Okere appointed Division Head for Outcomes and Practice Advancement

Okere joins the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Iowa, where he served as department executive officer and chair of the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Health Services Research. A distinguished leader, clinician and scholar, Okere brings more than a decade of experience in pharmacy education, clinical services and academic administration. He earned his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Minnesota, a Master of Science in Biochemistry from Brigham Young University and a Master of Business Administration from Ferris State University.

“It is an honor to serve alongside a world-class faculty whose dedication has established the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences as the top pharmacy school in New York State and a national leader,” says Okere. “Building on this strong foundation, my vision is to advance health outcomes through implementation science and the application of artificial intelligence in predictive algorithms. Our focus includes improving care for rural and underserved communities across New York State. Together, we will continue to expand our impact, foster collaboration and translate innovation into lasting improvements in patient care and community health.”

Okere’s work centers on clinical pharmacy, implementation science and interdisciplinary collaboration in health care delivery. He has led innovative programs in cardiovascular disease prevention, telehealth, and antimicrobial stewardship, with many efforts focused on underserved populations. His research has been funded by several federal and state agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the NACDS Foundation, and his scholarship is widely published in leading journals.

As division head of OPA, Okere will lead a dynamic faculty dedicated to advancing pharmacy practice and education. He will play a key role in shaping the division’s future and fostering collaboration among the practitioners, educators and researchers working together to implement and assess innovations in health care delivery and learning.

“We are so very happy to welcome Dr. Okere to our team,” says Bill Prescott, PharmD, chair and clinical professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice. “A distinguished clinician scientist, Dr. Okere’s professional focus spans clinical pharmacy, implementation science and interdisciplinary collaboration in health care delivery, and his scholarship is widely published in leading journals. All considered, he is strongly positioned to lead the Division of OPA, driving change at the convergence of practice and education, where practitioners, educators and scholars work alongside each other to implement and evaluate innovations in health care delivery and education.”