With a keen eye for innovation and a commitment to advancing pharmacy practice, Madeline Camejo, MS, PharmD, drives impactful change as vice president and chief pharmacy officer at Baptist Health South Florida. Boasting over two decades of experience in pharmacy and health care administration, Dr. Camejo has established herself as a visionary leader known for her innovative approach to pharmacy services. She has elevated pharmacy practice by expanding outpatient services, including specialty pharmacy, medication hubs, home infusion, and central distribution, making significant contributions to the health care landscape.
Dr. Camejo’s career began with an American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, ASHP, administrative pharmacy residency at Broward General Medical Center in 1999. Following this achievement, she completed her Doctor of Pharmacy from Nova Southeastern University in 1997. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science, uniquely positioning her to bridge the gap between technology and pharmacy. Early in her career, she owned a computer business before transitioning into health care, a move that has significantly influenced her approach to automating and enhancing pharmacy operations.
Before joining Baptist Health South Florida in 2018, Dr. Camejo served as vice president of specialty and pharmacy services at Memorial Healthcare System. She held multiple supervisory positions during her tenure, including administrative director of pharmacy services and director of pharmacy and regional manager at Broward General Medical Center. Her work during these years focused on developing and implementing pharmacy services that would better meet the needs of patients and health care providers.
Dr. Camejo’s expertise in pharmacology and her strong computer science background have allowed her to foster innovation within the pharmacy industry. She has introduced groundbreaking programs, such as sports pharmacy within sports medicine divisions and the integration of pharmacists into emergency room settings, long before these became industry standards. Her ability to distinguish herself from her peers by consistently foreseeing industry trends and utilizing proactive strategies has been remarkable.
Dr. Camejo’s influence extends well beyond her professional pursuits, as she is deeply committed to giving back to her community. As the chair of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Dr. Camejo dedicates her time, leadership, and expertise to advocating for those affected by blood cancers. In this role, she leads efforts to raise awareness, fund vital research, and support patients and their families through the challenges of diagnosis and treatment. Her involvement is motivated by a genuine desire to make a difference, demonstrating her love for others.
Throughout her career, Dr. Camejo has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Pandemic Year Award from Baptist Hospital in 2021 and the Pharmacy Award from Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in 2017. She received the Excellence in Leadership Award from the Florida Society of Health-System Pharmacists and was named one of the country’s Top 75 Key Pharmacy Officers. Additionally, she was honored as Alumni of the Year by Nova Southeastern University, recognizing her contributions to the discipline.
Dr. Camejo is an active member of the Florida Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, collaborating with other industry leaders to advance pharmacists in health care. Her passion for the profession is evident in her continuous efforts to push boundaries and explore new opportunities for growth. At Baptist Health South Florida, Dr. Camejo oversees pharmacy services across the system, ensuring they operate effectively and efficiently. She plays a key role in developing strategies that align with the organization’s goals, focusing on improving patient outcomes through enhanced pharmacy services. Her responsibilities include overseeing the implementation of modern technologies, expanding pharmacy services, and ensuring that the pharmacy team operates at the highest level of clinical excellence.
Dr. Camejo attributes her success to perseverance, creativity, and refusal to accept the status quo. Even her path into pharmacy was unconventional. Initially drawn to a medical career, Dr. Camejo pivoted to computer science when faced with the competitive landscape of medicine. She began her career programming for a drug wholesale business and quickly excelled, helping automate processes and building a nationwide pharmacy network. This early experience in technology set the foundation for her future in pharmacy, leading her to pursue a doctorate in the field and merge her skills in computer science with her talent for patient care.
As she continues to chart the future of pharmacy, Dr. Camejo envisions integrating artificial intelligence into the field to enhance patient care and operational efficiency. She believes the true potential of pharmacy lies in its ability to embrace technological advancements, and she is committed to bringing her IT knowledge to bear on the industry’s most pressing challenges. Her unique blend of skills in technology and pharmacology, combined with her determination, continues to set her apart as a leader in the field. As she looks to the future, Dr. Camejo remains focused on driving pharmacy forward, leveraging her expertise to create a more integrated, innovative, and patient-centered approach to health care.