, reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with infections and antimicrobial therapies, and providing cost-effective management of infections. In order to achieve this goal, Shannon runs antimicrobial reports on a daily basis to determine all of the new antibiotics that have been started on patients who are admitted to the hospital and performs clinical investigation to determine whether the medication has been chosen appropriately, dosed correctly, and has the appropriate duration of action. Her daily investigation process has led to several interventions that are done to improve patient care and limit antibiotics overuse.
Shannon graduated from Temple University in 1999 with a doctorate of pharmacy. After graduation, she completed a PGY1 residency at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital, which is located outside of Philadelphia. After her residency, she took a position as the infectious disease pharmacist at the University of Maryland Medical Center. While at the University of Maryland, she covered several shifts in the pediatric pharmacy and was exposed to the management of pediatric infections. In her current position, she has additional responsibilities beyond the ASP. She is a regular member of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and the Antimicrobial Subcommittee. Also, she has presented several posters at IDSA related to the work she has done through the ASP. She is an integral part of the PGY1 pharmacy residency offered at Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children and is a member of the residency steering committee and a preceptor for both an infectious disease required rotation and an elective pediatric HIV clinic.
For more information about the unique practice that Shannon has developed, please read the following article:
Chan S, Levine S, Di Pentima C. The Development of an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at a Pediatric Hospital. Hosp Pharm. 2004;39(4):317-319.