Dr. Kyle Strnad is a critical care clinical pharmacist at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. After earning his Pharm.D. degree at Thomas Jefferson University, he completed his PGY1 pharmacy practice residency and PGY2 critical care residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Strnad maintains a clinical practice setting in the cardiovascular intensive care unit at Cleveland Clinic with an emphasis on post-cardiothoracic surgical care. He cares for patients recovering from valve replacements and/or repairs, aortic repairs, coronary artery bypass grafting, pulmonary endarterectomies, and heart and lung transplants and patients requiring mechanical circulatory support. Strnad also plays an active role in precepting Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience students and pharmacy residents.

Strnad was encouraged early on as a pharmacy student to become involved within ACCP because of support from his mentor, Dr. Cynthia Sanoski. He initially served on an ad hoc task force with well-established pharmacists and states that this experience was the catalyst for his pharmacy career. He likes to highlight the group’s eagerness to integrate his thoughts and illustrate for him a team-friendly approach. After this, he served on the ACCP National Student Network Advisory Committee as both vice chair and chair. During this experience, he had the opportunity to model the initial behaviors and experiences learned while serving on his first task force.

Strnad encourages residents and students to be curious with their learning. He acknowledges the difficulty with transitioning from the pharmacy didactic curriculum to clinical practice. He recommends that, to maximize their time with preceptors, learners talk through difficult topics and ask questions. Strnad also emphasizes the importance of becoming involved with organizations in order to network and open doors.

On a personal note, Strnad learned to fly an airplane before he learned to drive a car. As a teenager, he pursued a possible career as a commercial airline pilot. He began flying lessons when he was just 15 years old and completed his first solo flight 4 days after his 16th birthday. Strnad states: “I still laugh at the notion that ‘the sky’s the limit’ because it’s not – I’ve been there, [and] you can always keep reaching.”