About

Kelly C. Lee, Pharm.D., M.A.S., BCPP, is a Professor of Clinical Pharmacy and Associate Dean for Assessment and Accreditation at the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Her specialty area is psychiatric pharmacy, and she is a Board-Certified Psychiatric Pharmacist. Dr. Lee is currently the Residency Program Director of the PGY2 Psychiatric Pharmacy Residency at UC San Diego Health. Her research program involves the effective utilization of psychotropic medications within diverse patient populations, establishing innovative psychiatric practice models, scholarship of teaching and learning, and assessment and prevention of burnout and suicide among healthcare trainees and professionals. She established the first pharmacist-run outpatient psychiatric clinic at UC San Diego and practices under a Collaborative Practice, providing medication management to adult patients in the General Psychiatry clinic within UC San Diego Outpatient Psychiatry Services in La Jolla. Dr. Lee has served as an expert consultant to various organizations, including the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, MedImpact HealthCare Systems, Inc., and the California Mental Health Care Management Program. She has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and textbooks, and is an Editor for the Pharmacotherapy Principles and Practice textbook. Her professional involvement includes memberships in organizations such as the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, and the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists. She is a Fellow of the ACCP and ASHP, and a member of Rho Chi Honor Society and Phi Lambda Sigma Leadership Society. Dr. Lee's academic achievements include a B.S. in Biology from UCLA, a Pharm.D. from UCSF, a Master of Advanced Study in Clinical Research from UCSD, and completion of an ASHP-accredited residency and fellowship in behavioral health sciences. Her numerous awards include the Rufus A. Lyman Award, the Distinguished Teaching Award at UC San Diego, and the Alumni Practitioner Award from UCSF. She has held leadership roles such as Associate Dean for Assessment and Accreditation, Director of the PGY2 Residency in Psychiatric Pharmacy, and chair positions within professional organizations. Her key contributions include establishing the Office of Assessment and Accreditation at UCSD Skaggs School of Pharmacy, the PGY2 Psychiatric Pharmacy Residency at UC San Diego Health, and pioneering research on pharmacist suicides, burnout among pharmacy faculty, and innovative outpatient psychiatric clinics.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Political Science
• Family medicine
• Nursing
• Medical education
• Psychology
• Computer Science
• Management
• Economics
• Economic growth
• Clinical psychology
• Microbiology
• Environmental health
• Business
• Pediatrics
• Psychiatry

Selected publications

• National trends in pharmacist and pharmacy technician suicide: Incidence and associated features

  American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy · 2026-01-07

  articleSenior author

  PURPOSE: Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are essential healthcare professionals with limited data on their risk for suicide. METHODS: Using the National Violent Death Reporting System, pharmacist, pharmacy technician, and general population suicides (for individuals 25 years of age or older) were identified. Suicide incidence was estimated from 2011 to 2022 due to data limitations, while suicide characteristics (preceding circumstances, method, and toxicology) were analyzed in adjusted Firth logistic regression models from 2005 to 2022. RESULTS: A total of 369 pharmacist (87 [24%] female), 243 pharmacy technician (149 [61%] female), and 245,114 general population (52,890 [22%] female) suicides were found for the period from 2011 to 2022. When data were standardized by sex, pharmacists had a higher risk of suicide (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-1.34) while pharmacy technicians had a lower risk (IRR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.74-0.99) than individuals in the general population during the 2011-2022 study period. Male pharmacists had a higher risk of suicide than other males (IRR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.11-1.41) while female technicians had a higher risk than other females (IRR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.04-1.44) during the 2011-2022 study period. In terms of the features associated with suicide, compared to the general population, pharmacists had higher odds of preceding job problems, while pharmacy technicians had higher odds of mental health problems. Pharmacists also had higher odds of using poisoning as a method. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that pharmacists and female pharmacy technicians are at higher risk of suicide than their counterparts from the general population, possibly indicating that increased awareness and prevention are warranted.

