Bio

Marv Shepherd earned his B.S. in biology (1969) from Michigan Technological University, a B.S. in pharmacy from Ferris State University (1975), M.S. from the University of Rhode Island (1978) and Ph.D. from Purdue University (1980). In 1969, he received a commission in the U.S. Army and was a Special Forces (Green Beret) officer.

He is the Director of the Center for Pharmacoeconomic Studies and Chairman of the Pharmacy Administration Division, College of Pharmacy University of Texas at Austin. The research program has 10 faculty and over 30 full-time M.S. and Ph.D. students. He has an active research program and has over 100 publications and has written six book chapters. He is currently the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Partnership for Safe Medicines (Safemedicines.org) a group composed of over 40 organizations dedicated to protecting the public from counterfeit, diverted and substandard medications.

Since 1994, he has studied drug importation, especially Mexican drugs entering the U.S. His research and expertise on drug importation and drug counterfeiting has been featured on CNN News, NPR Radio: First Edition, Newsweek, Wall Street Journal, Money Magazine, Time Magazine, Prevention Magazine, US News and World Report, New York Times, USAToday, Washington Post, plus many other national newspapers, magazines and television and radio news broadcasts. He has testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee on the drug importation, prescription drug diversion and counterfeit drugs in 2001 and again in 2002. He testified in 2004 before the Health and Human Services Task Force on Drug Importation in 2004 and the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Investigations in June of 2004. He has been a featured speaker at many national meetings on drug importation, drug diversion and counterfeit medications. It was his research that documented the extent Rohypnol (the date rape drug) was entering the U.S. from Mexico which lead to the U.S. banning of the product in 1997. This year he was awarded the Silver Ink Well Award from the International Association of Business Communicators, Washington DC for his Editorial Opinion article published in USATODAY “What if Canada Says ‘No’ to Drug Imports.”

He is currently the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Partnership for Safe Medicines which is an organization dedicated to providing information and protecting the public against substandard, counterfeit medications. In 1991, he was the president of the Academy of Pharmaceutical Research and Science of the American Pharmaceutical Association. He is a fellow of the APhA Academy of Pharmaceutical Research and Science. He currently is the Chairman of the Editorial Advisory Board for the Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy. He is a member of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, International Society of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research, Academy of Health Services Researchers, American Pharmacist Association, the Texas Pharmacists Association and Texas Society of Health System-Pharmacists.

Research Interests

My research interests lie in the major areas of the economics of pharmacy services, pharmaceutical marketing, importation of pharmaceuticals, prescription drug diversion, counterfeit medications, managed care pharmacy and pharmacoeconomics. I have an intense interest in conducting research which examines the policies related to drug importation and re-importation, especially from Mexico, the use of drug anti-counterfeiting strategies and techniques for monitoring prescription drug diversion. I am also involved in conducting research on the economics of pharmacy practice, such as cost of dispensing, prescription drug pricing issues, the extent of generic drug use and other policies which affect drug use within the Medicaid population. Finally, I enjoy pharmaceutical marketing research, especially measuring the impact of direct-to-consumer drug advertising.

Presentations

"Prescription Drug Importation" presented at the 2004 Health Care Conference, Texas   Association of Business and Texas Business Group on Health, Dallas, TX, September 8, 2004.

"Counterfeit Medicines: The American Experience" presented at the World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences 2004, 64 th Congress of the Federation of International Pharmacists, New Orleans, LA September 9, 2004

"Threat of Drug Importation" presented at the West Texas Pharmacists Association, Lubbock, TX, September 18, 2004.

"Issues in Drug Importation" presented at the Illinois Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting, Arlington Heights, IL September 19, 2004.

"Threat of Drug Importation" presented at the Western New York Society of Health System Pharmacists meeting, Buffalo, NY, September 16, 2004.

"Hazards of Drug Importation" presented at the University of Texas College of Pharmacy, Legends of Pharmacy Open and Learning on the Links Continuing Education Program, Austin, TX, September 24, 2004

"Threats of Drug Importation and Vulnerability of Our Drug Distribution System," presented at Florida A&M University Forum Series, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tallahassee, FL, October 5, 2004.

