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In the pharmacy world, there are many different career paths one can take. Some roles are more well-known, while others are under the radar. Clinical infectious disease consultants are the latter, but Clinical Associate Professor Wesley Kufel is trying to change that.

In a recently published paper, , Kufel focuses on the role and value of infectious disease (ID) consultant pharmacists, which he says is a relatively under-recognized but vital part of clinical care teams.

The paper, published in , wasn’t a traditional research study but an important viewpoint piece about the role of infectious disease pharmacists and how they fit into patient care teams.

“Infectious disease pharmacists bring expertise in antimicrobial pharmacology and pharmacotherapy and are often essential members of stewardship programs,” Kufel said. “But their scope goes beyond that, as they can play a major role in direct clinical consultation.”

Throughout the paper, Kufel explains that ID consultant pharmacists differ from antimicrobial stewardship pharmacists in their direct, proactive involvement in patient rounds and real-time therapeutic decision-making.

“The infectious disease consultant pharmacist’s role is distinct,” he said. “Consultant pharmacists are deeply involved in bedside care. Their input happens in real time, during clinical decision-making, not after the fact. This proactive model allows them to shape better outcomes and collaborate directly with the rest of the infectious disease team.”

Kufel emphasized how ID consultant pharmacists bring advanced training and certification to the care team, helping to address complex infectious disease cases and rising antimicrobial resistance.

“Add to that the recurring issue of antibiotic shortages and the national shortage of ID physicians, and it’s clear we need more trained professionals in this area,” he said. “Infectious disease consultant pharmacists can help alleviate these pressures by bringing specialized expertise to optimize therapy and support clinical decision-making. Their role has the potential to make a difference locally, nationally and even internationally.”

The concept of an ID consultant pharmacist isn’t anything new. Kufel explained how it actually predates antimicrobial stewardship programs.

“In the late 1980s and early 1990s, ID pharmacists primarily functioned as consultants before stewardship became a defined practice area,” he said. “So, in a sense, we’re returning to the roots of what ID pharmacy was built upon. The goal now is to modernize and expand these consultant roles to meet today’s healthcare needs. Bringing these positions back to the forefront can help support clinicians dealing with increasingly complex infectious disease cases.”

With such a passion for ID, Kufel started his own clinical practice model at SUNY Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, N.Y. in 2017 that now serves as a training platform for pharmacy students.

“Before I started this clinical practice at SUNY Upstate, there wasn’t anyone serving in this capacity, so establishing this program was a meaningful step forward for both patient care and pharmacy education.”

While he continues to push for more recognition of ID consultant pharmacists, Kufel admits that one of the biggest issues they’re currently facing is that there simply aren’t many infectious disease consultant pharmacist positions available. Which is why he’s hoping this publication acts as a “call to action” to expand these roles nationwide.

“Funding for these roles has been challenging, because there are no accreditation incentives for institutions to support them, unlike with antimicrobial stewardship programs,” he said. “As a result, many ID consultant pharmacists are employed through colleges or schools of pharmacy, balancing their clinical practice with teaching, research and service. That can make it hard to provide year-round clinical coverage at the level these roles deserve. Expanding funding opportunities is key if we want to maintain and grow these positions nationwide.”

On a personal level, Kufel shared that being published in a prestigious ID journal like Clinical Infectious Diseases was a huge personal and professional milestone for him.

“It’s one of the top journals in our field and has always been a career goal of mine,” he shared. “To have this piece accepted and to be the first author was extremely gratifying. Beyond that, this year has been especially rewarding, as I’m also being inducted as a fellow of both the American College of Clinical Pharmacy and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. It’s been a great reminder of how meaningful this work can be, and how important it is to keep advocating for these consultant pharmacist roles.”