William E. Fassett, Ph.D., R.Ph., FAPhA

Professor Emeritus, Department of Pharmacotherapy, Washington State University

Education

Ph.D. in leadership and policy studies, University of Washington
Master of Business Administration, University of Puget Sound
Bachelor of Science in pharmacy, University of Washington
Licensure & Fellowships
Registered Pharmacist, Washington
Fellow of the American Pharmacists Association (FAPhA)

Teaching

Dr. Fassett's academic discipline is in the social and administrative sciences in pharmacy, and his principal teaching activity is in pharmacy law and ethics, including pharmacy law, patient safety, pharmaceutical ethics, and entrepreneurship in pharmacy.

Research and Practice

Research and scholarship: pharmacy law and ethics, higher education law and ethics, social and administrative sciences in pharmacy
Professional practice: Consultant pharmacist, allergy; immunizing pharmacist with collaborative practice agreement; extensive experience in regional and special accreditation for universities and colleges; educational administration including dean, interim dean, department chair.

Outreach

Dr. Fassett consults regularly regarding pharmacy management and quality assurance, and has served as an expert in litigation involving pharmacy standards of practice, professional licensure, and higher education employment.

Additional Information

Fassett joined the WSU College of Pharmacy in July 1999 as dean and professor of pharmacotherapy, and retired from the University on May 15, 2014; he continues to be involved with the College as Professor Emeritus. He served as dean for six years until May 2005 when he returned to full-time faculty work. Prior to accepting his appointment as dean at WSU, Fassett was professor and chair of pharmacy practice at Drake University in Des Moines, IA (1994-99), and was formerly associate professor of pharmacy at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Fassett also holds an appointment as adjunct professor at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy, and formerly was adjunct professor at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy, where he taught a graduate course in ethics in the UF’s master’s program in pharmacy regulatory affairs.

He is past-president of the Academy of Pharmaceutical Research and Science and served as a trustee of the American Pharmacists Association from 2012 to 2014. He is a member of the Washington State Pharmacy Association, and is editorial director for the American Society for Pharmacy Law. Other memberships include the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, American Health Lawyers Association, American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, Phi Delta Kappa, Rho Chi Society, and Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity.

Fassett is editor of the two official publications of the American Society for Pharmacy Law: Rx Ipsa Loquitur and Pharma-Law e-News. He has served on regional and programmatic accreditation teams for the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges – Senior Colleges and Universities.

Dr. Fassett received the Rodney D. Shafer Award in 2011 from the Washington State Pharmacy Association, the Joseph L. Fink Founders Award from the American Society for Pharmacy Law in 2012, was named to the Northshore School District (WA) Wall of Honor in 2012, and was named a Fellow of the American Pharmacists Association in 2012. He is a recipient of a SmithKline Beckman-AACP GAPS Award of Excellence (1987) and the APhA-APRS Joseph B. Wiederholt Prize (2003).

He and his wife, Sharon, live on Five Mile Prairie in Spokane.

Selected Publications

Books and chapters

Fassett WE. The law and the clinical practice of pharmacy. In: Stein SM, ed., Boh’s Pharmacy Practice Manual, 4th Ed., 2014; New York: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Stein SM, Fassett WE, Fortner J. Professionalism and pharmacy. In: Stein SM, ed., Boh’s Pharmacy Practice Manual, 4th Ed., 2014; New York: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Fassett WE. Ethics, law, and the emergence of pharmacists’ responsibility for patient care, in: Evolution of Clinical Pharmacy: 40 Years of Progress, 2009; Cincinnati: Harvey Whitney Books.
Fassett WE. A technician’s guide to Washington pharmacy law. 2008; Spokane: Washington State University.
Fassett WE. Washington pharmacy law: A user’s guide. 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014; Spokane: Washington State University.
Fassett WE. An intern’s guide to Washington pharmacy law. 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012; Spokane: Washington State University.

