Tamara McCants

Tamara A. McCants is a distinguished pharmacy leader, scholar, and advocate whose work sits at the intersection of clinical excellence, education, and health equity. She currently serves as President of the National Pharmaceutical Association (NPhA), a role in which she has committed to elevating the role of pharmacists—especially Black pharmacists—in improving access to care.

Dr. McCants holds faculty appointments at Howard University College of Pharmacy, where she is Assistant Professor and Director of Residency Programs & Practice Transformation. In these roles, she leads innovation in pharmacy practice—including residency training, experiential education, grant-supported community interventions, and partnerships aimed at transforming care delivery in underserved settings.

Her earlier career includes founding and directing community health programs focused on medication therapy management in HIV/AIDS, diabetes, and immunizations, and working with public and private institutions to improve quality, access, and patient outcomes. Her approach combines rigorous academic work, hands-on service, and systemic advocacy.

Dr. McCants is a graduate of Florida A&M University, where she earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree magna cum laude. She is deeply involved in professional and civic organizations—including the District of Columbia Board of Pharmacy, where she serves as Chair—and has received multiple awards recognizing her leadership, service, and mentorship. These include Pharmacist of the Year for Washington, D.C., Preceptor of the Year, and honors from her alma mater.

Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Dr. McCants now resides in Washington, D.C., where she continues to mentor emerging pharmacists and remains active in the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.