Dr. Laressa Bethishou, PharmD, APh, BCPS is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Chapman University School of Pharmacy (CUSP) and faculty in residence at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian. She practices as a transitions of care pharmacist, working with high risk patient populations to safely and effectively transition them through the healthcare system. She also serves as the Director of Co-Curriculum at Chapman University, supporting student personal and professional development.  

Dr. Bethishou received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and her Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy (USC). She completed a pharmacy practice residency at Stanford Health Care and continued on as a transitions of care pharmacist until joining Chapman University School of Pharmacy.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Bethishou is very involved with the APhA-APPM Transitions of Care SIG. She is the current education committee co-chair, and has previously chaired the communication and practice committees, authoring numerous guidance documents and resources including the APhA Transitions of Care Toolkit.  

Her research interests include evaluating the impact of pharmacist interventions on high risk patient populations, innovations in pharmacy education, and development of student personal and professional growth. 

Research Interests

Her areas of interest include evaluating the impact of pharmacist interventions on high risk patient populations including heart failure patients, asthma and COPD exacerbations, and pneumonia admissions.