faculty portrait if available
Michelle Zagar
Clinical Professor
School of Clinical Sciences
PHAR 113
318-342-3173
ULM logo

Michelle Zagar, PharmD
Clinical Professor, School of Clinical Sciences- Monroe Campus
Program Director. for Faculty Development

Education

PharmD

2003, Pharmacy
University of Louisiana at Monroe

MEd

1995, Elementary Teaching
University of Southwestern Louisiana

BA

1990, Elementary Education
University of Southwestern Louisiana

Biographical Sketch

My route to pharmacy was a little different than most. I have a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in education and spent 8 years as a kindergarten and elementary school teacher. My teaching background comes in handy with pharmacy students and my patients.

For over 13 years, my clinical practice site was at our local Council on Aging, where I worked with older adults to prevent medication-related complications and improve disease state outcomes through education, active monitoring and assessment of therapy.  Through a collaboration with a community partner while there, I was introduced to a highly specialized area which became my greatest professional passion and now my clinical practice area—visual impairment and low vision. 

Now I provide diabetes medication management services to retina patients in an ophthalmology practice in the community.  It has been reported that the majority of vision loss caused by diabetes can be avoided by good diabetes management and timely treatment; but many people with diabetes do not take their medicines as they should.  So the goal for this clinic is to improve management of diabetes to minimize disease-related vision loss. 

Licensure & Certification

Fundamentals of Team-Based Learning, Team-Based Learning Collaborative. (May 22 2020 - Present)
Leader Academy, GiANT Worldwide. (September 2018 - Present)
Delivering Medication Therapy Management Services, American Pharmacists Association. (May 2018 - Present)
Learn to Teach in Practice Clinician Educator, CEImpact. (October 2016 - Present)
National Provider Identifier, National Plan & Provider Enumeration System. (March 14 2007 - Present)
Basic Life Support Certification for Healthcare Providers, American Heart Association. (July 10 2009 - 2020)
Certified Geriatric Pharmacist, Commission for Certification in Geriatric Pharmacy. (September 1 2007 - August 31 2017)
Certified Pharmacist Preceptor, Louisiana Board of Pharmacy. (July 26 2006 - July 25 2011)
Doctor of Pharmacy, Louisiana Board of Pharmacy. (August 20 2003 - December 31 2010)

Research Interests

Geriatrics

Age-related vision impairment

Improving medication adherence

Medicare Part D

Faculty development

Recent Publications

Pate, A. N., Neely, S., Malcom, D., Daugherty, K. N., Zagar, M., Medina, M. S. (2021). A Multicenter study assessing effect of cognitive test anxiety on NAPLEX scores (pp. 8041). American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education.
Daugherty, K., Neely, S., Malcom, D., Bouldin, A., Harrell, K., Medina, M., Pate, K., Zagar, M., Pate, A. (2019). Influence of Program Type, Curricula Delivery, and Demographics on Test Anxiety: A Multi-Site Study (pp. 7654). American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education.
Lafitte, E., Sampognaro, L., Caldwell, D., Craft, G., Zagar, M. (2019). Survey of Student and Faculty Perceptions of Revised Early Intervention and Remediation Policies (pp. 7654). American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education.
Zagar, M., Sampognaro, L., Robertson, C., Craft, G. (2019). Description and outcomes of a longitudinal book club for comprehensive pharmacy faculty development (pp. 909-914). Curr Pharm Teach Learn.
Zagar, M., Sampognaro, L., Robertson, C., Craft, G. (2018). Description of a Book Club Faculty Development Program and Evaluation of Faculty Opinions Regarding the Process (pp. 7158). American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education.
Pate, A., Horace, A., Caldwell, D., Smith, J., Zagar, M. (2018). Development, implementation, and impact of a collaborative junior faculty engagement and professional growth program: The Young Faculty Leadership Initiative (pp. 352-359). Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning.
Stewart, R., Robertson, C., Zagar, M. (2015). Benefit and Utility of a Formal Lesson Planning Process for Effective Laboratory Implementation. Alexandria, VA: American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education.
Lafitte, E. M., Caldwell, D. J., Zagar, M. (2016). Student Perceptions and Use of Active Retrieval as a Primary Study Method. Alexandria, VA: American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education.
Zagar, T. M., Baggarly, S. (2010). Simulation-Based Learning About Medication Management Difficulties of Low Vision Patients. Alexandria, Virginia: American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education.
Zagar, T. M., Baggarly, S. (2010). Low Vision Simulator Goggles in Pharmacy Education (pp. 7). Alexandria, Virginia: American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education.
Zagar, T. M. (2010). Glaucoma: Check for it, find trouble, treat early (pp. B.4). Monroe, LA: The NewsStar.
Smith, M., Zagar, T. M. (2009). Recommended Vaccinations & Screenings for Older Adults (pp. 28-33). Alexandria, VA: America's Pharmacist.
Landis, S., Zagar, T. M. (2008). MTM: Continuing to Evolve (pp. 30-34). Alexandria, VA: America's Pharmacist.
Cutler, T. W., Stebbins, M. R., Lai, E., Smith, A. R., Lipton, H. L., Zagar, T. M. (2008). Problem-based Learning Using the Online Medicare Part D Plan Finder Tool (pp. 47). Alexandria, Virginia: American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education.
Zagar, T. M., Baggarly, S. (2008). Student Pharmacist Perceptions Regarding Medication Management Difficulties of Low Vision Patients Following a Simulation Activity (pp. 72). Alexandria, Virginia: American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education.
Menefee, L. R., Zagar, T. M. (2008). Standing Strong: Keeping Your Geriatric Patients on their Feet (pp. 19-23). Alexandria, VA: America's Pharmacist.
Zagar, T. M. (2008). Pets Love You Just the Way You Are (pp. 5). Washington, D.C.: American Pharmacists Association Transitions.
Gagan, J., Lawrence, L., Blake, S., Zagar, T. M., Rappaport, H. (2007). Comparing costs and effectiveness of ophthalmic fluoroquinolones versus non-fluoroquinolones for bacterial conjunctivitis in the Louisiana Medicaid population (pp. Pages e4-e5). Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy.
Zagar, T. M. (2007). Preparing PharmD Students to Participate in Medicare Part D Education and Enrollment (pp. 6). Alexandria, Virginia: American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education.
Zagar, T. M. (2007). From Kindergarten to the College of Pharmacy (pp. 23). New York, NY: Student Pharmacist.
Caldwell, D. J., Jaubert, K., Zagar, T. M., Sherman, J. (2007). Considerations for Generic Drug Use in the Elderly (pp. 48-49). Princeton, NJ: Pharmacy Times.
Myers, E., Humble, L., Crader, M. F., Zagar, T. M., Blake, S., Gonzalez, V. (2006). Myocardial Infarction Post-Discharge Medication Therapy (pp. 10). Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana Medicaid Pharmacy Benefits Management Program.
Zagar, T. M., Crader, M. F., Massey, M. (2006). Tips for Healthy Living After a Heart Attack (pp. 2). Baton Rouge, LA: Unisys PBM.
Zagar, T. M. (2005). Choices Require Research Before Picking Drug Plan (pp. 2). Monroe, LA: The NewsStar Golden Days.
Zagar, T. M. (2005). New Medicare Law Brings Choices, Deadlines (pp. 5). Monroe, LA: The NewsStar Golden Days.

