Ranjani Varadarajan

Position:

Associate Professor

Pronouns:

She/Her

Location:

Health Professions Building 140

Phone:

(540) 542-6258

Email: rvaradar@517b2b.com

Employed Since:

2014

Educational History:

PhD, Health Outcomes Research and Policy, Auburn University  2011

Masters in Science, Health Outcomes Research and Policy, Auburn University 2005

Bachelor of Science, Pharmacy, Mumbai University 2001

Fields of Expertise:

Patient Safety, Health care Quality, Pharmacy Management,  Ergonomic applications in healthcare safety, Quality Improvements in Pharmacy Practice, Health outcomes research, Pharmacy pedagogy, Ethical topics in Pharmacy Practice (Role of Pharmacists in Aid in Dying practice in the US)

Professional Highlights:

Research:

Dr. Varadarajan’s research and scholarship focus on patient safety and healthcare quality, socio behavioral health research outcomes ethical issues in pharmacy profession, as well as topics related to innovative pedagogical projects involving student engagement and technological interventions.

Select Peer-reviewed Publications
• Whetzel Jessica, Varadarajan R. Medical Cannabis: Are Pharmacy Students Prepared? Pulses: Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning, December 8, 2020.
• Petrov K, Varadarajan R, Healy M, Cowden C. (2019) Improving Medication History at Admission Utilizing Pharmacy Students and Technicians: A Pharmacy-based Improvement Initiative. Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 43(11), 676-84.
• Varadarajan R. (2018) Medication Non-Adherence among Pediatric Patients with Chronic Illness. International Journal of Pharmacy, 8(2), 56-62.
• Varadarajan R, Freeman RA, Parmar JR. (2016). Aid-in-dying practice in Europe and the United States: Legal and Ethical Perspectives for Pharmacy. Res Social Adm Pharm, 12 (6), 1016-25.
• Fox BI, Varadarajan R. (2011). Use of Twitter to Encourage Interaction in a Multi-Campus Pharmacy Course. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 75 (5), 88-92.
• Varadarajan, R., Barker, K. N., Flynn, E. A., & Thomas, R. E. (2008). An Exploratory Study And Comparison Of Two Error Detection Methods In A Mail Order Pharmacy Serving Correctional Facilities. Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, 48(3), 371 – 378.

Select Peer-reviewed Conference Presentations
• Morgan K, Huff J, Pritchard I, Varadarajan R, Anderson R. Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity and Anti-Racism efforts at Shenandoah University Bernard J Dunn School of Pharmacy. Presented (poster) at American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Annual Meeting, San Antonio TX, July 24, 2022.
• Dhandamudy S, Al Adhami S, Varadarajan R. Examining COVID Vaccines Serious Adverse Events in Patients with Chronic Illness: Hypertension, Diabetes, Heart/ Respiratory Conditions. Presented (poster) at the American Managed Care Pharmacists (AMCP) Meeting, Chicago IL, March 30, 2022.
• Whetzel J, Varadarajan R. Assessing Student Pharmacists’ Perceptions and Attitudes Related to Medical Cannabis Counseling in Healthcare Settings. Presented at the Shenandoah University Student Project and Research Symposium, April 30, 2019. Presented (poster) at the American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting, National Harbor DC, March 23, 2020.
• Szatkowski J, Adams E, Varadarajan R. Acceptance of Pharmacy Drug Therapy Recommendations after Medication Review in a Primary Care Setting. Presented (Poster) at the American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting, Seattle WA, March 23, 2019.
• Koneri R, Thapa D, Varadarajan R. Effect of Nursing Education and Attender’s Counselling on Medication Errors: An Interventional Study. Presented (Poster) at American Society of Hospital Pharmacists (ASHP) Midyear Meeting, Anaheim CA December 2-6, 2018.
• Salous M, Nguyen T, Cavenaugh C, Mehta K, Bhatia D, Johnson M, Varadarajan R, Petrov K.
Evaluation of Pharmacy Students’ Perception of Whiteboard and PowerPoint Teaching Aids in an Infectious Diseases Pharmacotherapy Module: A Pedagogy Pilot Study. Presented (Poster) at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Midyear Meeting, Orlando, FL, December 4, 2017.
• Fusco M, Becker K, Varadarajan R, Gage W etl. al. Potential risks of the transition from hydroxyurea therapy to pegylated interferon alpha-2a in a patient with polycythemia vera. Presented (Poster) at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Midyear Meeting, Orlando, FL, December 4, 2017.
• Varadarajan R, Parnapy S, Havrda D, Green J. Utilizing student pharmacists and technicians to improve medication reconciliation in a community hospital – An experiential viewpoint. Presented (Poster) at the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), Anaheim CA, July 23-27, 2016.
• Sultana S, Varadarajan R; Review of the Role of Student Pharmacists in the Medication Reconciliation Process, Presented at the American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting, March 4-5, 2016.
• Varadarajan R, Healy M, Petrov K, Green J. Utilizing student pharmacists and technicians to improve medication reconciliation in a community hospital. Presented at the American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting, Baltimore MD, March 4-5, 2016.
• Varadarajan R, Freeman RA, Parmar JR. Aid-in-dying practice in Europe and the United States: Legal and Ethical Perspectives for Pharmacy. Presented (Podium) at the Southern Pharmacy Administration Conference, University of Mississippi, Oxford MS, June 24-26, 2016.

Personal Quote:

“Without Data, you are just another person with an opinion.” – Edward Deming 

Personal Highlights:

Dr. V has been fortunate to work as a pharmacist-researcher in 2 countries (India and the US); which has helped her understand the pharmacy profession from a unique cultural perspective. In her spare time, she loves reading news blogs, healthcare blogs and listening to podcasts. When she’s not scouring the net for current affairs, she loves socializing with her peers and friends; watching artsy movies, host cooking parties and travel to gain new cultural experiences and insights.