Neurology Institute Pharmacist Looking Forward to Caring for Patients in New Building 

In less than a year, Cleveland Clinic Neurological Institute’s new 14-floor, one-million-square-foot building will open on Main Campus in Cleveland. This new building will make it easier to treat conditions such as brain tumors, complex spine injuries, epileptic seizures, neuromuscular disorders and strokes, and will feature: 

• 210 flexible, modular inpatient rooms 

• 120 outpatient exam rooms 

• 36 neurological ICU beds 

• 14 operating rooms 

A vital component of neurological care is the pharmacological needs of the patients, and this is where Christine Ahrens, PharmD, BCCCP, Director of Pharmacy – Neurology and Critical Care, plays an important part.  

A larger role for pharmacy in neurology 

Christine has spent the majority of her 22 years at Cleveland Clinic in the Neurological ICU division as a clinical specialist, eventually moving into a clinical coordinator role and subsequently up to manager. She credits her managers over the years for their support as she transitioned to a leadership role. “They recognized my potential as a leader and guided me in that direction,” she says.  

During that time, she was the only pharmacist devoted to neurological care in the division, but she set about changing that. 

“I knew that we needed to build some more pharmacy services around neurological care,” she says. “And so, I had the opportunity to help start building a dedicated pharmacist service line. Today, we have 10 pharmacists who are dedicated to the care of neurological patients, specializing in areas like stroke, epilepsy, general neurology, neurosurgery, along with our critical care. So, we’ve come full circle.” 

The new building’s benefits for patients 

Once the new Neurological Institute building opens its doors in 2027, Christine sees enormous advantages for patients. The most immediate benefit is that the building’s design will allow patients to experience the comfort of all care under one roof, which was the institution’s vision for this building.  

“We’re going to have an area of dedicated, focused neurological care for our patients, where the majority of their resources can happen in a day,” Christine says. “There are some patients with neurological disease for whom getting around is very challenging. If we can have all these resources in one building and make that visit as seamless as possible, and make movement around the space easier, it’s a win-win.” 

This focus on the patient’s needs is very much in line with Christine’s care philosophy and reflects the mission of Cleveland Clinic. “In Pharmacy, we know that nearly every patient will be on some type of medication,” she says. “I always try to reinforce this message to our team: what can we do to make sure that the patient’s medication is the right medication, the safest medication, and get it to them in a timely manner?  

 “And it’s extremely rewarding when you see the outcome of a patient whose care you have been a part of, and you have this sense of ‘I did everything I could to care for this patient, and to give them the best outcome possible.'” I think that is my purpose for being here.” 

The new building’s benefits for caregivers 

And for Neurological Institute caregivers, Christine believes that working together in one building, rather than being scattered across the campus, can create greater opportunities for bonding, which will ultimately benefit patients. 

 “When we’re all in one space, we’ll have a greater impact because we’re going to be working closer together,” she says. “I think it’s going to provide a unified community feeling. This will allow us to develop stronger relationships amongst the caregivers, where we’re all collaborating more and have more visibility with one another.” 

 The benefits of Cleveland (and beyond)  

Christine’s passion for her work extends to Cleveland as a place to live. She notes that she had moved away at one point, but found her way back, and is glad she did.   

 “Cleveland’s a great city!” she says. “There’s so much that Cleveland has to offer. I also think there is a symbiotic relationship with Cleveland Clinic.” 

 The institution’s reach beyond Cleveland – throughout North America, to London and Abu Dhabi – contributes to a positive caregiver experience, Christine believes. “I think there’s a sense of pride among our caregivers at being part of such a large enterprise that provides a high level of care.”