Refereed journals

Hilliard N, Fassett WE, Hamilton BA. Report of the Academy presidents: leading key initiatives as part of APhA’s strategic plan. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2014; 54(2): 104-120. DOI 10.1331/JAPhA.2014.510.
Hogue MD, Fassett WE, Steeb DR. Report of the Academy presidents: leading the profession’s transformation. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2013; 53:120-132. DOI 10.1331/JAphA.2013.13509.
Fassett WE. Key performance outcomes of patient safety curricula: root cause analysis, failure mode and effects analysis, and structured communications skills. Am J Pharm Educ. 2011; 75(8) Article 164; published on-line 2011 Oct 10.
Fassett WE, Phillips CR. Writing research articles on benefit design and policy. Amer Health Drug Benefits 2008 Oct; 1(8):1-3.
Fassett WE. Ethics, law, and the emergence of pharmacists’ responsibility for patient care. Ann Pharmacother. 2007;41:1264-7, Epub 26 Jun 2007. DOI 10.1345/aph.1K267. [Selected by editors to be reprinted by Medscape, http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/560058 , August 2007, and as the “Featured Article” for Medscape Pharmacists MedPulse®, week of 8/14/07.]
Fassett WE. Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005. Ann Pharmacother. 2006;40:917-24. Epub 25 Apr 2006. DOI 10.1345/aph.1G485. [Selected by editors to be reprinted by Medscape, http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/532889, June 2006.]
Haddad AM, Berger BE, Fassett WE, Ranelli PL, Buerki RA. Leading students to care: the use of clinical simulations in ethics -- reaction panel. Journal of Pharmacy Teaching 2005;12(1): 81-109.
Fincham JE, Harris CE, Fassett WE, Richards W. The over-the-counter availability of Plan B® emergency contraception: further discussion and commentary. The Annals of Pharmacotherapy 2005; 39(2):346-351.
Fassett WE. Single-patient trials, extemporaneously compounded products and pharmaceutical care. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Compounding 7(6):441-447, November/December, 2003.
Christensen DB, Neil N, Fassett WE, Smith DH, Holmes G, and Stergachis A. Frequency and characteristics of cognitive services performed by pharmacists in response to a financial incentive. Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association 2000; 40(5): 609-618. [Paper awarded the 2002 Wiederholt Prize, APRS-ESAS section, American Pharmaceutical Association.]
Smith DH, Fassett WE, and Christensen DB. Washington State CARE Project: downstream cost changes associated with the provision of cognitive services by pharmacists. Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association 1999; 39(5): 650.
Christensen DB, Holmes G, Fassett WE, Neil N, Andrilla CH, Smith DH, Andrews GA, Bell EJ, Hansen R and Stergachis AS. Influence of a financial incentive on cognitive services: CARE Project design and implementation. Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association 1999; 39(5):629.

Trade and other journals

Fassett WE. Washington is latest state to enact PBM statute, requires PBM registration and MAC list clarity. Rx Ipsa Loquitur 2014 Mar/Apr; 41(2):2,3.
Fassett WE. Key January 1, 2015 deadline for pharmacies under the Drug Supply Chain Security Act. Rx Ipsa Loquitur 2013 Nov/Dec; 40(6):6.
Fassett WE. Emerging trends in tort: “Loss of chance” as a new cause of action. Rx Ipsa Loquitur 2012 Mar/Apr; 39(2):3.
Fassett WE. Recent DEA interpretations suggest need for reform and modernization of the Controlled Substances Act (editorial). Rx Ipsa Loquitur 2011 May/Jun; 38(3):1,4.
Fassett WE. Prescription drug monitoring programs. Rx Ipsa Loquitur 2010 May/Jun; 37(3):2.
Fassett WE. DEA interim final rule on electronic prescribing of controlled substances – practitioner and pharmacy responsibilities. Rx Ipsa Loquitur 2010 Mar/Apr; 37(2):1-2.
Fassett WE. Do affidavits of reasonable cause and certificates of merit impair access to courts or violate the separation of powers? Rx Ipsa Loquitur 2009 Sept./Oct; 36(5):2,5.
Zohar N, Fassett WE. Case study from a Maryland pharmacist. Mid-Atlantic Ethics Committee Newsletter (U. Maryland School of Law and Maryland Health Care Ethics Committee Network) 2009 Spring; 10-13.
Fassett WE. U.S. “Vaccine Court” issues rulings against claimants in MMR vaccine-autism cases. Rx Ipsa Loquitur 2009 Jan/Feb; 36(1):3,5.
Fassett WE. Whither pharmacy compounding? The Medical Center Pharmacy case in context. Rx Ipsa Loquitur 2008 Jul/Aug; 35(4):1,2.
Fassett WE. Board access to patient records to investigate complaints of unprofessional conduct. Rx Ipsa Loquitur 2005 Sept./Oct; 32(5): 4-5, 10.

Abstracts and reports

Fassett, WE. Impact of Washington’s Death with Dignity Act on pharmacy practice. Submitted to WSPA Board of Managers, November 7, 2008.
Fassett WE. Review of draft mandatory reporting rules (WAC 246-16-200), prepared for WSPA, November 19, 2007.
Fassett WE. The battle for patient access: the Washington state experience (abstract). J Am Pharm Assoc. 2007;47(2):271.
Fassett WE. Chain store policies and legal issues concerning legend drug transfers between pharmacies (abstract). J Am Pharm Assoc. 2006;46(2):276.