About

Alex Luli, Pharm.D., BCACP, is an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of California San Diego, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. He teaches various courses, including a self-care pharmacy practice course for first-year student pharmacists. Dr. Luli practices in a community pharmacy and an interdisciplinary care clinic serving uninsured patients to increase access to care. He is the Director for Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPEs) and the Residency Program Director for the PGY1 Community Pharmacy Residency. His interests include immunizations, advancing patient care services in the community setting, enhancing experiential training for students and residents, and public awareness and outreach regarding the safe and proper use of medications, herbals, and supplements. Dr. Luli has contributed to the field through research and publications focused on public health, medication access, and community pharmacy practices.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Family medicine
• Medical education
• Psychology
• Medical emergency

Selected publications

• A Comparative Analysis of Pre-Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience Domain Achievement During Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences

  American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education · 2025-11-01

  articleOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• 1209 Patient Satisfaction and Self-Reported Understanding with Pharmacist-Led Interventions for Travel Medicine

  Journal of the American Pharmacists Association · 2025-09-01

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Influence of the Number, Timing, and Types of Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences on Residency Matching

  American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education · 2023-10-29 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  OBJECTIVE: To characterize the association between number, timing, and type of Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs) and likelihood of postgraduate year one (PGY1) residency match outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed among PGY1 residency-seeking pharmacy students from graduating years 2018-2021 as identified from the National Matching Services Inc. enrollee list. The number of APPEs of interest (AOI) most likely to align with general PGY1 residencies (acute care, ambulatory care, and elective rotations with significant direct patient care interactions) completed before January of the respective graduation year (GY) was compared between matched and unmatched students to a PGY1 program in any phase. Classification and regression tree (CART) analyses were performed to identify the AOI threshold associated with an increased likelihood of matching. RESULTS: Among 155 students meeting inclusion criteria, 115 students (74%) matched during the study period. The probability of matching was 36%, 74%, and 83% for students completing two, three or four AOI, respectively. CART analyses identified three or more AOI completed prior to January of the GY as the threshold significantly associated with PGY1 residency matching. CONCLUSION: Completing at least three AOI before January of the GY was associated with a significantly increased probability of PGY1 residency matching. These findings may influence students' preferences for sequencing of APPEs to improve match results, but may be limited by institutional capacity.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• A Systematic Approach to Providing COVID-19 Vaccinations in the Community by Student Pharmacists

  Pharmacy · 2022-07-30 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students and faculty at University of California, San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SSPPS) were highly motivated to support local and regional COVID-19 vaccination efforts, which began in January 2021. A system was created to streamline requests for SSPPS volunteers, maximize opportunities for student learning and engagement, and ensure adherence to pharmacy practice standards and laws in the process of assisting with vaccination efforts in the community. An existing model for approving student organized events was modified to fit additional needs for COVID-19 vaccination efforts by SSPPS students and faculty. For each event, students completed a standardized form containing event details including location, date, time, pharmacist preceptors, and duties. All requests were screened by designated SSPPS faculty to ensure student safety, availability, and feasibility. After each event, students and faculty completed a unique online form designed to track volunteer hours. Students received course credit for volunteering and completing a standardized self-reflection. Comments from students’ reflections (n = 74) were analyzed to identify common challenges. Between 11 January 2021 and 31 May 2021, SSPPS faculty and students volunteered for 245 shifts, totaling 1346 h. Students encountered several logistical challenges, such as availability of vaccines. The system utilized allowed for SSPPS students and faculty to play an integral role in COVID-19 vaccination efforts throughout the region.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Transferring Key Success Factors from Ambulatory Care into the Community Pharmacy in the United States

