Leader in Geriatric Pharmacotherapy Named Parke-Davis Chair

Nicole Brandt, PharmD, MBA, BCGP, FASCP, brings expertise in optimizing medication therapy for older adults to endowed chair role.

By Becky Ceraul
May 5, 2025

Nicole Brandt, PharmD, MBA, BCGP, FASCP, professor in the Department of Practice, Sciences, and Health Outcomes Research (P-SHOR) at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy and executive director of the School’s Peter Lamy Center on Drug Therapy and Aging, has been named the School’s Parke-Davis Chair in Geriatric Pharmacotherapy. She succeeds Linda Wastila, PhD, professor of P-SHOR, who is retiring this year.

“I am humbled and honored to be named the Parke-Davis Chair in Geriatric Pharmacotherapy,” says Brandt. “This recognition affirms the critical importance of advancing evidence-based medication use and safety in older adults and acknowledges the collective efforts of colleagues, mentors, and collaborators dedicated to this field. I am committed to upholding the legacy of this position and to furthering innovations in geriatric pharmacotherapy through research, education, and advocacy.”

Since joining the School of Pharmacy in 1999 after earning her PharmD here in 1997, Brandt has been a transformative leader in geriatric pharmacotherapy. She has expanded geriatric training opportunities, including the geriatrics/palliative care pathway in our Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program, an American Society of Health-System Pharmacists-accredited geriatrics residency, and a two-year post-PharmD fellowship.

“A champion of interdisciplinary collaboration, Dr. Brandt has worked across various practice settings to advance pharmacist-directed services that support older adults with multiple chronic conditions,” says Sarah L.J. Michel, PhD, dean and professor of pharmaceutical sciences.

Brandt leads key initiatives at the MedStar Center for Successful Aging and played a pivotal role in securing Age-Friendly University distinction for the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She is currently leading efforts with the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists in leveraging pharmacists as Age-Friendly Champions.

Dr. Brandt is a recognized advocate for policy change at both the state and national levels. She has led projects addressing Medicare Part D Medication Therapy Management programs, high-risk medications, and medication stewardship. As an author of the 2012, 2015, 2019, and 2023 American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Beers Criteria, a past president and board chairman of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, and a co-chair of the COVID-19 Implementation Guide for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care, she has had a profound impact on the field. Additionally, she helped launch the Elder Care Medicine Network, a collaborative initiative focused on patient-centered outcomes research in medication use among older adults.

Beyond her academic and research contributions, Dr. Brandt has remained dedicated to clinical practice, consistently serving as a consultant pharmacist specializing in geriatric care. Her outstanding contributions to geriatric education earned her AGS’s 2019 Dennis W. Jahnigen Memorial Award and the 2022 Clinician of the Year Award from the Foundation for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.

Established in 1991 by Warner-Lambert—later acquired by Pfizer—the Parke-Davis Chair in Geriatric Pharmacotherapy recognizes the longstanding relationship between the School of Pharmacy and the pharmaceutical industry.

“Dr. Brandt’s appointment to this prestigious position reflects her exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to optimizing medication therapy for older adults and those that care for them,” says Jill A. Morgan, PharmD, BCPPS, professor and chair of P-SHOR.

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