Faculty & Staff Details

	Name:	Rebecca Sleeper- Irons, Pharm.D., FASCP, BCPS
	Position:	Associate Professor, Geriatric Division, Lubbock
	Email:	rebecca.sleeper@ttuhsc.edu
	Bio	Dr. Sleeper Irons is an Associate Professor with the TTUHSC School of Pharmacy Department of Pharmacy Practice, and the Head of the Geriatrics Division. She maintains an active pharmacy practice as a consultant pharmacist in the long-term care setting. She earned a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Rhode Island and completed a Specialty Residency in Geriatrics in 1999. She is a Fellow of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists and is a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist.

Education:

Dr. Sleeper Irons has been a licensed pharmacist since 1998. She earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1998, and completed a specialty residency in Geriatric Pharmacotherapy at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, School of Pharmacy in Amarillo, TX in 1999. In 2000, she attained certification from the Board of Pharmaceutical specialties as a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist. She has also been a registered preceptor for the training of pharmacy students since 1999. She was recognized as a Fellow of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists in 2002.

Professional positions / Practice focus:
Since 1999, Dr. Sleeper has been an Assistant professor in the pharmacy practice department of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, School of Pharmacy, where she specializes in Geriatrics. She has worked as a Clinical pharmacist in inpatient, assisted living, and long-term care settings, including the Mildred and Shirley Geriatric Education and Care Center, the Carillon Senior living community, and the University Medical Center Rehabilitation Unit in Lubbock, TX. She provides drug regimen review and participates in interdisciplinary care teams in each of these settings. She has been engaged in Collaborative Drug Therapy Management protocols, and from 2000-2003 has run an Anticoagulation Clinic, monitoring and adjusting Coumadin therapy for Assisted Living and Long-term care facility residents at the Carillon. She is currently the consultant pharmacist of record for the Garrison Center. She has been recognized as a Fellow of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, and has been awarded the Texas Society of Health System Pharmacists 2002 New Practitioner Award.

Licensures:

Registered Pharmacist
Texas, 8/98 - present

Registered Preceptor
Texas, 6/30/99 – present

Certifications:

Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist
12/31/00 - Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties, Richard J. Bertin, PhD, RPh, executive director, Washington DC

Research Interests:

Professional positions / Practice focus:

Since 1999, Dr. Sleeper Irons has been an Assistant professor in the pharmacy practice department of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, School of Pharmacy, where she specializes in Geriatrics. She has worked as a Clinical pharmacist in inpatient, assisted living, and long-term care settings, including the Mildred and Shirley Geriatric Education and Care Center, the Carillon Senior living community, and the University Medical Center Rehabilitation Unit in Lubbock, TX. She provides drug regimen review and participates in interdisciplinary care teams in each of these settings. She has been engaged in Collaborative Drug Therapy Management protocols, and from 2000-2003 has run an Anticoagulation Clinic, monitoring and adjusting Coumadin therapy for Assisted Living and Long-term care facility residents at the Carillon. She is currently the consultant pharmacist of record for the Garrison Center. She has been recognized as a Fellow of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, and has been awarded the Texas Society of Health System Pharmacists 2002 New Practitioner Award.

Teaching focus:

Dr. Sleeper provides both didactic and experiential instruction to students and residents at Texas Tech
University Health Sciences Center. She is the team leader for the Geriatrics Clerkship, a required
clerkship rotation for all pharmacy students in the 4th professional year. In 2000, and again in 2004, she was awarded the P4 Preceptor of the Year award and has been repeatedly nominated for this award. She is also a member of
the teaching teams for the Neurosensory Pharmacotherapy sequence and the Special Populations
pharmacotherapy sequence, as well as an instructor for Case Studies, a small-group problem based
learning course. As part of the Neurosensory course team, she received the “Teaching team of the year” award for the classes of 2006 and 2007.
She has delivered course material for the TTUHSC School of Allied Health, and has
provided instruction for medical residents in the TTUHSC School of Medicine departments of Family
Medicine and Internal Medicine. She has also participated as a faculty advisor for the Geriatric Student Scholars, an interdisciplinary educational
program for students from the School of Pharmacy, School of Nursing, School of Medicine, and School of Allied Health.

Professional activities:

Dr. Sleeper is an active member of several pharmacy organizations at the local, state and national level, including the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP), The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP), the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), the Texas Society of Health System pharmacists (TSHP) and the Lubbock Area Society of Health System Pharmacists (LASHP). She has served since 2001 as the Vice Chair of the TSHP Legislative Group, and in 2007 she was awarded the Lourdes Cuellar Silver Star award for service to the TSHP Board. In 2004 was elected Chair of the ACCP Geriatric Professional Resource Network. She also serves as both an author and a content reviewer for the PSAP modules, a preparatory course for the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties certification exam.
She has presented poster and podium presentations at local and national meetings, and has developed both live and videotaped continuing education programs. She has also been an invited speaker for Alzheimer’s Association STAR chapter, and has provided presentations to numerous local and regional organizations.

