TIPA 2025

Queen Ivy and Pearl
Dr. Vikki Huggins

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A native of Moss Point, Mississippi, Vikki Steward Huggins started her pharmacy career in 2010 after completing her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Mississippi.  Subsequently, she completed a post-graduate year-one residency in pharmacy practice at DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa, AL.  

During her residency training, Huggins took interest in the hematology/oncology service line and focused her research in this specialty.  Her research entitled “Evaluation of Pharmacists’ Interventions in Altering the Prescribing Patterns for the Treatment of VTE in Patients with Cancer” is published in the December 2012 issue of the Journal of Hematology Oncology Pharmacy.  After residency training, Huggins became the first decentralized clinical pharmacy specialist in hematology/oncology at Anderson Regional Medical Center in Meridian, MS, where she was able to provide clinical pharmacy services to the hematology/oncology patient population in conjunction with the direct patient care team.  Huggins was instrumental in helping build the clinical pharmacy program at Anderson Regional Medical Center during her four-year tenure.  She is a board-certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist and is licensed as a registered pharmacist with the Boards of Pharmacy from four southeastern states – Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and Louisiana.  

In 2015, Huggins joined Hospital Corporation of America (HCA®) as a Clinical Pharmacy Manager at TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center in Smyrna, TN.  She led the clinical team to perform among the top 25% of the HCA® TriStar Division by designing, implementing, and managing clinical pharmacy programs such as drug consults, nutrition support, pharmacokinetics, anticoagulation monitoring, pain management, IV to oral conversions, renal dosing and other programs as determined appropriate based on patient population and literature guidelines.

In addition to managing the clinical pharmacy program at TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center, she served as an HCA® corporate pharmacy residency preceptor for the clinical practice experience rotation, as well as affiliate faculty member for Lipscomb College of Pharmacy.  She is a member of the 2018 Leadership Academy Class for the HCA® TriStar Division.  In 2019, a promotion to Director of Pharmacy at HCA® Garden Park Medical Center in Gulfport, MS propelled her return to the beloved MS Gulf Coast.  With over 10 years of progressive hospital experience, she led the pharmacy team through various operational changes and performance improvement projects as HCA® Garden Park Medical Center transitioned through an acquisition to Singing River Gulfport in partnership with Ochsner Health.  She also contributed to the training of rising pharmacy students as a clinical preceptor for the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy and William Carey University School of Pharmacy. 

Committed to the advancement of healthcare, Huggins furthered her education by completing a Masters of Business Administration with Healthcare Leadership Concentration in the summer of 2021 from the Mitchell College of Business at the University of South Alabama while concurrently dedicating numerous hours to the COVID-19 emergency response efforts.  She was intimately involved in the various COVID-19 vaccination event logistics and implementation such as county-wide vaccine drive-thru events for Jackson and Harrison County as well as collaborating with the Singing River Health System Healthy Partners to distribute and administer thousands of vaccines to local residents and employers’ workforce. 

Her extensive experience with hospital acquisition and mergers led to her position as Director of Pharmacy at Tulane University Hospital and Clinics, which was comprised of the Tulane Downtown New Orleans Medical Center and Tulane Lakeside Hospital in Metairie, LA.  Huggins contributed to change management efforts by supporting operational transitions and aligning pharmacy services with the LCMC Health System as Tulane Health System merged with East Jefferson General Hospital in Metairie, LA.  She currently serves as the Director of Pharmacy at Memorial Hospital System in Gulfport, MS and continues to utilize her experience with hospital acquisitions as Merit Health Biloxi becomes Memorial Hospital Biloxi.

Huggins is a member of Coast Young Professionals and was selected to the 2022-2023 class of Leadership Gulf Coast, which is a program established by the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce, Inc. for present and emerging leaders who are dedicated to the improvement of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.  She is a four-time nominee of the One Coast Top 10 under 40 award recognizing strong, up-and-coming community leaders.  She is also a member of the Magnolia State Pharmaceutical Society, American Society of Health-System Pharmacist, and National Association of Health Science Executive Southeastern Louisiana Chapter.  

Huggins has been a servant leader and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, a community service-based organization founded in 1908, which provides programs of service to meet the needs of the local, regional, national, and international communities served.  She pledged as an undergraduate being initiated into the Theta Psi Chapter in Spring 2006 and has actively contributed her time and talents to the community in an effort to change the social and economic landscape.  As a current member of the graduate chapter, Theta Zeta Omega, she has served on the 2023-2024 Executive Board as Assistant Secretary and is the 2025-2026 2nd Vice President.  In addition, she has served as chairman and co-chairman for programs and committees, such as Heart Disease Awareness for Women, Nutrition for Life (Healthy Kids Program), Breast Cancer Awareness, Founders’ Day Program, Chapter Anniversary Program and the GenNEXT Committee.  She was recognized as one of the Inaugural South Eastern 40 Under 40 Award Recipients at the 91st South Eastern Regional Conference in Huntsville, AL, was the Regional Chairman of the 40 Under 40 Recognition Program for the 92nd South Eastern Regional Conference in Mobile, AL and is a member of Theta Zeta Omega’s Scholarship, Nominating, Protocol, Bylaws, and Technology Committees.  

Huggins values the opportunity to share the wisdom and experience she has gained to help others.  She has been influential to other women through her church community and spiritually impactful through her Christian faith.  She has served as the Vice President of the Women’s Ministry, Liturgical Praise Dance Ministry Choreographer, and team captain for her church’s Relay for Life initiative.  Through her various roles, she has demonstrated her abilities to lead, inspire, and encourage others.  She has a passion for leadership and is commitment to the personal and professional development of herself and others.

Vikki is the daughter of Bernard (Jency) Steward Sr., and the granddaughter of the late Kessie (Feannie) Steward Sr. and the Honorable Judge Ennis (Beatrice) Millender, Sr.  She is the Executive Board Member At-Large for Millender’s Funeral Home in Moss Point, MS.  She has one brother, Bernard Steward Jr. and is the proud aunt of Aaliyah Steward, who is a member for Theta Zeta Omega’s Youth Leadership Institute.  Vikki believes the words of Colin Powell: “There are no secrets to success.  It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.”