Governor Abbott Names President And Appoints Five To Texas State Board of Pharmacy
Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Donald “Donnie” Lewis to the Texas State Board of Pharmacy for a term set to expire on August 31, 2019. Additionally, the Governor appointed Rick Fernandez, Daniel Guerrero, Lori Henke, Pharm.D., and Julie Spier for terms set to expire on August 31, 2023. Also, the Governor named Dennis Wiesner president of the board. The board fosters the provision of quality pharmaceutical care to the citizens of Texas and regulates the practice of pharmacy in accordance with the highest standards of ethics, accountability, efficiency, effectiveness and openness.
Donald “Donnie” Lewis of Athens is a staff pharmacist for Malakoff Pharmacy and Tyler Hematology Oncology Pharmacy. He has practiced in hospital and community pharmacy for over 40 years, during which he owned two of his own pharmacies. Additionally, he operates a wedding and event venue and is a licensed real estate agent. He is a former Athens City Council member and Mayor Pro-Tem, and currently is a member of The University of Texas Health East Texas Board of Managers in Athens. Previously, he volunteered for the Pendulum Project Culinary Program and has coordinated pharmacy services for medical mission trips to Africa, Peru and Ecuador. Lewis received a Bachelor of Science in pharmacy from the University of Houston College of Pharmacy.
Rick Fernandez of Northlake is a healthcare director at Walgreens, overseeing 550+ pharmacy locations in the Texas, Oklahoma, and the Southern New Mexico. He has served in various capacities within Walgreens for more than 25 years. He is a past president of the El Paso Pharmacy Association, and previously served on the Admissions Committee and Advisory Board for the newly opened University of Texas El Paso College of Pharmacy. He is a member of the American Pharmacist Association and the Texas Pharmacy Association. Fernandez received a Bachelor of Science in pharmacy from the University of New Mexico and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, graduating with honors.
Daniel Guerrero of San Marcos is a former three-term Mayor and City Council Member for the City of San Marcos. He currently serves as a lecturer in the McCoy College of Business at Texas State University and as a business development consultant with J.L. Powers & Associates. As a 36-year youth cancer survivor, he serves as an avid volunteer with youth cancer nonprofits such as the Sunshine Kids Foundation and Camp Discovery. Guerrero received a Bachelor of Arts in communications from Texas State University and a Master of Science in leadership from St. Edward's University.
Lori Henke, Pharm.D. of Amarillo is the director of pharmacy at Northwest Texas Healthcare System. She is a member of the Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists Research and Education Foundation Board, past president of the Panhandle Society of Health-System Pharmacists, and former board member of the Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists. She is the 2nd vice chair of the Amarillo Area Foundation Board and an advisory board member of the Amarillo College Pharmacy Technician Program. Additionally, she is a past president of the Junior League of Amarillo, former member of the Texas Tech Institutional Review Board, and former co-chairman for the development of the Medical Center League House in Amarillo. Henke received a Bachelor of Science in pharmacy from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Doctor of Pharmacy degree from The University of Texas at Austin, and a GSK Pharmacy Leadership Certification from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
Julie Spier of Katy is the director of pharmacy operations for the southern division of Albertsons, Randalls, and Tom Thumb, where she oversees 158 locations in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas. Through the years, she has served in the capacity of pharmacist, pharmacy manager, regional pharmacy manager, and patient care services pharmacy manager. She is a member of the Texas Federation of Drug Stores, where she has served as president, secretary/treasurer, and vice president. She is a member of the Texas Pharmacy Association, American Leadership Forum Med Class 5, and the University of Houston Dean’s Advisory Council, which she has twice chaired. Additionally, she is an active member of the Boy Scouts of America serving at the troop, district, and council levels in various capacities. Spier received a Bachelor of Science in biology from Sam Houston State University and a Bachelor of Science in pharmacy from the University of Houston College of Pharmacy.
Dennis Wiesner of Austin most recently served as senior director of privacy, pharmacy, and government affairs for H-E-B Grocery. He is a member of the Texas Pharmacy Association, International Association of Privacy Professionals, National Council for Prescription Drug Programs, National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators, American Society for Pharmacy Law, Food Marketing Institute Pharmacy Advisory Council, Texas Department of State Health Services Pandemic Subcommittee, Texas Blue Ribbon Task Force on Emergency Preparedness, and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Policy Council. He is a past board member of the Texas Pharmacy Foundation, a member and past president of the Texas Federation of Chain Drug Stores, and a past representative to the Texas Pharmacy Congress. Wiesner received a Bachelor of Science in pharmacy from The University of Texas at Austin.