Research Grants

Zagar, M. (Co-Principal), Gaines, D. (Co-Principal), "Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act Grant" (Funded), Sponsored By Louisiana Governor's Office on Elderly Affairs, External to The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $2659. (September 1 2016 - June 30 2017).
Zagar, M. (Co-Principal), Caldwell, D. (Co-Principal), "Rho Chi Initiation Banquet 2015" (Funded), Sponsored By CVS/Health, External to The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $500. (September 17 2015).
Caldwell, D. (Co-Principal), Zagar, M. (Co-Principal), "Rho Chi Initiation Banquet 2014" (Funded), Sponsored By CVS/Caremark, External to The University of Louisiana at Monroe, $500. (September 18 2014).

Awards & Honors

May 2022 Excellence in Team Teaching Award.

May 2021 Excellence in Team Teaching Award.

May 2020 Excellence in Team Teaching Award.

November 2019 Accent on Excellence Award.

August 2019 Award for Excellence in Teaching.

May 2017 Excellence in Teaching Award.

May 2016 Excellence in Teaching Award.

May 2015 Excellence in Teaching Award.

May 2014 Excellence in Teaching Award.

May 2014 Faculty Preceptor of the Year.

May 2014 Outstanding Reviewer.

April 2013 Health-System Pharmacist of the Year Nominee.

January 2012 North Louisiana HealthCare Hero Nominee.

August 2011 Foundation Award for Excellence in Service Nominee.

May 2009 Faculty Preceptor of the Year.

May 2007 Faculty Preceptor of the Year.

June 2006 hhc Pharmacy Recognition Award Nominee.

May 2006 Faculty Preceptor of the Year.

Courses Taught

PHAR 3085Patient Coun/Commun, 2 course(s)

PHAR 4026Aging/Drug Use In Elderl, 4 course(s)

PHAR 4046Non-Prescrip Meds, 1 course(s)

PHAR 5087Dis Path Pharm III, 3 course(s)

PHAR 6036Advanced Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Practice, 1 course(s)

PHRD 4010INTRODUCTION TO PHARMACY, 12 course(s)

PHRD 4077HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS, 13 course(s)

PHRD 5004Advanced Communication, 1 course(s)

PHRD 5027BONE AND JOINT MODULE, 1 course(s)

PHRD 5029SPECIAL POPULATIONS MODULE, 7 course(s)

PHRD 5037EYES, EARS, THROAT & DERM MOD, 7 course(s)

PHRD 5039THERAPEUTICS VII, 5 course(s)

PHRD 5051AGING DRUG USE IN ELDERLY, 12 course(s)

PHRD 5065CLINICAL PHARMACY CAREER DEV, 1 course(s)

PHRD 6004ADV AMBULATORY CARE PHAR PRACT, 10 course(s)

PHRD 6008ADV SPECIALTY PHAR PRACT EX, 1 course(s)

PHRD 6010ADV PHAR PRACT ELECTIVE EX, 4 course(s)