  PublisherDOI

• Collaborative development of a shared objective structured clinical examination to assess the pharmacist patient care process across two PharmD programs

  Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning · 2026-01-08

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Treatment adherence, persistence, and effectiveness of fixed dose combination versus free combination therapy of rosuvastatin–ezetimibe as a lipid-lowering therapy

  Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine · 2025-05-16 · 7 citations

  articleOpen access

  Background: Guidelines for dyslipidemia management recommend adding ezetimibe for patients with dyslipidemia inadequately controlled with statin monotherapy. A fixed-dose combination (FDC) of statin and ezetimibe may improve persistence and adherence and hence reduce LDL-C further compared to free-combination treatment (FCT). The primary aim was to compare persistence/adherence with FDC versus FCT of rosuvastatin and ezetimibe (R/E); the secondary aim was to assess the impact of treatment adherence and persistence to LDL-C percentage reduction from baseline. An exploratory analysis assessed the impact of treatment adherence and persistence to incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). A subgroup analysis of patients on FDC of rosuvastatin 10 mg and ezetimibe 10 mg was also conducted. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed using the THIN® database from Belgium and France in individuals (aged ≥18 years who received R/E as FDC or FCT between January 01, 2017, and November 30, 2022). Persistence (time from landmark date to discontinuation, with the latter defined as >45 days gap between prescription fills) and adherence (having a proportion of days covered ≥80%) were defined. Subsequent analyses adopted propensity score matching or weighting, followed by Cox and logistic regression models. Results: A total of 15,643 treatment episodes (FDC: 11,300; FCT: 4,343) were selected. FDC R/E was associated with greater persistence (HR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.51-0.58) and higher odds of adherence (OR: 3.00, 95% CI: 2.70-3.30) than FCT R/E. Based on the regression analysis results, patients who were persistent to treatment had a 10% higher reduction in LDL-C values from baseline than those non persistent. Similarly, patients who were adherent had 9.6% higher reduction in LDL-C levels from baseline than those not adherent. No significant difference was observed in association between persistence/adherence and MACEs. A consistent trend was also observed in the subgroup analysis. Conclusions: In conclusion, FDC of R/E use was associated with higher treatment persistence and adherence than FCT of R/E. Patients persistent/adherent to treatment had greater LDL-C reductions than those who discontinued or did not follow treatment schedule. The limited number of MACEs suggests a cautious interpretation of exploratory MACE findings.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• National Incidence of Physician Suicide and Associated Features

  JAMA Psychiatry · 2025-02-26 · 18 citations

  articleOpen access

  Importance: Previous reports regarding comparative suicide incidence among US physicians vs nonphysicians have been inconclusive. Objective: To estimate the national incidence of male and female physician suicide and analyze associated factors, comparing findings to the general population. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective cohort study investigated suicides among physicians and nonphysicians aged 25 years and older in the US from January 2017 to December 2021. The analysis took place from November 2023 to September 2024. National Violent Death Reporting System data from 30 US states and Washington, DC, were used. Decedents with missing age or sex were excluded for incidence, and missing race, ethnicity, or marital status for further analyses. Exposure: Physician occupation. Main Outcome and Measures: Suicide incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and odds ratios (aORs) adjusted by age, sex, race, ethnicity, and marital status were used to compare preceding circumstances, primary method, and substances. Results: A total of 448 physician (354 [79%] male and 94 [21%] female; mean [SD] age, 60 [16] years) and 97 467 general population (76 697 [79%] male and 20 770 [21%] female; mean [SD] age, 51 [17] years) suicides were identified. Female physicians had higher rates of suicide than female nonphysicians in 2017 (IRR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.19-2.83) and 2019 (IRR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.09-2.65), with overall higher 2017 to 2021 suicide risk (IRR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.23-1.87). Male physicians had lower 2017 to 2021 suicide risk than male nonphysicians (IRR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.75-0.93). Compared to the general population and including all available jurisdiction data, physicians had higher odds of depressed mood (aOR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.14-1.61; P < .001) as well as mental health (aOR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.39-1.97; P < .001), job (aOR, 2.66; 95% CI, 2.11-3.35; P < .001), and legal (aOR, 1.40, 95% CI, 1.06-1.84; P = .02) problems preceding suicide as well as use of poisoning (aOR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.50-2.30; P < .001) and sharp instruments (aOR, 4.58; 95% CI, 3.47-6.06; P < .001). Physicians also had higher odds of positive toxicology for caffeine; poison; cardiovascular agents; benzodiazepines; anxiolytics, nonbenzodiazepines, or hypnotics; and drugs not prescribed for home use. Conclusion and Relevance: These findings show a higher incidence of suicide for US female physicians compared to female nonphysicians. Comprehensive and multimodal suicide prevention strategies remain warranted.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Exploration of Psychosocial Hazards: Job Demands, Rewards and Recognitions, and Autonomy to Address Workforce Well-Being

