Dr. Nicole Pezzino

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Associate Professor/Director
Pharmacy Practice

Stark Learning Center Stark Learning Center Rm 324
nicole.pezzino@wilkes.edu
(570) 408-4260

Nicole C. Pezzino received her Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from University of Pittsburgh and completed post-graduate residency training at University of North Carolina, Eshelman School of Pharmacy in Asheville, NC. She is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and serves as the Director of Community Outreach & Innovation. Dr. Pezzino is actively involved in the Wilkes and Lehigh Valley community. She established one of Pennsylvania's largest pharmacy related community outreach, Colonels ConnectRx, where over 100 students and 22 pharmacists conduct over 300 brown bag medication reviews and blood pressures in a single day across 17 senior centers in Luzerne County.

Dr. Pezzino is a tireless advocate for community pharmacy and the role clinical services play in that patient care setting. She is a board- certified pharmacist in ambulatory care (BCACP) and a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) who consistently challenges the status quo of pharmacy. Dr. Pezzino's clinical responsibilities at her community practice site, Weis Markets, involve the implementation of various clinical services and serving as the Director of the PGY-1 Community-based Pharmacy.

She is considered a leader in the state and nation regarding the implementation of her diabetes services and mentors other pharmacies in being successful in each. In addition, she serves as a Flip the Pharmacy coach, mentoring pharmacies in community pharmacy transformation and the state’s lead trainer for PPCN. Her clinical focus includes employee wellness and disease state management- specifically with diabetes self-management and diabetes prevention, wellness and preventative care services, immunizations and other medication and disease state therapy management.

  • Sub-contractor: Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association (PPA) and Pennsylvania Department of Health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Harrisburg, PA. $50,000. September 2023.
  • Type II Faculty Development Support Grant. Wilkes University. Wilkes-Barre, PA. $2,000. March 2023.
  • Sub-contractor: Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association (PPA) and Pennsylvania Department of Health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Harrisburg, PA. $50,000. July 2022.
  • Wilkes University Mentoring Grant. Wilkes University. Wilkes-Barre, PA. $3,730. June 2022 .
  • Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association (PPA). PPA Foundation Incentive Grant. $1,000.00. Harrisburg, PA December 2021. (faculty mentor)
  • Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association (PPA). PPA Foundation Incentive Grant. $1,000.00. Harrisburg, PA December 2020. (faculty mentor)
  • Wilkes University Mentoring Grant. Wilkes University. Wilkes-Barre, PA. $4,579.48. June 2020.
  • Pharmacy Quality Alliance/ CVS Health Foundation. Scholars Program. Pharmacy Quality Alliance. Alexandria, VA. $1,500. August 2019.
  • Type II Faculty Development Support Grant. Wilkes University. Wilkes-Barre, PA. $2,000. March 2019.
  • Type II Faculty Development Support Grant. Wilkes University. Wilkes-Barre, PA. $1,786.70. March 2018.
  • National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Foundation Faculty Scholars Program. Faculty Scholars Program. National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation. Arlington, VA. $3,500. January 2018.
  • Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association (PPA). Diabetes Prevention Program Development Grant. PA Department of Health. Harrisburg, PA. $8,000. December 2017.
  • Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association (PPA). Diabetes Self-Management Education Development Grant. PA Department of Health. Harrisburg, PA. $6,000. August 2017.
  • Student Mentoring Grant. Innovative Pharmacy Practices. Wilkes University. Wilkes-Barre, PA. $2,000. April 2016.
  • Type II Faculty Development Support Grant. Wilkes University. Wilkes-Barre, PA. $2,000. March 2016.
  • DiPaolantonio R, Pezzino NC. Assessing strategies during the mid-implementation of an automatic prescription refill service in a chain community pharmacy. Poster presentation at the APhA Annual Meeting 2023. Phoenix, AZ.
  • Litvak I, Pezzino NC. Community Pharmacists’ Perceptions on their Role in Counseling Patients on Lifestyle Modifications. Poster presentation at the APhA Annual Meeting 2022. San Antonio, TX.
  • Lovett SG, Nguyen K, Cicco N, Seipp R, Pezzino NC. Community pharmacists’ perceptions of their role in caring for mental health issues. Poster presentation at the APhA Annual Meeting 2021. [Virtual].
  • Nicholson A, Pezzino NC. An evaluation of providers’ perceptions on medication safety interventions by community pharmacists. Poster presentation at the PQA Annual Meeting 2020. [Virtual].
  • Moll D, Jones K, Pezzino NC. Pharmacist GRIT Assessment and its Association to the Medication Therapy Management Services Completion Rates. Poster presentation at the ASHP Mid-Year Meeting 2019. Las Vegas, NV.
  • Pezzino NC, Longyhore DS, Olenak JL. Patient-reported factors associated with improved motivation and retention in a diabetes prevention program hosted by a community pharmacist. Poster presentation at the AACP Annual Meeting 2019. Chicago, IL.
  • Kempa K, Stevens A, Pezzino NC. Impact of accountability on healthy habits and academic performance in pharmacy students. Poster presentation at the AACP Annual Meeting 2018. Boston, MA. 
  • Pezzino NC, Longyhore DS. Pharmacist-reported barriers and their association to the completion of comprehensive medication reviews. Poster presentation at the APhA Annual Meeting, Nashville, TN. JAPhA 2018.
  • Kramer K, Sarver C, Pezzino NC. Impact of integrating technology for improving medication adherence in college students. Poster presentation at the APhA Annual Meeting, Nashville, TN. JAPhA 2018. 
  • Pezzino NC, Marciniak MW, Smith M, Ferreri SP. Establishing Collaborative Practice Agreements between Community Pharmacists and Physicians: Physician-Reported Factors that would Encourage Collaboration. Poster presentation at the APhA Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA. JAPhA 2015;55:e113-e263.

