Member Spotlight > Member Spotlight: Cheryl Gast-Whitaker

NHIA Member Spotlight

NHIA members are involved in all aspects of the home and alternate site infusion industry, taking on a wide array of roles, but the bond that ties them together is their dedication to ensuring that patients receive high-quality care in the setting they most prefer, enabling them to lead healthy, independent lives. We are excited for you to get to know who our members are, what they do to support this incredible industry, and what it is like working in home infusion.

Cheryl Gast-Whitaker

Fellow National Home Infusion Association—Cheryl Gast-Whitaker, MBA, CPhT, MBTI Certified Practitioner, is the Assistant Director of Pharmacy Business Operations at the Johns Hopkins Home Care Group. With three decades Of experience in home infusion therapy, she manages financial and logistical operations for the Pharmacy Services division. Whitaker designed and facilitated Johns Hopkins Home Care Group’s monthly customer service training program, Sparkle, and has presented at seven NHIA Annual Conferences. She holds an MBA from the University of Baltimore and Towson University.

When/how did you first get into the home and alternate site infusion profession?

I began working in the home infusion industry in 1993 for Critical Care America. A close friend shared there was an open position and she thought I’d be a good fit.

What drives your dedication to this profession?

Taking thoughtful, great care of patients whose lives have been torn apart by disease or injury.

What is your most memorable experience/contribution/achievement of your time in this profession?

Helping to develop NHIA Annual Conference educational content, present content that I feel passionate about to attendees, network and build relationships with other NHIA members. Last but not least, becoming an NHIA Fellow in 2022.

What does it mean to you to be a member of the NHIA fellowship program?

It's a huge honor and recognition of the quality time I've invested caring for home infusion patients and mentoring newer home infusion team professionals.

What do you/did you hope to gain from the NHIA Fellows Program?

I’d like to continue to contribute to advancing the home infusion industry while furthering my learning. Also, I’m enjoying collaborating with other NHIA Fellows regarding operational best practices.

What's the first word that comes to mind when you think about NHIA?

Advocacy.

NHIA does a great job of providing ongoing educational and professional opportunities to their members and the public, how has this helped you in your career?

Knowing that I’m only a few clicks away from accessing the educational resources housed on NHIA’s comprehensive website or an email away from receiving answers/feedback to a question from an NHIA Team member is a great source of comfort and feeling of community which makes my day to day tasks that much easier.

What educational opportunities have you enjoyed being a part of?

I’m especially proud of either presenting content (e.g. Myers-Briggs, Gallup Employee Engagement sessions) or recruiting experts to present content that evolves employee well-being.

What is your favorite vacation spot?

Kauai, close second is Yosemite National Park

If you weren’t in the healthcare field, what would you be doing?

Teaching

What are some of your favorite hobbies?

Playing piano and tennis, and attending concerts and Broadway musicals.

Biography

Cheryl Gast-Whitaker, MBA, CPhT, MBTI Certified Practitioner, is the Assistant Director of Pharmacy Business Operations at the Johns Hopkins Home Care Group in Baltimore. She manages financial and logistical operations for the Pharmacy Services division. She began working in the home infusion therapy industry in 1992 and has been with Johns Hopkins Home Care Group since 2003. Prior to that, she served in a similar capacity working for Critical Care America, NMC Homecare, and Severn Healthcare. Whitaker designed and facilitated Johns Hopkins Home Care Group’s monthly entity-wide customer service training program, Sparkle. She is also a Certified Myers-Briggs Practitioner, Lean Sigma Green Belt and a Certified Pharmacy Technician. She has presented at seven NHIA Annual Conferences. Whitaker received her MBA from the University of Baltimore & Towson University.

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