  American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education · 2025-07-15 · 8 citations

  reviewOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  OBJECTIVE: High rates of turnover among employees (faculty, administrators, and staff) in higher education, exacerbated by workplace stress and burnout, pose significant challenges to institutions. This first narrative review of a 2-part series explores the psychosocial hazards faced by employees and proposes strategies to foster a supportive organizational culture. FINDINGS: Key findings from focus groups with administrators revealed several critical themes: psychological safety and trust, coping mechanisms and support systems, effective communication, personalized approaches to well-being, leadership and resource allocation, and professional development and recognition. SUMMARY: From these themes, 6 psychosocial hazards were explored in detail, through evidence-based definitions, assessments, interventions, monitoring, and additional resources and recommendations for each hazard. Three hazards are explored in each part of this 2-part series. Within each of the 3 primary areas of focus, we provide evidence-based recommendations for schools and colleges of pharmacy to best support their employees. For Job Demands/Task Stressors, employers are encouraged to provide clear workload policies, role clarity, and work-family conflict strategies. For Rewards/Recognition, employers should provide equitable compensation, establish practices to provide personalized recognition, and engage in ongoing monitoring. For Autonomy/Flexibility, we recommend that employers investigate flexible work arrangements and job crafting opportunities and provide organizational support for employees. A proactive and holistic approach that encompasses individual, departmental, and institutional levels to address psychosocial hazards can create a more supportive and healthier environment to improve employee well-being and reduce turnover rates.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Influence of Demographic Characteristics on Perceptions of Pharmacy Faculty Workload Equity: A Post Hoc Analysis

  American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education · 2025-05-26 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  OBJECTIVE: To examine how specific demographic factors affect pharmacy faculty perceptions of workload equity. METHODS: A post hoc analysis of previously published survey results was conducted. Faculty were asked about the comparison of actual vs assigned workload, fairness of assigned workload, domains used by primary decision maker(s) when assigning workload, and the importance of factors to improve perceived fairness. Responses were grouped by gender identity (female vs nonfemale), race and ethnicity (White vs non-White), and clinical practice status (clinical vs nonclinical). RESULTS: A total of 662 complete responses were received (15.9% response rate). The distribution of effort for research/scholarship differed significantly between females and nonfemales (14.8% vs 22.2%, respectively). Female respondents reported significantly lower alignment between actual and assigned workload and indicated performing more actual service than assigned, compared to nonfemale respondents. This misalignment was also observed among non-White faculty. White faculty were more likely to believe that those assigning workload considered individual context and contributions. Differences were also found in workload allocation across gender identity, race and ethnicity, and clinical practice status, with the most substantial variations in time dedicated to research/scholarship vs clinical practice. CONCLUSION: Faculty self-reported workload allocation/assignment and perceptions of actual vs assigned workload varied based on gender identity, race and ethnicity, and clinical practice status. These findings highlight the importance of clear, transparent workload policies and equitable assignment of responsibilities. Considering individual faculty roles and contributions to the overall program is crucial for improving perceived fairness and job satisfaction.

  PublisherDOI

• Impact of Anxiety and Anxiolytic Medication on Driving Outcomes in Older Adults: A LongROAD Study

  Journal of Applied Gerontology · 2025-05-24 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Anxiety in older adults can negatively impact driving behaviors due to the associated symptoms and medications used to treat them. We aimed to investigate the effect of anxiety and anxiolytics on driving behaviors in older adults using data from participants enrolled in the multi-site AAA Longitudinal Research on Aging Drivers Study. A total of 2,832 participants met the eligibility criteria. Using generalized linear models, compared to participants without anxiety or anxiolytic use, those with anxiety alone (-540 miles/year, 95% CI = -1,002 to -78) and those with both anxiety and anxiolytic use (-1,777 miles/year, 95% CI = -2,910 to -644) drove fewer miles. Additionally, participants with anxiety (1.19, 95% CI = 1.08-1.32) and those with both anxiety and anxiolytic use (1.32, 95% CI = 1.02-1.67) experienced a higher rate of hard braking events. Older adults with anxiety conditions and taking anxiolytics should use caution when driving.

