In her role as the UCSF School of Pharmacy’s director of community-based practice innovation, Crystal Zhou, PharmD, redefines what it means to be a pharmacist in today’s health care landscape, merging teaching, clinical care, and community engagement to reach patients where they are.

Through programs like Cut Hypertension, Department of Clinical Pharmacy Associate Professor Zhou leads efforts to bring preventive care and blood pressure management into trusted neighborhood spaces such as barbershops in San Francisco, Oakland, and Sacramento. By partnering with community leaders and training barbers as health coaches, she and her team are closing gaps in access to care and improving health outcomes. 

At the same time, Zhou is shaping the next generation of pharmacists through her teaching and mentorship. From developing new practice models and clinical protocols to leading interprofessional training, she’s helping future health care providers understand the essential role pharmacists play in managing chronic conditions and ensuring medication safety.