Member Spotlight: Barbara S. Wiggins, PharmD

For Barbara Wiggins, PharmD, a typical work day involves working up patients, managing medication reconciliation, verifying doses, compliance, and completing rounds as a member of an interdisciplinary health care team. Her spare time is divided into providing input on patient management, counseling and teaching.

Before she became a clinical pharmacy specialist in cardiology, Dr. Wiggins had deferred going into clinical practice and served in the United states Navy for 6 years. She then continued her education by obtaining her PharmD, and made the transition to clinical practice. She enjoys all aspects of patient care.

Dr. Wiggins first became interested in Clinical Lipidology through a colleague who invited her to get involved with the National Lipid Association where she participated in the naming and development of what is now known as the ACCL.

"I think it is easy to just think of lipidology in terms of HDL, LDL, triglycerides, etc.," Dr. Wiggins said, "through my involvement with the NLA and the ACCL, I have acquired a greater depth of knowledge regarding the various aspects of lipid management that I incorporate into my everyday practice."

She has gradually become more involved with the NLA, starting first with involvement with the ACCL and then moving on to serve on the NLA and Southeast Lipid Association (SELA) boards.

In the future, Dr. Wiggins would like to see lipid management focus on methods to increase medication compliance, particularly with statin therapy, and she would also like to someday see a breakthrough on HDL-raising agents that show reduced cardiovascular outcomes.

Outside of the office, Dr. Wiggins likes to spend time with her husband, her three children, three dogs, and loves running. Something surprising that most people don’t know about Dr. Wiggins is that she is a former professional runner who competed in the Olympic trials in the marathon, and was at one time nationally ranked for the 5 and 10 kilometer distances. She continues to race and is looking forward to running in the U.S. Army 10- miler in Washington, D.C., this October.