This document provides biographical and professional information about Richard L. McKnight, Pharm.D. It includes his contact information, education history, professional experience since 1999 as a critical care clinical specialist at West Virginia University Hospitals, publications, presentations, and committee/protocol work primarily related to critical care pharmacy.

1. Richard L. McKnight, Pharm. D.
19 CATALPA ST.
MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA
PHONE: 304.290.9670
EMAIL: mcknightr@wvuhealthcare.com
EDUCATION
Postgraduate Doctor of Pharmacy
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA
1999-2002
Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA
1984-1989
PROFESSIONAL PHARMACY PRACTICE EXPERIENCE
March 2005-Present
Critical Care Clinical Specialist
West Virginia University Hospitals
Morgantown, WV 26506
♦ Participate and contribute in daily multi-disciplinary (attending physician, pulmonary/critical care
fellows, senior residents, interns, critical care nurses, respiratory therapists, and clinical dietician)
rounds
♦ Monitor and document drug interactions, adverse drug events, pharmacokinetics (aminoglycosides,
vancomycin, phenytoin, digoxin, and theophylline), proper utilization of medication including drug
evaluation (using the correct dosages, adjusting dosages for renal as well as hepatic function), and
proper use of antibiotics, which includes selection, monitoring, microbiological analysis, and de-
escalation. Assure proper sedation and analgesia for all patients in the intensive care unit. Audit of
daily awakening protocols. Nutritional support and consult is also provided when the clinical dietician
is not available
♦ Responsible for overseeing all areas of drug use in critical care (SICU, MICU, CTU, and CCU)
♦ PGY2 Critical Care Residency Director 2008-present
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2. January 1999-March 2005
Clinical Pharmacist
West Virginia University Hospitals
Morgantown, WV 26506
♦ Participated and contributed in daily multi-disciplinary (attending physician, pulmonary/critical care
fellows, senior residents, interns, critical care nurses, respiratory therapists, and clinical dietician)
rounds
♦ Participated and part of multi-disciplinary rounding teams in both Surgical as well as Medical
Intensive care teams
♦ Extensive experience in medical as well as surgical intensive care
♦ Managed satellite pharmacy located in the ICU that serves surgical intensive care, medical intensive
care, cardiac care, cardiothoracic care, and a 16-suite operating room. Responsible for dispensing all
medication (oral, IV) which may be used in each of these specific areas
♦ Participated in morbidity and mortality conference at the end of each month, monthly journal club,
grand rounds in the ICU, guest lectures, departmental clinical conferences, pulmonary/infectious
disease clinical conference, and sentinel events root cause analysis
July 1992-January 1999
Independent Retail Pharmacist
McCracken Pharmacy
595 E. High St.
Waynesburg, PA
15370
♦ Managed an independent retail pharmacy
♦ Duties included dispensing medications, checking drug-interactions, allergies, and adverse effects of
medications, ordering and managing inventory, conversing with insurance companies, and managed
care organizations, counseling patients, and managing a staff of 6 technicians
♦ Assisted in management of nursing home as well as penitentiary pharmacy practice
♦ Responsible for pharmaceutical care services which included blood pressure monitoring, diabetes
monitoring, public speaking to various senior citizen groups in the area (providing them information
about their medications, and teaching them how to manage each of their medications)
♦ Taught lecture series at Waynesburg University to the athletic training students entitled
“Pharmacology as It Pertains to the Athletic Trainer”
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3. June 1991-July 1992
Hospital Pharmacist
Greene County Memorial Hospital
Bonar Avenue
Waynesburg, PA
15370
♦ Responsible for the dispensing of medication, IV admixture, physician order entry, and management of
four pharmacy technicians
♦ Developed a policy for the Pharmacy, Nutrition, and Therapeutics Committee discussing the incidence
of food-drug interactions and how to address the issue when it occurs, along with which drugs are
notorious for causing the interactions
February 1990-May 1991
Independent Retail Pharmacist
Gatti Pharmacy
Philadelphia St.
Indiana, PA
♦ Operated and managed a pharmacy where net profits increased from a margin of 10% to a margin of
17% in one year
♦ Worked closely with a group of orthopedic surgeons to provide their patients with adequate pain
control, and generated a quarterly report to each surgeon as to how much pain medication was being
used by each specific patient in order to assess compliance and pain management issues
♦ Responsible for the dispensing of medication in both retail as well as long term care settings. Provided
patient counseling in the retail aspect of the business as well as requests from the long term care
patients to provide counseling support for their medications
June 1989-February1990
Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
Merck, Sharp, and Dhome
Altoona, PA
16681
♦ Managed a territory that included calling on 350 physicians (family medicine, internal medicine,
gastroenterologists, urologists, and cardiologists), inpatient pharmacy directors, as well as retail
pharmacists
♦ Consistently met sales goals for all four products, which included leading the region in sales of
Noroxin® for six consecutive months
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4. PUBLICATIONS/RESEARCH
Reduction in Time to First Action as a Result of Electronic Alerts for Early Sepsis, Kurczewsi, L, Sweet
M., McKnight RL, Crit Care Nurs QVol. 38, No. 2, pp. 182–187
Evaluation of extended interval dosing aminoglycosides in the morbidly obese population. Ross AL1
, Tharp
JL, Hobbs GR, McKnight R, Cumpston A. Adv Pharmacol Sci. 2013;2013:194389. doi:
10.1155/2013/194389. Epub 2013 Aug 19.