Since 2019

  • “Transitioning from COVID to Other Valuable Vaccinations”. Pezzino NC, Stoner M. Presentation at Good Neighbor Pharmacy ThoughtSpot Tradeshow. Las Vegas, NV. August 2023.
  • “Getting Up to Speed with Diabetes Clinical Updates and Billing Opportunities”. Pezzino NC, Stoner M. Presentation at Good Neighbor Pharmacy ThoughtSpot Tradeshow. Las Vegas, NV. August 2023.
  • “Exploring Diabetes Guideline Updates and Billing Opportunities”. Pezzino NC. Presentation at Cardinal Health ABC National Tradeshow. Boston, MA. July 2023.
  • “Getting Up to Speed with Recommendations and Medical Billing Opportunities for Vaccines”. Pezzino NC. Presentation at Cardinal Health ABC National Tradeshow. Boston, MA. July 2023.
  • “Assessing strategies during the mid-implementation of an automatic prescription refill service in a chain community pharmacy”. DiPaolantonio R, Pezzino NC. Presented at Pennsylvania Society of Health System Pharmacists. April 2023.
  • “Disease State Refresher 2023 Patient Case Applications”. Pezzino NC. Presented to National Community Pharmacy Fellowship Program [Virtual]. March 2023.
  • “Disease State Refresher 2023”. Pezzino NC. Presented to National Community Pharmacy Fellowship Program [Virtual]. March 2023.
  • “DSMES Standards Training 2023”. Pezzino NC, Beimel M. Presented at Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association Midyear Meeting. Harrisburg, PA. February 2023.
  • “New Drug Approvals”. Pezzino NC. Pharmacy Times Continuing Education [Virtual]. January 2023.
  • “Don’t Weight Too Late: Promoting Healthy Habits for Patients”. Pezzino NC, Wieand L. Presented at McKesson IdeaShare [Virtual]. November 2022.
  • “DPP Recruitment, Retention, Engagement 101”. Pezzino NC, Litvak I, Everett N, Patestos E. Presented at Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting. Poconos, PA. October 2022.
  • “Getting CDC Recognition for Diabetes Prevention Program: What do Community pharmacies need to know”. Pezzino NC, Hartzell K. Presented at Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association Meeting. Poconos, PA. October 2022.
  • “2022 Diabetes Update”. Pezzino NC, Casciole M. Presented at Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association Meeting. Poconos, PA. October 2022.
  • “DSMES Standards Workshop”. Pezzino NC, Beimel M. Presented at Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association Meeting. Poconos, PA. October 2022.
  • “DSMES Standards Update 2022”. Pezzino NC, Beimel M. Presented at Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association Meeting. Poconos, PA. October 2022.
  • “Midpoint Community Pharmacy Check In: Is Your Pharmacy Technology Ready to the Pandemic Finish Line?”. Pezzino NC, Hartzell K. Presented at Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association Meeting. Poconos, PA. October 2022.
  • “What You Need to Know about New Drugs Hitting the Market this Year”. Pezzino NC. Presentation at Good Neighbor Pharmacy ThoughtSpot Tradeshow. Las Vegas, NV. July 2022.
  • “What You Need to Know about New Drugs Hitting the Market this Year”. Pezzino NC. Presentation at Cardinal ABC National Tradeshow. Las Vegas, NV. July 2022.
  • “Community Pharmacists’ Perceptions on their Role in Counseling Patients on Lifestyle Modifications”. Litvak I, Pezzino NC. Presented at Eastern States Pharmacy Conference [Virtual]. May 2022.
  • “Top-Down and Bottom-Up: Integrating Holistic Perspectives to Deliver Patient Care Interventions in Community Pharmacy”. Easter J, Pezzino NC. Presented at Pharmacy Quality Alliance Annual Meeting. May 2022. Baltimore, MD.
  • “Don’t Sugar Coat It: A Diabetes Update”. Pezzino NC. Presented to MMCAP Infuse Group [Virtual]. April 2022.
  • “Pharmacists’ Role in Patient Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic”. Pezzino NC. Presented at Hygeia Day for Lambda Kappa Sigma [Virtual]. March 2022.
  • “Integrating Nutrition and Physical Activity”. Litvak I, Pezzino NC, Wieand L. Presented at Pharmacists Association Mid-Year Meeting [Virtual]. February 2022.
