New Publication: Community pharmacists as behavioral health extenders.

Community pharmacists as behavioral health extenders: an effectiveness-implementation hybrid type II feasibility evaluation is an article led by Dr. Mel Livet, a nationally recognized implementation scientist and Co-Director at NIRN, whose work bridges research and real-world practice. Dr. Livet brings deep expertise in hybrid effectiveness-implementation designs and in studying how workforce roles can be expanded to improve access to care. In this study, she and her colleagues examine how community pharmacists can serve as behavioral health extenders, demonstrating not only clinical promise but also the critical implementation supports required to make innovative care models feasible and sustainable. The article is currently open access in BMC Health Services Research.

Livet, M., Watson, A., Pathak, S. et al. Community pharmacists as behavioral health extenders: an effectiveness-implementation hybrid type II feasibility evaluation. BMC Health Serv Res 26, 167 (2026). https://doi-org.libproxy.lib.unc.edu/10.1186/s12913-025-13400-6.