A Matched-Controlled Evaluation of an Antifungal Bundle in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at a University
Teaching Hospital, Anthony Guarascio, Pharm.D.1
, Douglas Slain, Pharm.D., FCCP2
, Arif Sarwari, MD,
MSc1
, Richard McKnight, Pharm.D.3
Int J Clin Pharm. 2013 Feb;35(1):145-8. doi: 10.1007/s11096-012-
9712-5. Epub 2012 Oct 26
Impact of a Multimodal Antimicrobial Stewardship Program on Pseudomonas aeruginosa Susceptibility
and Antimicrobial Use in the Intensive Care Unit Setting. Slain D, Sarwari AR, Petros KO, McKnight RL,
Sager RB, Mullett CJ, Wilson A, Thomas JG, Moffett K, Palmer HC, Dedhia HV.Crit Care Res Pract.
2011;2011:416426. Epub 2011 May 19.
Doripenem: position in clinical practice.Dedhia HV, McKnight R.Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2009 Jun;
7(5):507-14.
Co-investigator, “Dori-10 protocol, a multi-center, randomized, open label phase 3 study to compare the
safety and efficacy of intravenous Doripenem with that of intravenous imipenem in ventilator-associated
pneumonia.” Dedhia, HV, McKnight, RL.
Co-investigator “Address trial, evaluation of the use of drotrecogin alfa in patients with APACHE II scores
less than 25.” sponsored by Eli Lilly and company. Dedhia, HV, McKnight, RL.
Co-investigator in the use of Epogen® in anemia of critical illness sponsored by Johnson and Johnson
Pharmaceuticals. Dedhia, HV, McKnight, RL.
“Early administration of Drotrecogin Alfa May be Key.” McKnight, RL Pharmacy Practice News, pg. 30.
June 2004.
American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists Posters and Abstracts (ASHP)
Poster Presentation 2014 ASHP Midyear Meeting. “QTc monitoring practices in adult intensive care
patients at a rural tertiary care hospital. Jaworski, A. Garavaglia, J. McKnightRL.
Poster Presentation 2013 ASHP Midyear Meeting. Evaluation of a glycemic control protocol in
cardiothoracic surgical patients. Kurczewski, L, Sweet, M. McKnight RL
Poster Presentation 2012 ASHP Midyear Meeting. Evaluation of empiric gram positive coverage and de-
escalation practices for patients with suspected ventilator-associated pneumonia in an adult intensive care
unit. Gathers, K, McKnight RL, Hodder, C, Ali A, Poling M, La Salla, R.
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5. Poster Presentation 2011 ASHP Midyear Meeting. “Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Ketamine as a
Procedural Sedative and Analgesic during Chest Tube Insertion “Garavaglia, J, McKnight RL,GoodwinD.
Poster Presentation 2010 ASHP Midyear Meeting. “Review of Typical vs. Non-Typical Antipsychotics in
Patients with Delirium in the ICU.” Campbell, A, McKnight RL
Poster Presentation 2008 ASHP Midyear Meeting. “Extended Interval Aminoglycoside Dosing in an
Intensive Care Unit.” Tharp, J, McKnight RL, Dedhia HV
Poster Presentation 2007 ASHP Midyear Meeting. “Gram-Positive Antibiotic Cycling Protocol in
Ventilated Adult Medical and Surgical Intensive Care Units.” Stover, K, McKnight RL, Sager R,
PalmerC
Poster Presentation 2006 ASHP Midyear Meeting “De-escalation of gram negative antibiotics in patients
with or without VAP” Legendre, D, McKnight RL, Petros, K, Sager R
Poster Presentation 2005 ASHP midyear meeting. “Are we meeting the guidelines for septic shock, or
does the team need a timeout?” Sweet M, McKnight RL
Poster Presentation 2005 ASHP Midyear Meeting. “Evaluation of Ertapenem Use at West Virginia
University Hospitals.” Owczarek, A, McKnight RL
Poster Presentation 2002 ASHP Midyear Meeting - “Successful implementation of a pharmacist directed
Xigris® eligibility program at a teaching hospital”, McKnight RL, Briggs FE
Society of Critical Care Medicine Posters and Abstracts (SCCM)
Poster Presentation abstract accepted 2015 Society of Critical Care Medicine 44th Annual Congress.
