Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)
Pharmacotherapy
University of Maryland
2017
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Faculty
Faculty
Dhakrit Jesse Rungkitwattanakul, Pharm.D., BCPS, FNKF, FASN
Associate Professor
Department/Office
- Clinical & Administrative Pharmacy Sciences
School/College
- College of Pharmacy
Biography
Dhakrit “Jesse” Rungkitwattanakul, Pharm.D., BCPS, FNKF, FASN, is an associate professor in the Department of Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy Sciences at the Howard University College of Pharmacy. A board-certified pharmacotherapy specialist, he also maintains clinical practice at Howard University Hospital, where he works with the nephrology consult service and related clinical programs. Rungkitwattanakul earned his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy and completed a postgraduate pharmacy practice residency at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C.
Rungkitwattanakul’s research centers on pharmacotherapy and medication management in patients with kidney disease. His work explores the prevention of drug-associated acute kidney disease and studies the integration of kidney stress biomarkers with clinical decision support systems to expand the pharmacist’s role in AKI/AKD prevention among high-risk patients through nephrotoxin stewardship programs. He has a particular interest in drug dosing and pharmacokinetics in critically ill patients with kidney impairment, including those receiving dialysis and continuous kidney replacement therapy, as well as medication safety and clinical outcomes across kidney disease populations. His research also addresses health equity and disparities in kidney disease care and medication use.
In addition to his research and teaching, Rungkitwattanakul is active in professional service and pharmacy education. He has contributed to curriculum development and residency training at Howard University and Howard University Hospital and has served in leadership roles in professional organizations related to clinical pharmacy and nephrology. His work has been recognized with multiple honors, including the Up and Coming Researcher of the Year Award from the Howard University Office of Research and professional recognition from regional and national pharmacy organizations.
Education & Expertise
Education
Expertise
Pharmacotherapy
Acute Kidney Injury
Medication safety and Management Among Kidney Disease Patients
Health Equity and Disparity Among African American Kidney Disease Patients
Academics
Academics
Clinical Practices
Currently practicing at Howard University Hospital: Nephrology consult service and Nephrotoxin Stewardship service.
Professional Practice Readiness II
Integrated Therapeutics III
Integrated Therapeutics V
Integrated Therapeutics VI
Integrated Therapeutics VIII
Integrated Therapeutics Laboratory IV
Research
Research
Specialty
Kidney diseases, Medication dosing in kidney impairment, outcomes of medication use in hemodialysisFunding
Principal investigator: The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Foundation. Leveraging Clinical Decision Support System and Kidney Stress Biomarkers to Prevent Hospital-Acquired Acute Kidney Injury in High-Risk Populations. Description: the project examine the impact of clinical decision support systems (CDSS) and kidney stress biomarkers to identify at-risk patients who would “otherwise go undetected.” Award funded $50,000. Jun 2025-December 2026.
Training Coordinator: The Mid Atlantic AIDS Education and Training Center Howard University. Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA). Local Partner Site (MAAETC HULPS). Award funded: 3% salary support; Award ID: 1 TR7HA53201-02-00, CDFA Number: 93.145. Description: Provide training in kidney disease management and prevention among adults living with HIV disease. Jul 2025-Jun 2026.
Accomplishments
Accomplishments
Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist
Fellow of the American Society of Nephrology
Fellow of the National Kidney Foundation
Up and Coming Researcher of the Year Award 2025: Howard University Office of Research
Publications and Presentations
Publications and Presentations
Risk of Acute Kidney Injury Associated With Nephrotoxic Burden in Hospitalized Patients
Limited evidence exists synthesizing the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) associated with the concomitant administration of multiple nephrotoxic drugs, and even less examining the concept of nephrotoxic burden. The objective of this scoping review was to (1) identify definitions of nephrotoxic burden; (2) methods used to quantify (use of calculations) nephrotoxic burden; and (3) determine the association between nephrotoxic burden and AKI risk. Additionally, we assessed studies reporting the risk of AKI with the concurrent use of three or more nephrotoxic drugs.
Adopting Race-Free Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate for Unifying Medication-Related Decision-Making
Pharmacists play a critical role in optimizing medication use, especially in vulnerable populations such as those with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Despite strong evidence and recent guideline endorsements, many pharmacists continue to rely on the Cockcroft–Gault (C-G) equation for medication dosing. This opinion paper issues a call to action for the widespread adoption of a race-free, body surface area–adjusted estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFRBSAadj) for medication-related decision-making, as endorsed by the 2024 Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes CKD guidelines and the National Kidney Foundation and the American Society of Nephrology Taskforce.
Piperacillin-tazobactam dosing in anuric acute kidney injury patients receiving continuous renal replacement therapy
The Monte Carlo simulation can be a useful tool to evaluate drug dosing in critically ill acute kidney injury patients receiving CRRT when limited pharmacokinetic data are a concern. Our simulation study reveals that the dosing regimen of piperacillin-tazobactam 12 g/day is appropriate for treating Pseudomonal infection with KDIGO recommended effluent rate of 25-35 mL/kg/h. The MIC values of each setting were an important factor to design piperacillin-tazobactam dosing regimens.
