Dr. Ila M. Saunders, Pharm.D., BCOP, DipACLM, FHOPA
Health Sciences Clinical Professor
Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Human Resources
Mandi Garhartt (formerly Walker)
mjwalker@health.ucsd.edu
858-246-0080
Reimbursements
Jan Economy
jeconomy@health.ucsd.edu
(858)-822-5320
Fund Management
Keri Ramos
kramos@health.ucsd.edu
Dr. Saunders is a board-certified oncology pharmacist working in the Blood & Marrow Transplant clinics at Moores Cancer Center (MCC). Prior to joining the faculty at SSPPS in August 2014, Dr. Saunders served as a clinical pharmacy specialist at MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) and practiced in the Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy (SCTCT) department for six years. As the first oncology clinical pharmacist in the outpatient clinics at Moores Cancer Center in 2014, she has been instrumental in expanding oncology clinical pharmacy services.
Dr. Saunders' research examines the real-world outcomes of anti-cancer therapies and supportive care for patients with blood cancers, such as leukemia, myeloma, and lymphoma. She also studies survivorship after stem cell transplantation, health equity, and well-being among pharmacy trainees.
Education: B.S. in Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles (2001); Pharm.D., University of California, San Francisco (2006); PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency, University of California, San Francisco (2006-2007); PGY2 Oncology Pharmacy Practice Residency, MD Anderson Cancer Center (2007-2008); Board Certified in Oncology Pharmacy (2009) and re-certified (2016 and 2023); Diplomate, American College of Lifestyle Medicine (2023); Affiliate Faculty, Sanford Center for Compassionate Communication (2024).
Awards and Honors:
- Inaugural HOPA Volunteer Award, 2019
- Society of Palliative Care Pharmacists: Renee Holder Literature Award, 2020
- SSPPS Excellence in Teaching Award, 2021
- Fellow, Hematology Oncology Pharmacy Association, 2023
- Lifetime Achievement Award, ASTCT Pharmacy SIG, 2025
Leadership Experience:
Dr. Saunders has been an active member of the Hematology Oncology Pharmacists Association (HOPA) for over a decade, currently serving as Vice Chair of the Education Council and will become Chair in June 2025. She has previously held leadership roles on the BCOP Oversight and BCOP Conference Program Planning committees and has participated in various task forces focused on education and competency development.
Dr. Saunders is a member of the American Society of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) Pharmacy Special Interest Group and the Southwestern Oncology Group (SWOG) Pharmaceutical Sciences Committee. From 2016 to 2024, she contributed to the NCCN Chemotherapy Order Templates and Anti-emesis Committees. Additionally, Dr. Saunders has been an active member of the Hematology Research Outcomes Consortium since 2023 and serves on the Branding and Publicity Committee.
In 2019, Dr. Saunders co-founded PharmGradWishList with nine pharmacists from across the country, a mutual aid movement designed to support minoritized students entering the pharmacy profession. This initiative has grown to include the development and implementation of the ASHP Midyear Travel Award for racially and ethnically minoritized pharmacy students.
At SSPPS, Dr. Saunders has participated in several committees, including the Pfizer/UCSD Pharmacology and Oncology Fellowship, the Mirati Therapeutics/UCSD SSPPS Medical Affairs Fellowship, and the Admissions Committees. She currently serves as the Chair of the Faculty Wellness and Engagement Committee and is a member of the Comprehensive Exam Committees. Additionally, Dr. Saunders has been the Faculty Director of the Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience program (APPE) in the Office of Experiential Education since December 2023.
At UC San Diego Health, Dr. Saunders served as the first pharmacist on the inaugural Oncology IRB from 2014 to 2019. Currently, she leads the Vaccine Task Force for the Blood & Marrow Transplant team and leads the development of select standards of practice (SOP) in collaboration with BMT physicians and advanced practice providers.
- Chair, Therapeutics (SPPS 212C)
- Chair, Introduction to Oncology elective (SPPS 288)
- Collaborated with MCC nursing colleagues to develop and implement a chemotherapy class for cancer patients at MCC.
- Worked closely with the cancer center and pharmacy leadership to expand oncology clinical pharmacy services at MCC.
- Established a pharmacist-led clinic within the BMT/Malignant Hematology team
- Trando A, Ghamsari F, Yeung P, Costello C, Saunders I, Jeong AR (2024). Outcomes of Idecabtagene Vicleucel Therapy in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma: A Single-Institution Experience. Biomedicines 13(1), 36.
- Abdul-Mutakabbir JC, Saunders IM, Bandali A, Ko CL, Nussbaum BB, et al. (2024). Development and implementation of the ASHP Midyear Travel Award to support racially and ethnically minoritized pharmacy students. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy,
- Kneebusch JC, Morello CM, Saunders IM, Mnatzaganian CL, et al. (2024). Prescription for Success: Cultivating Wellbeing in the Academic Pharmacy Community at UC San Diego SSPPS. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 88(9).
- Sepassi A, Li M, Zell JA, Chan A, Saunders IM, Mukamel DB (2024). Rural-urban disparities in colorectal cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship care: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Oncologist 29(4), e431-e446.
- Yang C, Khan F, MacDonald C, Guglielmo J, Lo M, Young R, Banez MT, et al. (2024). Characterization of direct oral anticoagulants use in adult hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis 57(2), 293-301.
- Saunders IM, Pick AM, Lee KC (2023). Grit, subjective happiness, satisfaction with life, and academic resilience among pharmacy and physical therapy students at two universities. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 87(10), 100041.
- Sepassi A, Saunders IM, Bounthavong M, Taplitz RA, Logan C, et al. (2023). Effectiveness of letermovir for cytomegalovirus prophylaxis in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients: A global systematic review. Journal of the American Pharmacists Association 63(4), 1138-1149.
- Creating service interventions that enhance clinical outcomes for patients with blood cancers
- Evaluating the real-world outcomes of novel therapies, such as CAR-T cell therapies and bispecific antibodies, in patients with hematologic malignancies.
- Implementing initiatives that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in pharmacy education and practice.
- Studying and enhancing wellness and resilience among pharmacy trainees and practitioners.