“Evaluating Methylprednisolone Doses in Intensive Care Unit Patients for COPD Exacerbations.Ngando, I,
Garavaglia J., Hodder C., McKnight RL.
Poster Presentation abstract accepted 2014 Society of Critical Care Medicine 43rd Annual Congress.
“MRSA-coverage and de-escalation practices in patients with VAP. Jaworski, A, Garavaglia J., Gathers, K,
Hodder, C, McKnightRL
Poster Presentation abstract accepted 2012 Society of Critical Care Medicine 42nd
Annual Congress.
Evaluation of empiric deal gram-negative antibiotic coverage for suspected Ventilator associated
pneumonia in the intensive care unit at a rural, academic medical center.. Kurczewski, L. McKnight RL,
Keller L. et al.
Poster Presentation abstract accepted and presented 2011 Society of Critical Care Medicine 40th
annual
congress. “Clevidpine vs. Nicardipine; A Retrospective efficacy and Cost- Analysis. Campbell, A, DeFazio
C., McKnight, RL
Poster Presentation abstract accepted and presented 2009 Society of Critical Care Medicine 38th
annual
meeting. “Eliminating Ventilator Associated Pneumonia in Adult ICU; A Real Clinical Dilemma and
Exercise in Futility.” McKnight, RL, Dedhia HV, Ohman, M, Werry, T, Tharp, J, Ortiz R, Foringer B,
Armistead, N
Poster Presentation abstract accepted and presented 2005 Society of Critical Care Medicine 34th
annual
meeting “Influence of age and APACHE II on outcome in patients with severe sepsis, receiving
Drotrecogin alfa (Xigris) in a rural tertiary hospital.” McKnight RL, Dedhia HV, Schiebel F
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6. Poster Presentation abstract accepted and presented 2004 Society of Critical Care Medicine 33rd
annual
meeting. “Application of physician derived and pharmacist implemented protocol for the use of
drotrecogin alfa (Xigris®) in patients with severe sepsis in a rural, tertiary care university hospital.”
McKnight RL, Dedhia HV, Schiebel F
PRESENTATIONS
“Sedation/Delirium in the critical care setting.” Presented to AACN (American Association of Critical Care
Nursing), April 2005
“What’s new in the management of sepsis? An evidence based approach.” Presented to Department of
Pharmacy, clinical conference July 2004
“An update of antifungals” presented to house staff of pulmonary medicine/critical care March 2004
Results of a DUE/Survey for the use of Xigris® at West Virginia University Hospitals- Presented to the
Pharmacy, Nutrition, and Therapeutics committee, January 2003
“Are Vancomycin and Aminoglycoside levels important?” -Presented to nursing staff of MICU/SICU,
February 2003
A review of gram positive and negative organisms and their treatment, March 2003, presented to
MICU/SICU nursing staff
“Is Xigris working?” Presented to nursing staff of MICU/SICU January 2003
“Xigris, two years later”-Presented in medical noon conference, Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital,
Parkersburg, WV. November 2003
“Development and Implementation of guidelines and protocols for the Use of Xigris® (drotrecogin alfa) in
the MICU and CCU at West Virginia University Hospital”, poster presentation Duquesne University Poster
Day-graduate research project, May 2002
Fenoldopam in-service presented to nurses in SICU and EICU, 2002
“Xigris® what is it and what is it for?” presented to critical care nursing staff, West Virginia University
Hospital, December 2001
(Presentations Cont.)
“A review of the American Thoracic Societies guidelines on the treatment of Community Acquired
Pneumonia-WVUH Department of Pharmacy Clinical Conference March 2001
(Presentations Cont.)