  • “DSMES Monitoring, Problem Solving and Taking Medications”. Pezzino NC, Yoder A. Presented at Pharmacists Association Mid-Year Meeting [Virtual]. February 2022.
  • “DSMES Accreditation Bootcamp”. Pezzino NC, Beimel M. Presented at Pharmacists Association Mid-Year Meeting [Virtual]. February 2022.
  • “Disease State Refresher Patient Case Application” Pezzino NC. Presented for National Community Pharmacy Association Fellowship Program [Virtual]. December 2021.
  • “The Role of Pharmacists in Patient Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic”. Pezzino NC. Presented for Pharmacy Times Continuing Education [Virtual]. December 2021.
  • “New Drugs and Clinical Pearls 2021”. Pezzino NC. Presented at National Community Pharmacits’ Association Annual Meeting. Charlotte, NC. October 2021.
  • “Level-up your DSMES Post-Accreditation Resources”. Steiner B, Pezzino NC. Presented at Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting. Lancaster, PA. September 2021.
  • “Diabetes Prevention Program Overview”. Pezzino NC, Hartzell K. Presented at Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network [Virtual]. August 2021.
  • “What You Need to Know about New Drugs Hitting the Market this Year”. Pezzino NC. Presented at Good Neighbor Pharmacy ThoughtSpot Tradeshow [Virtual]. August 2021.
  • “What You Need to Know about New Drugs Hitting the Market this Year”. Pezzino NC. Presented at Cardinal Retail Business Conference 2021 [Virtual]. July 2021.
  • “Let’s Tik-Talk About It”. Pezzino NC, Ference K. Presented at AACP Lab Sig Business Meeting Roundtable Session [Virtual]. July 2021.
  • “Community Residency – What Is it?” Pezzino NC. Presented at North Carolina Association of Pharmacists Conference 2021 [Virtual]. June 2021.
  • “Evaluating community pharmacists’ perceptions of their role in caring for mental health issues.”. Lovett SL, Nguyen K, Pezzino NC. Presented at Eastern States 2021 Conference [Virtual]. April 2021.
  • “Identifying Opportunities to Improve Patient Safety in the Community Pharmacy Setting”. Lovett SL, Cicco N, Pezzino NC. Presented at Weis Markets 2021 Pharmacy Residency Symposium [Virtual]. May 2021.
  • “Student Impact on COVID-19”. Mabry E, Pezzino NC. Presented at Pennsylvania Pharmacists Care Network Meeting [Virtual]. March 2021.
  • “And the Award for Outstanding Pharmacy Role in Driving Clinical Services: Student Pharmacists”. Kieck D, Pezzino NC. Presented at Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association Mid-Year Meeting [Virtual]. February 2021.
  • “Keeping Group Sessions Sweet. Tips and Tricks on Facilitating Meaningful Group Sessions for Patients with Diabetes”. Denger E, Pezzino NC. Presented at Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association Mid-Year Meeting [Virtual]. February 2021.
  • “Sweetening the Deal: Creating an Effective Recruitment Plan”. Pezzino NC. Presented at Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association Mid-Year Meeting [Virtual]. January 2021.
  • “DSMES from Start to Accreditation”. Pezzino NC. Beiml M. Presented at Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association Mid-Year Meeting [Virtual]. January 2021.
  • “The Current is Chancing: Engaging Patients with Diabetes in an Appointment-based Model” Pezzino NC. Presented at Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting [Virtual]. October 2020.
  • “Changing the Tide: Evaluating Prescriber Perceptions of Pharmacists’ Med Safety Interventions”. Nicholson A, Pezzino NC. Presented at Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting [Virtual]. October 2020.
  • “What You Need to Know about New Drugs Hitting the Market this Year”. Pezzino NC. Presented at Good Neighbor Pharmacy ThoughtSpot 2020 National Tradeshow. Orlando, FL [Virtual]. August 2020.
  • "Disease State Refresher". Pezzino NC. Invited Faculty for the National Community Pharmacy Association fellowship program. Alexandria, VA [Virtual]. August 2020.
