Kimberly A Sanders

Kimberly A Sanders, Pharm.D., holds dual academic appointments as Adjunct Assistant Professor at the UNC Adams School of Dentistry and Professor in the Division of Practice Advancement and Clinical Education (PACE) at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Her work focuses on advancing interprofessional collaboration between pharmacy and dentistry, with a particular emphasis on optimizing care for vulnerable populations such as the elderly and patients at high risk for hospital readmission.

Dr. Sanders earned her Doctor of Pharmacy from Purdue University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in pharmacy practice model advancement at UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. She is a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist and actively contributes to professional organizations.

Her research integrates interprofessional education and practice-based research, emphasizing collaborative practice frameworks (e.g., A-TAPER deprescribing protocol), interprofessional clinical learning environments, and geriatric medication management. She has pioneered initiatives to integrate pharmacy services into dental clinics and develop longitudinal interprofessional curricula.

Recent work examines deprescribing strategies for opioids/benzodiazepines in older adults, pharmacist-led care transitions, and bridging gaps in communication between pharmacists and oral healthcare providers. She has also contributed to service-learning programs addressing care management in home care patients.

Dr. Sanders’ clinical practice sites include the UNC Adams School of Dentistry Clinics, where she applies team-based approaches to improve outcomes for high-risk patients. Her educational efforts span residency training, postdoctoral fellowships, and innovative didactic course design incorporating bias mitigation and competency assessment tools.