“The use of Acetylcysteine for Renal Protection in Patients Undergoing IV Contrast Studies” WVUH
Department of Pharmacy Clinical Conference, January 2001
“Caspofungin (Cancidas) - What you need to know about this new antifungal”-Presented to the pharmacy
staff and nursing staff in the blood and marrow transplant center at West Virginia University Hospital, May
22, 2001
“Aerosolized Antimicrobial Therapy in Acutely Ill Patients”, Pharmacotherapy-November 2000-WVUH
Department of Pharmacy Clinical Conference, July 2000
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7. “A review of oral hypoglycemics-The old, the new and the ugly.” –WVUH Department of Pharmacy
Clinical Conference July 1999
COMMITTEE/PROTOCOL WORK
Development of Computer Based Learning (CBL) competency for Department of Pharmacy at West
Virginia University Hospitals in Cardiac Arrest (ACLS) Response, 2011-2012
Development of Computer Based Learning (CBL) competency for Department of Pharmacy at West
Virginia University Hospitals in Total Parenteral Nutrition. 2010-2011
Development of Hypertonic Saline Protocol for use in Neurologic Emergencies. West Virginia University
Hospitals
Multidisciplinary committee for development of septic shock order set for Medical and Surgical Intensive
Care Units
Development of VAP antibiotics protocol for use in the Medical and Surgical ICU at West Virginia
University Hospitals
Development of a protocol for use of Vaprisol® for use in hypopnatremia for patients in the adult ICU’s
Updated and redesigned Standard infusion guidelines at West Virginia University Hospitals
Committee for the implementation of guidelines for the use of Xigris® in the ICU at West Virginia
University Hospital, November 2001
Moderate sedation committee
VAP Huddle Group
Cardiac code response committee
Leader for sedation holidays in the Ventilated patient, part of the IHI VAP guidelines
Participated in the development of a protocol for the use of Epogen® for anemia of critical illness in
medical intensive care patients
Updated and redeveloped protocols for patients in the intensive care setting for management of sedation
(approved by P+T 2003), analgesia, and neuromuscular blockade, along with guidance from physicians,
pharmacists, and nurse committees in this area
West Virginia University Hospital (WVUH) root cause analyses sentinel event committee, which analyzed
the root cause of a gentamicin error in pharmacokinetics. From this committee, a new pharmacist driven
policy was created to manage (by automatic discontinue orders and automatic restarts) of not only
aminoglycosides but also vancomycin
Morbidity and mortality committee in the ICU of WVUH
Continuous improvement plan committee for narcotic discrepancies, West Virginia University Hospital
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8. WVUH department of pharmacy-CIP (continuous improvement policy) committee for improvement in
pharmacokinetic monitoring
Committee for the improvement of IV administration guidelines at West Virginia University Hospital
Orientation committee for new nurses and graduate nurses in the ICU at West Virginia University Hospital
President’s chartered committee for the reduction of hospital wide narcotic discrepancies
CIP (continuous improvement policy) committee, appointed by the vice president of nursing for the
improvement of pain control for all patients at West Virginia University Hospital for 2004-2005
TEACHING EXPERICENCE
Adjunct professor West Virginia University and Duquesne University Schools of Pharmacy
Instructor Acute Care Elective (PHAR 791G) West Virginia University School of Pharmacy
Adult Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Instructor
Speaker’s Bureau Methyl naltrexone - Salix Pharmaceuticals 2012-present
Continuing Education Presentation - Department of Pharmacy West Virginia University Hospitals July
2011, “Adult Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition”
Continuing Education Presentation - Department of Pharmacy West Virginia University Hospitals
July 2010, Management and Approach to Drug Overdose and Toxicities”
Continuing Education Presentation - Department of Pharmacy West Virginia University Hospitals
March 2008, “What’s new in Critical Care?, an overview of 2007-8 SCCM Meeting”
Nutrition Lab- Third Year Pharmacy Students West Virginia University School of Pharmacy
Emergency Drugs- Life Flight Nurse/Paramedic certification class
Code Blue Response/Total Parenteral Nutritional (Lecture to all new pharmacists and pharmacy residents-
West Virginia University Hospitals Department of Pharmacy)
Monthly lecture of infectious disease and treatment to all new medicine residents on the MICU team.
“Renal dosing in the ICU”- presented monthly to all medical residents in the ICU
“Pharmacology of the ACLS drugs”- presented to all participants of the ACLS class at West Virginia
University Hospitals
Judge- Clinical Skills Competition- West Virginia University School of Pharmacy, October 2003.
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9. PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Society of Health System Pharmacists
Society of Critical Care Medicine
West Virginia Society of Hospital Pharmacists
COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS
Parishioner Saint John’s Newman Center
Sarah’s Table Saint John’s University parish
AWARDS
2010-2011 Preceptor of the Year, West Virginia University Hospitals Residency Class
Excellence in Patient Care Delivery- West Virginia University Hospitals May, 2001
Finalist in Patient Counseling Competition at Duquesne University, January 1989
LISCENSURE
Pennsylvania
West Virginia
ACLS certification
BLS certification
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10. PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Society of Health System Pharmacists
Society of Critical Care Medicine
West Virginia Society of Hospital Pharmacists
COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS
Parishioner Saint John’s Newman Center
Sarah’s Table Saint John’s University parish
AWARDS
2010-2011 Preceptor of the Year, West Virginia University Hospitals Residency Class
Excellence in Patient Care Delivery- West Virginia University Hospitals May, 2001
Finalist in Patient Counseling Competition at Duquesne University, January 1989
LISCENSURE
Pennsylvania
West Virginia
ACLS certification
BLS certification
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