"Threat of Drug Importation," presented at the ARMSRx Ease of In-Sourcing Conference, Tortola, Bristish Virgin Islands, October 10, 2004.

"Integrity of the Drug Supply System: Threats of Counterfeit Pharmaceuticals"   presented at the Academy of Managed Care 2004 Educational conference, Baltimore, MD, Oct 15, 2004

"Drug Importation and the Vulnerability of Our Drug Supply Chain," presented at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists 2004 Management Conference for Leaders in Pharmacy, Chicago, IL, October18, 2004.

"The Importation of Drugs," presented at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Clinical Pharmacists, Dallas, TX, October 26, 2004.

"Wakeup Call: A Perfect Storm is Brewing" presented at the District VII and VII NABP-AACP Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NV, October 28, 2004.

"Threat of Drug Importation and the Vulnerability of Our Drug Distribution System," presented at the Federal Pharmacy Conference, University of Texas, College of Pharmacy, Austin, TX, November 5, 2004

"Statement on Prescription Drug Importation," presented and submitted to the Texas Legislative Conservative Coalition Research Institute Conference, Austin, TX, November 9, 2004.

"Safety Concerns regarding Imported Medications," presented at the Understanding Importation Impact on Health Care Outcomes Conference, Madison, WI, November 11, 2004.

"New Drugs in the Pipeline and New Generic Releases," presented at the Department of Defense Pharmacoeconomics and Pharmacy Benefit Conference, San Antonio, TX, January 11, 2005

"Myths of Drug Importation" presented at the Department of Defense,   Pharmacoeconomics and Pharmacy Benefit Conference, San Antonio, TX, January 12, 2005

"Effects of Drug Importation on Quality of Care," presented at the Coalition of Rheumatologists Advocacy Conference: Impact of Pharmacy Programs on Access to Rheumatologic Care,   San Francisco, CA, January 22, 2005.

"Myths of Drug Importation," presented at the Federation of American Hospitals Conference, Washington, D.C., February 28, 2005.

"Drug Industry: Importation and Reimportation of Drugs," presented at the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists Annual Conference,   San Diego, CA, March 12, 2005.

"Myths of Drug Importation," presented at the Michigan Health and Safety Coalition Patient Safety Conference, Dearborn, MI, April 8, 2005.

"Global Pharmaceutical Marketplace/Importation," presented at the Food Marketing Institute 18 th Annual Supermarket Pharmacy Conference, New Orleans, LA, April 12, 2005.

"Patients at Risk: Illegal Importation and Counterfeiting of Drugs," presented the Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals Conference, Dallas, TX, April14, 2005.

"Update on the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program," present at the College of Pharmacy University of Texas, Advisory Council, April 15, 2005.

"Safety of America's Drug Supply Chain," presented at the Illinois Council of Health System Pharmacists and the Missouri Society of Health-System Pharmacists Spring Meeting, St. Charles, MO, April 16, 2005.

"Internet Drug Traffic and Diversion of Prescription Drugs," presented at the Train the Trainer Drug Conference, Drug Enforcement Administration, El Paso, TX, April 20, 2005

"Myths of Drug Importation," presented at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Train the Trainer Conference, El Paso, TX, April 20, 2005.   

"The Truth and Consequences of Drug Importation," presented at the New Jersey Society of Health-System Pharmacists Annual Meeting, New Brunswick, NJ, April 21, 2005.

"Myths of Drug Importation," presented at Argus Health Systems, Kansas City, MO, April 28, 2005.

"Policy Implications: Drug Quality, Safety Issues and Threats from Imported Medications," presented at the International Drug Importation Conference, Institute of Health Law Studies, California Western School of Law, San Diego, CA, June 3, 2005.

"Myths of Drug Importation," presented at the Rochester NY Physicians Meeting, Rochester NY, June 13, 2005.

"Myths of Drug Importation," presented at the Pfizer Pharmaceutical Speaker Program, Williamsville, NY, June 14, 2005.

"Drug Importation: Global and Mexico," presented at the Healthcare Distribution Management Association 2005 Distribution Management Conference & Expo,   Orlando, FL, June 16, 2005.

