Interviews

C difficile survivor Caitlin McClain discusses the Peggy Lillis Foundation’s patient support and policy work, the need for new antibiotics and stronger stewardship, and the lasting psychological impact of the disease.

C difficile survivor Caitlin McClain describes how pharmacists helped secure her fidaxomicin supply and guide her recovery.

Brooke Hudspeth, PharmD, explains why community pharmacists, often the source of meters and supplies, are well positioned to guide new testers.

Caitlin McClain describes how months of unrecognized C difficile infection after antibiotic treatment led to septic shock, failed fecal transplants, and, eventually, a successful donor-directed fecal microbiota transplant.

Pharmacists can reduce COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy through honest, nonjudgmental communication and by using every patient touchpoint as an opportunity to offer vaccination.

Joshua J. Neumiller, PharmD, CDCES, of the American Diabetes Association, discusses pharmacists’ role in diabetes and CKD care at ASN Kidney Week 2026.

Jai Radhakrishnan, MD, MBBS, MS, FASN, discusses why IgG4-related kidney disease is often missed and what the MITIGATE subgroup data presented at ASN Kidney Week 2026 show.

Cystatin C is gaining ground in kidney guidelines and medication research, but a unified approach to using it in drug dosing has yet to emerge.

Creatinine's kinetic profile and nonrenal determinants can leave clinicians behind as kidney function declines or recovers in critically ill patients.

With AI handling manual calls and clinical notes, pharmacists and technicians can refocus on getting patients to care and keeping them on therapy.

At issue is whether faster clearance of unbound drug shortens free time above the minimum inhibitory concentration, a question with substantial literature and strong opinions on both sides.

In part 3 of this interview, Michael Mina, MD, PhD, discusses VYD2311’s variant-resistant design and the role pharmacists may play in explaining emerging immunization options.

Parminder K. Judge, PhD, explains why eGFR and electrolytes should be monitored when diuretics are added to reach intensive BP targets in patients with CKD

In part 2 of this interview, Michael Mina, MD, PhD, discusses LIBERTY study data showing that VYD2311 boosted neutralizing activity without interfering with mRNA COVID-19 vaccine response.

A lipidologist outlines how PREVENT, coronary calcium scoring, and restored LDL-C targets guide personalized lipid therapy and where pharmacists fit in.

Pharmacists play a large role in mavacamten care, screening for interacting drugs that can raise exposure and may require dose adjustment or withholding.

Validating patient concerns and then reframing them around stroke prevention can help pharmacists counsel patients who worry that statins harm memory.

Michael Mina, MD, PhD, discusses phase 3 LIBERTY study data showing that the monoclonal antibody VYD2311, alone or combined with an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, was associated with fewer adverse events than vaccination alone.

Alexander Turchin, MD, MS, recommends shared decision-making, time-limited lifestyle trials, and gentle persistence to move patients toward statins.

A lipidologist traces patient fears to 2012 FDA label language and reviews observational and randomized data showing no cognitive harm from statins.

Pharmacists can prompt once-in-a-lifetime Lp(a) testing, reinforce statin adherence, and put muscle aches in context, according to the NLA president.

Lp(a) guidance trailed low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by decades, but the NLA, ESC, EAS, and now ACC/AHA advise testing all adults at least once, says Dinesh Kalra, MD.

From lifestyle-only approaches to fears about memory, an expert outlines the statin misconceptions pharmacists are most likely to hear.

Alanna Morris, MD, MSc, joins Craig Beavers, PharmD, to discuss the 2026 ACC HFpEF pathway, foundational therapy, and where pharmacists fit in.

Pharmacists have an opening to close chronic kidney disease (CKD) medication gaps as generic ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and SGLT2 inhibitors go underused.

Contraception requests and STI treatment are natural openings for pharmacists to discuss HIV testing and prevention, says Christina Madison, PharmD.

Kevin Astle, PharmD, says expanding pharmacy services to HIV prevention and testing helps meet patients where they are.

A Peterson Health Technology Institute evaluation found virtual chronic kidney disease (CKD) care companies aren’t slowing kidney function decline or boosting medication adherence, despite billions invested.