Publications:

Research focus:

Dr. Sleeper’s scholarly endeavors focus on frail elderly patients. Recent peer reviewed publications include:

Sleeper RB, Bond CA, Rojas-Fernandez C. A review of Psychotropic medications and falls: New Evidence Pertaining to Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors. Pharmacotherapy 2000;20(3):308-17

Sleeper RB, Cunningham A. Case Report: Opioid agonist/antagonist and attenuation of analgesic response in and elderly patient. TSHP Journal 2002;3(1):16-18

Sleeper RB, Rojas-Fernandez C. Aspirin use for secondary prophylaxis of cardiovascular disease in a long-term care facility: Recognizing under use in a frail elderly population. AJHP2002;59(13):1294-95

Raehl CL, Bond CA, Woods T, Patry RA, Sleeper RB. Individualized drug use assessment in the elderly. Pharmacotherapy 2002;22(10):1239-1248

Sleeper RB, Kennedy S. Elderly patient with adverse reaction to dietary supplement. Annals of Pharmacotherapy 2003;37:83-6

Sleeper RB. Mind your P’s and Q’s. Transcription errors in elderly patients. Annals of Pharmacotherapy 2004;38

Sleeper RB. Psychoctive-sparing effect of memantine in Alzheimer’s Disease. Annals of Pharmacotherapy 2005;39

Sleeper RB. Impact of PharmD clerkship students in a long-term care facility. TSHP Journal 2005;6(2):12-17

Snella KA, Canales AE, Irons BK, Sleeper-Irons RB, Villarreal MC, Levi-Derrick VE,
Greene RS, Jolly JL, Nelson AA. Pharmacy- and community-based screenings for diabetes and cardiovascular conditions in high-risk individuals. J Am Pharm Assoc 2006; 46:370-77

Raehl CL, Bond CA, Woods TJ, Patry RA, Sleeper RB. Screening tests for intended
medication adherence among the elderly. Ann Pharmacother 2006;40:888-893

Irons BK, Green RS, Mazzolini TA, Edwards KL, Sleeper RB. Implications of
rosiglitazone and pioglitazone on cardiovascular risk in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Pharmacotherapy 2006;26(2):168-181

MacLauglin EJ, Sleeper RB, McNatty D, Raehl CL. Management of age related
Osteoporosis and prevention of associated fractures. Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management 2006;2(3):281-295

Singh S, Sleeper RB, Seifert CF. Propoxyphene prescribing among populations older and
younger than age 65 in a tertiary care hospital. The Consultant Pharmacist 2007;22(2)118-125

Sleeper RB. Infections in the long-term care setting. Book Chapter in: PSAP VI Infectious Disease. Editor, Adam Jackson, PharmD, BCPS. (in press)


Abstracts / Posters:

Sleeper RB. Impact of PharmD students in a long-term care facility. Presented at: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy 2004 Research Days. July 2004, Amarillo, TX.

Sleeper RB. The use of intervention log data to evaluate student performance on clerkship rotation. Presented at: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy 2004 Research Days. July 2004, Amarillo, TX.

Snella KA, Roach AE, Irons BK, Sleeper-Irons RB, Villarreal MC, Levi VE, Greene RS, Jolly JL, Nelson AA. Targeted community screening for diabetes and cardiovascular disease in community pharmacies and in non-health care settings.

(Abstract and Poster presentation) Presented at: American Diabetes Association 64th Scientific Session, Orlando, FL. June 2004 and Ages and Stages: Meeting the Challenges of Healthy Aging Conference in Lubbock Texas. September 2003. [Diabetes 2004;52(S2):A293]

Irons B, Snella K, Sleeper R, Villarreal M and Nelson A. Screening and Identifying Impaired Fasting Glucose in High-Risk Patients in the Community Pharmacy Setting. October 2002. Presented at the 2002 Annual ACCP Meeting, Albuquerque, NM [Pharmacotherapy 2002;22:1337]

Jones B, Rohland B, Daniel J, Valadez A, Sleeper RB, Burson J, Provost G, Aronoff C. Compassion and creativity in long-term care: Training needs in West Texas facilities. April 2002, Joint Conference of the National Council on the Aging and the American Society on Aging, Denver, CO

