Dr. Jay Graessle
PharmD
Chief Pharmacy Officer, Pharmacy Manager
Dr. Graessle earned a Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy and also holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Appalachian State University.
He is licensed to practice pharmacy in North Carolina and Tennessee. He brings over eight years of pharmacy experience, including pharmacy manager of a large corporate retail pharmacy, to his role at Appalachian Specialty Pharmacy.
Dr. Michele Simmons
Dr. Simmons is a graduate of Campbell University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences where she received a doctorate in pharmacy in 2013. She then completed a PGY-1 pharmacy residency at Nebraska Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska in 2014 before accepting a position as a clinical pharmacist at Mission Health Cancer Center where she worked for six years.
Dr. Simmons is a board certified oncology pharmacist. A board certified oncology pharmacist has the advanced knowledge and experience to manage cancer-related and drug-related adverse events or clinical situations not encountered in other disease states due to the increasing number and complexity of drug therapies to treat and prevent cancer; is specially trained to recommend, design, implement, monitor, and modify treatment plans to optimize outcomes in patients with cancer and reduce medication errors; and recognizes and responds to adverse physical and emotional issues that may arise during treatment, including pain, nausea, and hair loss. During her time as a clinical pharmacist, she worked closely with oncologists, oncology nurses, and other health care team members to develop appropriate treatment plans for cancer patients. Her interest in oncology pharmacy arose from her experience as a breast cancer survivor which gives her a unique perspective when working with cancer patients.
Dr. Jay Worthington
PharmD, MBA
Pharmacy Intern, CEO
Dr. Worthington earned a Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy and also holds a Master of Business Administration from Montreat College and a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from Georgia College & State University.
He brings over seven years of pharmacy experience and over 20 years of management experience to his role at Appalachian Specialty Pharmacy.
Mike Worthington
Director of Operations,
Registered Pharmacy Technician
Mr. Worthington earned a Bachelor of Science in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of North Carolina at Asheville and is also proficient in American Sign Language.
He brings over two years of pharmacy experience and over 20 years of management experience to his role at Appalachian Specialty Pharmacy.