Professional Role and Responsibilities
Emily J. Christenberry serves as a Clinical Associate Professor and Residency Director for the PGY2 Pharmacotherapy Residency Program at the UTEP School of Pharmacy, specifically within the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Sciences. She specializes in inpatient general medicine and operates a clinical practice site at the University Medical Center of El Paso.
Her faculty role involves leadership in residency program coordination and academic instruction, with direct involvement in advancing clinical pharmacy education and practice in an academic setting primarily serving underserved and Hispanic populations.
Academic and Professional Credentials
- Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)
- Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS), certified since December 2016 (expires December 2030)
- Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (BCGP), certification valid through December 2025
- Licensed Pharmacist in the states of Texas and Indiana
- Certifications in Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Education obtained from Butler University (2008–2014)
Areas of Expertise and Specialization
- Clinical pharmacy with focus on inpatient general medicine
- Development, implementation, and refinement of Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPE) readiness assessment tools, emphasizing skills-based evaluation and continuous curriculum improvement
- Research and quality improvement projects addressing transitions of care and technology-enabled remote delivery of clinical pharmacy services, specifically targeting reduction of health disparities among vulnerable populations along the Texas-Mexico border region
- Integration of interprofessional education (IPE) within pharmacy experiential curriculum, fostering collaboration skills essential for modern healthcare delivery
Research, Scholarly Contributions, and Publications
Dr. Christenberry has contributed extensively to pharmacy education and clinical practice literature, with key research themes including:
- Assessment and enhancement of pharmacy student preparedness for clinical rotations (APPE readiness), with an established assessment framework comprising evidence-based Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs)
- Evaluation of transitions of care processes in a family medicine academic setting, demonstrating opportunities to improve care continuity and optimize Medicare Transitional Care Management billing
- Investigations into the accuracy and clinical impact of point-of-care INR testing compared to venipuncture-based confirmation in anticoagulation management, highlighting potential risks of dosage errors from biased test results
- Impact analysis of remote clinical pharmacy services on health disparities, providing recommendations to mitigate inequities due to socioeconomic and literacy barriers
- Evaluation of pharmacy students’ self-assessed interprofessional collaboration behaviors after clinical rotations, confirming significant positive development in IPE competencies
Her scholarly output has accumulated numerous citations and includes publications in peer-reviewed journals such as Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning and the Journal of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy.
Awards and Honors
- P2 Teacher of the Year (2018-2019), UTEP School of Pharmacy, based on student recognition
- Lilly Achievement Award, Butler University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (2014) for excellence in diabetes management
- Health Sciences Student Assembly Award, Butler University (2013) for service dedication
- Lambda Kappa Sigma Phi Chapter Alumnae Award, Butler University (2013)
- Recipient of the ACCP Mentored Research Investigator Training (MeRIT) Scholar award representing UTEP at the global level (2018)
- Recognized as a 2025 R&I Outstanding Researcher – Distinguished Career Award recipient at UTEP, reflecting significant contributions to research and mentorship
- Honored with the UTEP EDGE Faculty Champion Award (2025) and the College of Health Sciences Teaching Excellence Award (2022)
Professional Affiliations and Leadership
Emily Christenberry actively participates in professional organizations focused on clinical pharmacy and geriatrics:
- American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP)
- Chair-Elect, Geriatrics Practice and Research Network (October 2025 – Present)
- Secretary/Treasurer, Geriatrics Practice and Research Network (October 2024 – October 2025)
- Member, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Committee (October 2024 – Present)
- Member of Lambda Kappa Sigma, Phi Lambda Sigma, Alpha Chi Omega, and the El Paso Pharmacy Association, having held leadership positions, including past presidency of the El Paso Pharmacy Association
Language Proficiency
- English: Native or bilingual proficiency
- Spanish: Limited working proficiency
Key Contact Information
- Email: ejchristenberry@utep.edu
- Phone: (915) 747-5675
- Office: UTEP School of Pharmacy, 500 W. University, El Paso, Texas 79968
- Faculty Profile: [UTEP Faculty Page](https://hb2504.utep.edu/Home/Profile?username=ejchristenberry)
- LinkedIn: [linkedin.com/in/emilychristenberry](https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilychristenberry)
Dr. Emily J. Christenberry's profile demonstrates a robust combination of clinical expertise, educational leadership, and focused research on pharmacy education and healthcare disparities relevant to a border community. Her roles in residency program direction and active committee leadership within ACCP position her as a key influencer in advancing pharmacy practice and professional development at UTEP and beyond.