Nelson A, Snella K, Viallarreal M, Sleeper RB, Irons B, Humes S. Diabetes and cardiovascular heart disease screening and follow up of African American, Elderly and Hispanic West Texans by pharmacist in urban and rural communities. March 2002 American Pharmaceutical Association annual meeting, Philadelphia PA

Raehl CL, Bond CA, Sleeper RB, Patry RA, Woods T. Individual performance based medication use assessment: The Med Take Test. October 2001, American College of Clinical Pharmacy annual meeting, Tampa, FL

Raehl CL, Bond CA, Sleeper RB, Sterling TL, Patry RA. Health Literacy and medication use among community dwelling seniors. October 2001, American College of Clinical Pharmacy annual meeting, Tampa, FL. (Encore presentation to GSA meeting- below)

Raehl CL, Bond CA, Luan W, Woods T, Fernandez CR, Sleeper RB, Patry RA. Early Clinical Experiences in Pharmacy (ECEP) in Senior Health Care. July 2001, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy annual meeting, Toronto, Canada

Raehl CL, Bond CA, Sleeper RB, Sterling TL, Patry RA. Health Literacy and medication use among community dwelling seniors. May 2001, Geriatrics Society of America annual meeting, Boston, MA

Carruthers RC, Sleeper RB. Establishing a protocol for the management of psychotropic medications by clinical pharmacists in a long term care facility. March 2001, American Pharmaceutical Association annual meeting, San Fransisco, CA

Nelson A, Irons B, Sleeper RB, Humes S, Villarreal M, Snella K, Patient characteristics or risk factors
that optimize community pharmacy screening and referral to physicians for diabetes and coronary heart disease. March 2001, American Pharmaceutical Association annual meeting, San Fransisco, CA [JAPhA
2001;41(2):297]

Rojas-Fernandez C, Sleeper RB, White T, Nicklaus T. Pharmacotherapy of behavioral disturbances associated with dementia (BDD) with trazodone: An ongoing case series in a long-term care setting. Gerontologist 1999;39(Special issue I):242

Sleeper RB, Rojas-Fernandez C. Patterns of aspirin use for the secondary prophylaxis of cardiovascular disease in a long-term
care facility: focus on a frail elderly population. International Pharmaceutical Abstracts. November, 1998,

Acknowledgements
Benesch CG, Chimowitz MB, for the WASID Investigators (Sleeper RB Unblinded investigator). Best treatment for
intracranial arterial stenosis? Neurology 2000:55:465-66

Funded research
SWAP-C GEC Supplemental Projects 2004-2005
Raehl R, Cherry B, (CoPD’s) Sleeper RB, Canales A, Rudd K (Co-I’s)
TTUHSC Institute for Healthy Aging 2004: $107,862.00

Diabetes and Cardiovascular heart disease screening and follow-up of Elderly, Hispanic, and African American Texans by pharmacists in urban and rural communities.
Nelson A (PI), Snella K, (Co-PI), Irons B (Co-I), Sleeper RB (Co-I), Villarreal M (Co-I).
Funded by the Federal Administration on Aging – Department of Health and Human Services in concert with the Texas Tech Health Aging Institute: 2000-2002, $161,750.oo

Comprehensive undetected diabetes screening project in community pharmacies.
PI: Nelson A, Co-PI’s: Snella K, Sleeper RB, Irons B, Villarreal M, Humes S.
Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the Texas Tech Institute for diabetes prevention and control 2000-2002, $50,000.oo

Caregiver burden and the use of formal and informal services in West Texas.
PI: Woodward T, CoI’s: Baker L, Sleeper RB, Knotts V, Jones B
Funded by TTUHSC School of Nursing Seed Grant program: 2002, $20,000.oo

Health Literacy and medication use among community dwelling seniors.
PI: Raehl CL Co-I’s: Bond CA, Sleeper RB, Sterling TL, Patry RA.
Funded by the Federal Agency on Aging – Department of Health and Human Services in concert with the Texas Tech Health Aging Institute: 2001-2002, $50,000.oo

Compassion and creativity in long-term care: Training needs in West Texas facilities.
PI: Jones B Co-I’s: Rohland B, Daniel J, Valadez A, Sleeper RB, Burson J, Provost G, Aronoff C.
Funded by the Federal Agency on Aging – Department of Health and Human Services in concert with the Texas Tech Health Aging Institute: 2001-2002, $50,000.oo

Unblinded Investigator Warfarin vs. Aspirin for symptomatic intracranial disease (WASID) study. Marc Chimowitz, MBChB. Principal Investigator, Emory University, Coordinating center, Emory University
Funded by: National Institute for Neurological Diseases, 1999-2003.