60Colleen Barker, from Northampton, PA, is a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and Registered Pharmacist (RPh) with extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry. She completed her undergraduate education at Indiana Wesleyan University, a Christian-centered academic institution, where she earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Psychology. Graduating Magna Cum Laude, she demonstrated academic excellence throughout her studies and was consistently recognized on the Dean’s List. Her passion for the medical field led her to pursue further education at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, where she earned her PharmD in 2005, once again graduating with honors and as a member of the Rho Chi National Pharmacy Honor Society.
Colleen has built a reputation throughout her career for her medical information management, medical writing, and pharmacy informatics expertise. Her work requires collaboration with multiple departments, including legal, regulatory affairs, healthcare marketing, and government regulatory bodies. As a Pharmacy Informaticist, she utilizes information technology to improve patient medication documentation, management, and delivery processes. She is key in optimizing medication use and safety by reviewing prescriptions for potential drug interactions and ensuring that patients receive the best possible care.
Colleen’s professional journey began in 2002 as a Pharmacy Intern at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Pennsylvania. She also interned at CVS Pharmacy, where she gained experience preparing intravenous medications and managing prescription dispensing systems. In 2005, she was hired as a staff pharmacist at CVS, where she quickly became proficient at managing a busy pharmacy with a high prescription volume.
She supervised a team of more than 15 technicians, trained recruits, and served as a preceptor to pharmacy student interns. Her deep understanding of insurance processes, drug regulations, and prescription claims management, particularly for narcotic medications, became a hallmark of her career.
In 2010, Colleen transitioned to a position at Telex-Merck & Co. as a Medical Team Member. In this role, she provided vital support on inquiries regarding Merck’s pharmaceutical products and documented adverse events. This position also exposed her to medical writing, where she was responsible for maintaining detailed knowledge of Merck’s product information, including "off-label" uses, and ensuring the accuracy and compliance of all materials.
Colleen continued to expand her expertise by joining Bristol Myers Squibb as a manager within their Medical Information Contact Center, where she focused on providing product information related to Immunology, Oncology, and Neuroscience. She also worked for Otsuka America Pharmaceuticals, Inc., before taking on a senior scientific role at Merck & Co. As a Senior Scientific Specialist in the NewAge Systems Division, she played a key role in developing accurate and high-quality scientific information to respond to unsolicited information requests from healthcare professionals.
Colleen is a Senior Medical Information-Respiratory/Oncology Manager at TEVA Pharmaceuticals, NA. She works closely with various internal teams, including legal, regulatory, marketing, and sales, to support developing and maintaining medical materials for pharmaceutical products. Her work involves the creation and review of medical response documents, as well as the authorship of healthcare and promotional content.
Outside of her professional achievements, Colleen is deeply motivated by her personal experiences. Having lost her mother to leukemia at the age of 30, she has become a passionate advocate for cancer research, hoping to help improve treatments and outcomes for cancer patients. Despite her professional success, she remains grounded in her love for nature and simple pleasures like camping and attending car races. She is also a lifelong music enthusiast, performing for family and friends at various events and as part of her church’s worship team.
Colleen Barker's life and career as a pharmacist reflect her unwavering commitment to her patients and personal values. She strives to positively impact both the medical field and her community.