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.
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.
This content was originally posted by Integrated Medical Systems, Inc. (IMS), the generous sponsor of NHIF’s Fellow Program
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.
Taking thoughtful, great care of patients whose lives have been torn apart by disease or injury.
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.
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.
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.
Advocacy.
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.
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.
Kauai, close second is Yosemite National Park
Teaching
Playing piano and tennis, and attending concerts and Broadway musicals.
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.
We are delighted to introduce Michael Kirkbride, Chief Compliance and Ethics Officer at Vital Care Infusion Services. With over three decades of experience in alternate site healthcare, particularly in home
Varner Richards Gene Graves Lifetime Achievement Award – 2021 Fellow National Home Infusion Association Dr. Varner R. Richards, President and CEO of Intramed Plus, Inc., received his Doctor of Pharmacy
Dr. Rigas was the Chief Clinical Officer, co-founder, and principal at KabaFusion, a nationwide infusion therapy company started in 2010. He has been in the home infusion industry since 1992