"Threats of Drug Importation and the Vulnerability of Our Drug Distribution System," presented at the Arizona Pharmacy Alliance Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ, June 18, 2005.

"Drug Importation and the Vulnerability of Drug Distribution System," presented at the PharmaCare 3 rd Party Administrators Annual Conference, New Port RI, July 11, 2005.

"Counterfeit Drugs and the Vulnerability of Our Drug Distribution System," presented at the Texas Academy of Family Physicians Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX, August 15, 2005.  

"Thoughts on the Future of Pharmacy," presented at the Annul Pharmacy Conference of the Texas Community Health Centers, Austin, TX, August 25, 2005.

Research Presentations

Dastani H and Shepherd MD, "Predictors of Compliance and Persistence to Statin Therapy Among Texas Medicaid Patients," poster presentation at the annual meeting of the International Society of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research, Washington DC, May 16, 2005.

Nair R, Shepherd MD, Barner J, Lawson K, Wilson J and Warner D, Evaluation of Factors Related to Diagnosis of Hyperlipidemia: The Roll of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising Expenditures, Health Insurance Coverage and Gender, poster presentation at the annual meeting of the International Society of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research, Washington DC, May 16, 2005.

Shah S, Novak S and Shepherd MD, Evaluation and Comparison of Different Models of Metabolic Syndrome Using Confirmatory Factor Analysis, poster presentation at the annual meeting of the International Society of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research, Washington DC, May 17, 2005.

Panjabi, SS and Shepherd MD, Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Beck Depression Inventory, poster presentation at the annual meeting of the International Society of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research, Washington DC, May 17, 2005.

Dastani H Shepherd MD, and Sasane R, Compliance and Persistence to Statin Therapy Among Texas Medicaid Patients, presented at the annual meeting of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, Denver, CO, April 22, 2005.

Publications:

Shepherd, MD, "Impact of drug importation on community pharmacy and patient care," Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, Vol 47, Issue 3, May-June 2007, 319-327.

Shepherd, MD, "Drug Importation and Safety of Drugs Obtained from Canada," Ann Pharmacother 2007;41:1288-1291. DOI 10.1345/aph.1K249 Published Online, 19 June 2007

Shepherd, MD, Unprecedented Opportunities for Managed Care Organizations and Community Pharmacies to Work Together, Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy, Vol 13, Issue 5, 2007, 426-428.

Shepherd, MD, "Counterfeit Drugs and the Pharmacist's Responsibilities" CESolutions, ( www.CESolution.com )   1-12.

Shepherd, MD, "Drug Quality: Safety Issues and Threats of Drug Importation," California Western Law Review/International Law Journal , Special Edition, Summer 2005. 77-88.

"Alternatives in Savings in Purchasing of Medications," The Senior News Source , Vol 7, Issue 2, April 15, 2005. p.1

"Examination of the Relationship of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising Expenditures and Drug Price," Drug Information Journal , Vol 39, No.1, 2005, 13-24.

ED-OP Articles

Shepherd MD, "U.S. Should Solve Its Own Problems" Vancouver Sun , November 2, 2004, A13.

Shepherd, MD, "Canada is Not the Answer" Chicago Sun Times , October 23, 2004

"What if Canada Says 'No' to US on Drug Importation" USA TODAY , December 29, 2004, A13.

Interviews

Bioworld Today, "Canada Considers Stopping U.S. from Importing Drugs," January 18, 2005

KTBB-AM - Tyler TX - Talk Radio Interview, Roger Gray Show, January 11, 2005

KCRS-Midland/Odessa -Talk Radio, Robert Hallmark Show, January 11, 2005

DFW Metro Networks -Dallas TX, Amber Browne, January 20, 2005

Cooking Lite Magazine

San Antonio Express News , Editorial Advisory Board, January 11, 2005.

Austin American Statesman , Editorial Advisory Board, January 18, 2005

Houston Chronicle , Editorial Advisory Board, February 2, 2005

News Press Conference at the Texas Capital on Drug Importation, April 6, 2005