The Mental Health Program (MHP) was founded in 1983 under the direction of now Professor Emeritus Raymond C. Love, PharmD, BCPP, FASHP. 

Under the current directors, Bethany DiPaula, PharmD, BCPP, FASHP, and Megan J. Ehret, PharmD, MS, BCPP, the program continues to grow in partnerships with the Maryland Department of Health, The University of Maryland Medical Center, and Office of Pharmacy Services. 

About the Program:

Maryland Department of Health

The primary goal of this memoranda is to improve medication use and safety for patients who are served in the Maryland Department of Health mental health facilities. MHP coordinates the Maryland Department of Health Behavioral Health Administration  Statewide Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and participates in the planning of mental health pharmacy services and systems at various levels of state government. This planning has resulted in the introduction of a number of innovations including clinical pharmacy services, robotics, participation in group purchasing programs, therapeutic and generic substitution, dose optimization, statewide data tracking, coordinated on-call services, central formulary management, drug use analysis and prior authorization. These initiatives not only result in benefit for patients, but yield millions of dollars in annual savings for the state of Maryland.

The University of Maryland Medical Center

The primary goal of this memoranda is to provide psychiatric pharmacy services to the Midtown Campus, including consultation services, Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee reviews, psychopharmacology rounds, and esketamine clinic development. Current initiatives include development of long-acting injectable medication administration, pharmacogenomics consultative services, and a pharmacotherapy consultation services. 

Office of Pharmacy Services

The MHP serves two memoranda with the Office of Pharmacy Services with the Maryland Department of Health, the Peer Review for Mental Health Drugs Program (PRP) and Antipsychotic Prescription Review Program (APRP).  PRP provides a peer-review authorization process for children under 18 years of age to ensure the safe and effective use of antipsychotic medications in children. APRP provides a retrospective analysis of antipsychotic prescribing data and uses the data to promote more evidence-based and cost-effective prescribing in the state of Maryland Medicaid program. 

Our Staff:

The program includes over 50 faculty and staff members (administrators, advanced practice pharmacists, pharmacists, technicians) located at five adult residential facilities, the University of Maryland Medical Center, Midtown Campus and at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center. 

Education Programs:

Residents

MHP trains pharmacy students and prepares post-doctoral pharmacy residents. Established in 1987, the program's ASHP accredited PGY-2 Psychiatric Pharmacy Practice Residency was the School of Pharmacy's first residency program. Our residents currently work as psychiatric advanced practice pharmacists, faculty, administrators, and researchers throughout the United States.

Previous Residents:

  • Tiffany Khieu
  • Chelsey Axelrod
  • Leo Batongbakal
  • Vinny Cavaliere
  • Tiffany Buckley
  • Patrick Stolz
  • Sarah Luttrell
  • Sarah Norman
  • Erica Davis
  • Teresa Elsobky
  • Sheryl Thedford
  • Jennifer Dress
  • Dongmi Park
  • Ashley LaFlame
  • Azita Alipour
  • Darren Freeman
  • Crystal Henderson
  • Rebecca Waite
  • Jenai Paul
  • Sujin Lee
  • Jami Butz
  • Heidi Wehring
  • Quynh Duong
  • Jason Noel
  • Nancy Clark
  • Matthew Nelson
  • Deanna Kelly
  • Samantha Gammill-Lee
  • Andrew Falsetti
  • Bethany DiPaula
  • Jami Lingle
  • Michelle Towe
  • Barton Brown
  • Glenn Younkins
  • Janice Hoffman
  • Jay Sherr

Pharmacist Administration of Maintenance Injectable Medications

MHP has created two board approved training programs for pharmacist administration of maintenance injectable medications, one for registered pharmacists in the state of Maryland and one for student pharmacists enrolled in the University of Maryland, School of Pharmacy. The training includes review of current regulations, medications administered via subcutaneous and intramuscular injection, and injection techniques. The program also utilizes a live learning lab with industry partners who demonstrate appropriate preparation and administration of injectable medications using simulation models.

Community Outreach:

Through partnerships with Health Alliance Associates and the Maryland Addiction Consultation Service (MACS), MHP extends its reach into the community. Dr. DiPaula provides medication management services for patients being treated for psychiatric and substance use disorders. As a MACS consultant, she provides support to prescribers and pharmacists in addressing the needs of patients with substance use disorders. MHP also collaborates with the state, the University of Maryland School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry, and the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center to conduct research to optimize psychiatric pharmacotherapy.