Member Spotlight: Randy Burden, PharmD

Randy Burden, PharmD, often traveled to the eight northern Pueblo tribes in New Mexico as part of his job with the U.S. Indian Health Service cardiovascular risk reduction program. At each site visit, he became engulfed in addressing lipid disorders, diabetes, the metabolic syndrome, and blood pressure problems in his patient population. During that period, he realized he specifically wanted to focus on one of these precursors to heart disease, a leading cause of death for Native Americans.

U.S. Indian Health Service colleague Ralph La Forge, MSc, introduced Dr. Burden to the NLA in 2004, and he has been a member ever since. Today, he works as a pharmacist clinician where his role is akin to that of a disease management specialist. His practice closely mirrors that of the patient-centered medical home, which uses registries and other forms of health information exchange to help patients get indicated care when and where they need it in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner.¹

In addition to attempts at preventing onset or progression of disease, Dr. Burden's team uses therapeutic lifestyle approaches to address their concomitant diseases. Watching patients take ownership of their health is almost as rewarding as seeing improved clinical outcomes, Dr. Burden says.

Dr. Burden meets with a patient in his office

"It’s great when they make that connection and realize that what we're doing improves their quality of life, as if we’re the coaches and they’re the quarterbacks who are getting kudos for making the right play," he said.

Dr. Burden’s "whole person" approach extends into other aspects of his professional and personal life, such as his work as the pastor of health and wellness at a community church in Albuquerque.

"“We have a congregation of 800, and what we try to do is mix health care into the context of a faith-based community setting," Dr. Burden said. "There’s a strong link between what I do at work and what I do in the church, and we want people to realize how important it is to integrate these areas in their own lives."

Looking ahead, Dr. Burden hopes to see the practice of Clinical Lipidology extend to patient care in ways that include looking at the spiritual aspects of the patient. He also would like to see the utilization and broader recognition of Clinical Lipid Specialists within the medical community.

In his free time, Dr. Burden likes to stay busy with outdoor activities such as fly fishing, swimming, biking and running.

"I’m convinced that as HCPs, we have to be an example to our patients and we cannot live in a fish bowl," he said. "We will be more successful if we practice what we preach, because we also face the same challenges as our patients."