  • “Connect, Collaborate and Create your DSME Accreditation ”. Higginbotham S, Pezzino NC. Presented at Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association Mid-Year Meeting. Harrisburg, PA. January 2020.
  • “Connect, Collaborate and Create Your Individual and Group Facilitated Diabetes Sessions”. Higginbotham S, Pezzino NC. Presented at Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association Mid-Year Meeting. Harrisburg, PA. January 2020.
  • “Connect, Collaborate and Create Your DSMES Accreditation Materials with S.M.A.R.T. GOALS, Documentation, and Quality Improvement”. Higginbotham S, Pezzino NC. Presented at Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association Mid-Year Meeting. Harrisburg, PA. January 2020.
  • “#VaxWithMe, a Look into the History of Anti-Vaxxers and Where We Go from Here”. Morcom C, Pezzino NC. Presented at Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association Mid-Year Meeting. Seven Springs, PA. January 2020.
  • "Access to Care and Medications". Pezzino NC. Presented at Pharmacy Quality Alliance Leadership Summit 2019. Alexandria, VA. November 2019.
  • Pezzino NC, Svetcov C. Vax-Innovation: Incorporating the newly approved RSV and pneumococcal vaccines into community workflow. Pharmacy Times Continuing Education. September 2023.
  • Lewis TL, Pezzino NC. Diabetes care at the pharmacy counter: Navigating the latest updates for community pharmacists. National Community Pharmacists Association. 2023;8:39-49.
  • Litvak I, Nguyen K, Pezzino NC. Community pharmacists’ perceptions on their role in counseling patients on lifestyle modifications. Journal of American Pharmacists Association. 2023;63(4):S57-S63.
  • Olenak JL, Pezzino NC. Chapter 7: Musculoskeletal Injuries and Disorders. In: Krinsky D, et al Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs. 21st edition. Washington, DC: American Pharmacists Association; 2023.
  • Pezzino NC, Hall DL. Type 2 diabetes mellitus: New onset. In: Schwinghammer TL, ed. Pharmacotherapy casebook: A patient-focused approach. 11th ed. New York, NY: McGrawHill, 2023. Case answers provided in: Instructor's Guide to Accompany the Pharmacotherapy Casebook. 11th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2023.
  • Pezzino NC. The role of the pharmacist in shingles vaccination recommendations: the critical need to educate, motivate, and increase access, featuring patient counseling video vignettes external website. Pharmacy Times CE. 1 November 2022.
  • Kieck D, Ostir S, Blair J, Yenser E, Chapin M, Lovett S, Pezzino NC. Patient Perceptions of a Student-Led Remote Hypertension Education Program. Journal of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy. 2021;4:1315-1323.
  • Knapp K, Pezzino NC. Empowering technicians to call the shot external website: increasing the uptake of the influenza vaccine in the community pharmacy. Pharmacy Times CE. 16 November 2018.
  • Pezzino NC. Caring for Contact Lenses external website: A Guide for the Pharmacist. PowerPak CE. 31 July 2017.
  • Pezzino NC. Are Probiotics Right for this Patient? Individualizing Recommendations for Disease Management and Health Maintenance external website. PowerPak CE. 27 April 2017.
  • Pezzino NC, Marciniak MW, Smith M, Ferreri SP. Physician-Reported Factors that Encourage Collaboration with Community Pharmacists. Journal of American Pharmacists Association. 2017;57(3):S279-S283.
  • Lambda Kappa Sigma Distinguished Young Pharmacist Award | 2022
  • Wilkes 7th Annual Student Research- Top Clinical Award | 2019
  • Pharmacists’ Mutual Distinguished Young Pharmacist | 2018
  • Wilkes University Outstanding New Faculty Award | 2018
  • Wilkes 6th Annual Student Research- Top Clinical Award | 2018
  • Pennsylvania Top Ten Under Ten Pharmacist Award | 2017
  • Lambda Kappa Sigma Spotlight | 2017
  • Phi Lambda Sigma Nominated Honorary Member | 2017
  • APhA New Practitioner Spotlight | 2016
  • Nominee for Wilkes Innovations in Teaching | 2016