  Pharmacy · 2021-06-23 · 8 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  In the United States, pharmacists' scope of practice continues to expand, with increasing opportunities for pharmacists in all practice settings to enhance health in society. In ambulatory care, pharmacists remain integral members on the healthcare team and have demonstrated positive impacts on patient care. Sharing similar characteristics as pharmacists in the community setting, a deeper look into common elements of a successful ambulatory care practice that can be applied in the community pharmacy setting is warranted. Key success factors identified from ambulatory care include (1) maximizing a pharmacist's unique knowledge base and skill set, (2) forming collaborations with physicians and other providers, (3) demonstrating outcomes and value, and (4) maintaining sustainability. Opportunities exist for pharmacists in the community setting to utilize these success factors when developing, implementing, and/or expanding direct patient care services that improve accessibility to quality care and population health.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Evaluation of an Outpatient Pharmacist Consult Service at a Large Academic Medical Center

  INNOVATIONS in pharmacy · 2021-04-28 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a novel outpatient pharmacist consult service in a large academic medical center. SETTING: Four outpatient pharmacies that are part of a large academic medical center. METHODS: An outpatient pharmacist consult order was created and embedded in the electronic medical record (EMR). Medical center providers utilized this consult order when identifying patients in need of specific services provided by outpatient pharmacists. Descriptive data about each individual consult was collected including number completed, type of service, and duration. Rate of accepted pharmacy recommendations and patient cost savings were also evaluated. A survey was administered at the completion of the study period to assess provider and pharmacist satisfaction with the service. Patient demographic information was collected for those who had a documented completed consult. RESULTS: A total of 193 consults were completed: 137 immunizations, 37 care affordability, 15 education, 3 polypharmacy and 1 OTC recommendation. 89% of completed consults took pharmacists 20 minutes or less to complete. Of completed care affordability consults (n=31), 55% of patients saved between $100 - $500 per medication fill. Of providers who completed a survey and utilized the service (n=12), 83.3% were extremely satisfied and 16.7% were satisfied with it. The provider acceptance rate of pharmacist's recommendations was 74%. CONCLUSION: Implementation of an outpatient pharmacist consult service provided an alternative method for the utilization of pharmacist provided MTM services in outpatient pharmacies at a large academic medical center. The service was well received by both providers and pharmacists.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Patient Screenings for Preconception Health Interventions at a Community Pharmacy

  Pharmacy · 2020-10-05 · 10 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Preconception health refers to health before pregnancy and involves addressing risk factors that can negatively impact either a patient or future pregnancy. Pharmacists can play an essential role in screening for and managing patients’ risk factors to optimize pregnancy outcomes. The primary objective of this study is to determine whether preconception health screenings in community pharmacy settings identify opportunities for preconception health services, particularly pharmacy-based interventions. The secondary objectives are to describe the preconception health status of community pharmacy patients and their interest in receiving preconception care services by a clinical pharmacist in a community pharmacy setting. Two independent pharmacies conducted a pilot project where people were invited to complete a health screening form that evaluated their preconception health. Participants received a personalized health report with an invitation to meet with the clinical pharmacist for services related to identified opportunities, such as contraception and immunizations. Retrospective analysis was conducted for data collected from 43 women during the patient screening effort in three community pharmacy settings (two independent community pharmacy locations and one neighborhood pharmacy outreach event). Nearly all participants (n = 42, 98%) had at least one opportunity identified to receive preconception care services, with the majority related to their alcohol use (60%). A majority of participants (56%) indicated an interest in learning more about preconception services offered at the pharmacy, but only 19% wanted to schedule an appointment with a pharmacist. Thus, there is an apparent need and opportunity for utilization of preconception health services at the pharmacy.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Pharmacists on the front-line of solving a public health crisis: Increasing access to medications for opioid use disorder

  Journal of the American Pharmacists Association · 2019-12-27 · 9 citations

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Mark Bounthavong

  University of Montana

  7 shared

• Candis M. Morello

  6 shared

• Laura Hart

  University of California, San Diego

  5 shared

• Linda Awdishu

  5 shared

• Katharina Brandl

  University of Montana

  5 shared

• Christina L. Mnatzaganian

  4 shared

• Nimish Patel

  4 shared

• Jennifer Namba

  4 shared