Author: [AUTHOR] Published on 3/1/2022 12:00:00 AM

Kellie Schoolar Reynolds, PharmD, Director, Division of Infectious Disease Pharmacology, US Food and Drug Administration, Gaithersburg, MD

What Professional Accomplishment Are You Most Proud Of?
There are two accomplishments that I like to highlight – one related to review activities at the FDA and another related to people. For the first, I am proud of the role I played in the development and approval of HIV drugs beginning in the mid-1990s. The entire landscape of HIV therapy has been transformed and I had the privilege of applying clinical pharmacology principles to dose selection and drug interaction evaluation. The lessons from that era have informed the development of other life-saving therapies, including drugs to treat hepatitis C. For the second example, I am overjoyed by the career advancement of individuals who started their FDA career with me as their team leader or supervisor. Many have been promoted to leadership positions at the FDA and with industry.

What Has Been the Greatest Challenge in Your Career?
The greatest challenge is determining when to say no to new opportunities. There is always something to learn and to participate in. With the wide range of subtopics related to clinical pharmacology and to infectious diseases, I have to make a conscious effort to not try to learn everything. I can’t attend every professional meeting or workshop. I can’t join every working group. Over time, I learned to look for opportunities where I can provide unique value. I have never regretted turning down an invitation because there are always other willing and capable individuals to fill the role.

What Is Your Favorite Society Memory?
I have many treasured ASCPT memories, including serving as associate editor for Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (CPT) and president of ASCPT. If I have to pick one foundational memory, it is my participation as chair of the Scientific Program Committee (SPC) for the 2011 Annual Meeting. This was my first experience leading a group of members with a broad range of expertise (years of experience, job setting, and specific clinical pharmacology area of expertise). I quickly gained an appreciation for the views and needs across the Society. I also helped create a balanced, high-quality scientific experience. It is rewarding to see a tangible result at the end of hard work. The knowledge I gained and the relationships I formed as chair of the SPC led to my later opportunities within ASCPT.

When You Aren’t Working, How Do You Spend Your Free Time?
I enjoy spending time with my family – playing games, visiting amusement parks, and hiking. Now that my sons are in college, those experiences are less frequent. I participate in two fitness activities – group strength training classes at a small local gym and home workouts on my Peloton. With both activities, I am determined to prove that age is just a number and I can continue to get stronger and faster. Maybe my retirement gig will be as a personal trainer! As a more sedentary activity, I enjoy reading. I read a mix of non-fiction (a wide range of topics) and fiction. My current favorite authors are Brene Brown and Isabel Allende; and – yes, audiobooks are legitimate books!

Dr. Reynolds has been a member of ASCPT since 2008.