Swenson honored for 50 years as licensed pharmacist

CHELAN - Claudia Swenson was honored by the Washington State Pharmaceutical Association for being licensed as a pharmacist in the State of Washington for 50 years at their fall convention. Claudia graduated from the highly rated University of California Medical Center School of Pharmacy in June 1971. She had many opportunities to practice clinical pharmacy starting with positions at the University of Washington in teaching and Drug Information, participating in an NIH study demonstrating that cholesterol reduction reduced the risk of first myocardial infarction in otherwise healthy young men.

She practiced at Group Health Cooperative for 20 years, setting up programs promoting antibiotic stewardship, home infusion programs, medication teaching for cardiac and pulmonary pathway patients and outpatient anticoagulation clinics.

Claudia taught at Madigan Army Medical Center’s Family Medical Residency and served as a midlevel provider for patients with diabetes, heart disease and morbid obesity.
Claudia served as the President of the Seattle Area Society of Health System Pharmacists and was recognized as a Fellow in the American Society of Health System Pharmacists.  At Central Washington Hospital (CWH) she served as Pharmacy Clinical Coordinator for three years, developing a glucose control program for surgeons and mentoring pharmacy residents.

After retirement from CWH in 2013, Claudia has worked primarily with nonprofits in Chelan/Manson doing client intake at Chelan Valley Hope for over 10 years,  Coordinator and Manager for Tender Loving Care for Seniors, which has served 120 local seniors since 2017,  as well as a Hospice volunteer.  There is much joy in serving in our community.