  PublisherDOI

• Obstetric Outcomes With Second-Generation Long-Acting Injectable Versus Oral Antipsychotics

  The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry · 2025-12-10

  articleSenior author

  The purpose of this study is to evaluate obstetric outcomes in pregnant women who received second-generation long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIAs) compared to a control group who received second-generation oral antipsychotics. This was a retrospective study utilizing a global cohort of 148 health care organizations grouped into a network within the TriNetX database. Pregnant patients of any trimester were grouped into 2 cohorts: (1) exposure to long-acting aripiprazole, risperidone, paliperidone, or olanzapine (n=2,082) and (2) exposure to the corresponding oral formulations (n=31,376) and propensity matched. The primary outcome was the occurrence of one of the following obstetric complications: gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, eclampsia, or a newly diagnosed hypertensive disorder. Cesarean section rates were also assessed. =.61). No difference in rates of cesarean section was observed. Similar rates of gestational diabetes, eclampsia, preeclampsia, and maternal hypertensive disorders were observed in women receiving long-acting injectable and oral second-generation antipsychotics.

  PublisherDOI

• Longitudinal Comorbidity of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms: The Risk of Cyber Sexual Harassment

  Child Psychiatry & Human Development · 2025-03-05

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Evaluation of burnout among Board-Certified Psychiatric Pharmacists in the United States

  Mental Health Clinician · 2025-06-01 · 2 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract Introduction Burnout is an occupational phenomenon resulting from chronic workplace stress that is unsuccessfully managed. Data related to burnout among clinical pharmacists are limited. This study aimed to measure burnout among Board-Certified Psychiatric Pharmacists (BCPPs) and evaluate the correlation between practice characteristics and demographics. Methods This was a cross-sectional survey study of BCPPs. The survey included demographic, practice-related, and burnout questions. The primary outcome was burnout scores using the Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel (MBI-HSS [MP]). Secondary outcomes assessed the practice and demographic factors that may have affected burnout levels. Correlation and regression statistics between MBI-HSS (MP) and practice and demographic variables were performed. Results Of 571 invitees, 225 participated in the study, and 173 respondents were included. Burnout subscale scores were not significantly different based on age, race, gender, marital, or caregiver status; however, a sense of belonging positively influenced all subscale scores. Regular mentorship and engaging in a hobby were correlated with significantly lower emotional exhaustion scores (20.2 vs 24.8, P = 0.028, and 22.7 vs 28.4, P = 0.010). Burnout subscale scores were comparable between practice settings. However, personal accomplishment subscale scores were significantly lower for pharmacists in the inpatient versus outpatient setting (37.1 vs 38.9, P = 0.036). Conclusion BCPPs are at risk for burnout. Race, gender, and patient volume were not associated with burnout. Factors including mentorship, engaging in hobbies, and a sense of belonging were identified as potential modifiers of burnout in BCPPs.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Judy E. Davidson

  University of California, San Diego

  38 shared

• Grace m. Kuo

  38 shared

• Sidney Zisook

  University of California, San Diego

  35 shared

• Amanda Choflet

  27 shared

• David Feifel

  Neuropsychiatric Research Institute

  26 shared

• Gordon Y. Ye

  University of California, San Diego

  26 shared

• Arianna Barnes

  La Jolla Alcohol Research

  26 shared

• Cadie Ayers

  22 shared

Education

• Doctor of Pharmacy

  University of California, San Francisco

  2001

• B.S. Biology

  University of California Los Angeles

  1996

Awards & honors

• Rufus A. Lyman Award from American Association of Colleges o…
• Distinguished Teaching Award for Academic Senate Members, UC…
• Alumni Practitioner Award from UC San Francisco Alumni Assoc…
• Faculty of Year by Class of (2020)
• Award of Excellence in Scholarship in Experiential Education…