Phares appointed chief scientific officer at National Pharmaceutical Council

January 26, 2022

Dr. Sharon Phares

On January 4, 2022, the National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC) named Sharon Phares, PhD, MPH, as their new chief scientific officer. In this role, the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health alum will direct NPC’s research strategy and oversee research related to policy that affects the pharmaceutical industry.

The National Pharmaceutical Council, which is funded by major pharmaceutical companies to conduct research related to health policy, describes itself as dedicated to the advancement of good evidence and science, and to fostering an environment in the U.S. that supports medical innovation. Much of its research is published in peer-reviewed journals.

Phares brings a background in health policy research to her new role at NPC. Most recently, she served as senior vice president of research at the Pharmaceutical Strategies Group, where she oversaw the organization’s entire research portfolio, with a focus on using research findings to create actionable information. Prior to that, she held senior research positions at the Pharmaceutical Benefit Management Institute, Laboratory Corporation of America, Walgreens Health Services and Express Scripts Incorporated, and she is the author of more than 100 peer-reviewed articles.

“Patient access to medicines is often hindered by parts of our health care system that are not well understood,” she said. “Through sound research, education and collaboration with stakeholders, we can bring these challenges to light and inform effective policy solutions across our health care system.”

Phares holds a Master of Public Health degree, which she earned from the Gillings School’s Public Health Leadership Program in 2010 after being awarded a Certificate in Core Public Health Concepts in 2007. She also holds doctoral and master’s degrees in sociology from North Carolina State University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Columbus State University.

Phares replaces Robert W. Dubois, MD, PhD, who had served in the top research role at NPC since 2010 and who plans to retire in February 2022. She will continue his work and that of NPC’s to explore, demonstrate and communicate the role and value of innovative biopharmaceuticals to achieve better patient health.

Contact the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health communications team at sphcomm@unc.edu.