Bio
Mary Ann E. Zagaria, PharmD, MS, BCGP
Dr. Zagaria is a clinical consultant pharmacist and president of MZ Associates Inc. She practices as a senior care medication specialist serving populations that include ambulatory seniors residing in the community, and those in long-term care and short-term post-surgical rehabilitation. Additionally, she serves adults and seniors with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and psychiatric and behavioral disorders.
Dr. Zagaria is published, nationally and internationally, in the area of geriatrics, senior care pharmacy, pharmacy innovation, pharmacotherapeutics, and health literacy, with over 200 publications, including articles, book chapters, and introductions. As an invited editor, her publication, Polypharmacy, a Clinics in Geriatric Medicine, was released in May 2017. She has inaugurated both the Issues in Pharmacotherapy column in the American Journal for Nurse Practitioners and the Senior Care pharmacy column in the national, peer-reviewed journal U.S. Pharmacist, which she continues to write to date. Dr. Zagaria presents nationally at healthcare association meetings and has been interviewed on radio, television, and in print media regarding a variety of pharmacy-related issues.
Dr. Zagaria has presented on Capitol Hill, briefing congressional staff and national association representatives about implementing Medication Therapy Management (MTM) related to the Medicare Part D legislation. She was invited to participate as an at-large delegate for the “Pharmacy in the 21st Century” profession-wide strategic planning conference, and was an appointed member of the Dean's Advisory Council at St. John’s University College of Pharmacy in New York City.
A recipient of the national Excellence in Geriatric Pharmacy Practice Award, presented by the Commission for Certification in Geriatric Pharmacy (CCGP), Dr. Zagaria served as their 2014-2015 Chair. She has served as a Commissioner for the Board of Commissioners of the CCGP from 2010-2016, and also as the member-at-large of their executive committee. She served as a director for the Board of Directors of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) and, as an active member, has served on their Professional Development Council, Senior Care Pharmacy Task Force, and Policy Review Task Force. She also serves as a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the peer-reviewed journal U.S. Pharmacist.
Dr. Zagaria holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree (PharmD) from Shenandoah University School of Pharmacy in Winchester, Virginia, and both a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy and a Master of Science degree in Pharmacy Administration from St. John’s University College of Pharmacy in New York City. She is board certified in geriatric pharmacy (BCGP) and has completed an ASCP GeroPsych/Behavioral Disorders Traineeship at McClean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts.
Additionally, with a background in institutional pharmacy administration, as a registered pharmacist and former pharmacy proprietor, Dr. Zagaria brings a clinical, administrative and strategic perspective to her consultant pharmacy practice.