Faculty Spotlight
Meet Dr. Happe
Laura Happe, Pharm.D., MPH is a nationally-recognized outcomes researcher, pharmacist, and managed care pharmacy expert, as well as current editor-in-chief of the Journal of Managed Care and Specialty Pharmacy.
“I’ve spent my whole career working in and around managed care pharmacy. During this time, one thing has stayed constant: a high demand for professionals who understand the science and the business. I can help shape the next generation of professionals who will meet this demand and advance our profession.”
Laura E. Happe, Pharm.D., M.P.H., is an editor, professor and author who specializes in using data to aid in decision making. Dr. Happe leads the online master’s degree program at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy.
She is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Managed Care and Specialty Pharmacy (JMCP), the official peer-reviewed journal of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy with a circulation of over 30,000 people. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Cardinal Innovations Healthcare, a managed Medicaid plan based in North Carolina.
“I see the world through the lens of a researcher. I am always looking for data to support my decisions, from buying a car to determining my position on a policy. This is the point of view that I bring to all of my professional roles, including the University of Florida.”
Dr. Happe earned her Doctorate of Pharmacy degree from Creighton University and is a licensed pharmacist in both Florida and Arizona. She holds her M.P.H degree with an emphasis in epidemiology from the University of South Florida and is fellowship trained in pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research.
“During this time, one thing has stayed constant: a high demand for professionals who understand the science and the business. I can help shape the next generation of professionals who will meet this demand and advance our profession.”
“My goal is to prepare professionals who can approach tomorrow’s problems with innovation, evidence, collaboration, and patient-centricity. This requires a curriculum that is focused on practical application, not memorization of facts.”
In 2019 Dr. Happe published her book, If You Give an Ox an Oxy, an educational resource for parents to teach their adolescents about the hazards of opioid use.