Ryan M. Titus is shown above in the healing garden of Canton-Potsdam Hospital’s Center for Cancer Care with center director Frank L. Torti and pharmacy director Jennifer W. Nye.

POTSDAM -- Ryan M. Titus, pharmacist with Canton-Potsdam Hospital’s Center for Cancer Care, received certification in oncology pharmacy from the Board of Pharmacy Specialties, CPH said in a news release.

Oncology pharmacy targets the needs of patients with various malignant diseases and their complications. There are nearly 16,000 BPS board-certified pharmacists and of those, 1,400 are board certified in oncology. Titus is the only board-certified oncology pharmacist serving the North Country region of New York, the release says.

BPS certification means the pharmacist has advanced knowledge and expertise in managing medications used to treat or prevent cancer. Additionally, it certifies the pharmacist is specially trained to recommend, design, implement, monitor, and modify pharmacotherapeutic regimens to patients with malignant diseases and reduce medication errors, CPH said.

“Cancer medications have changed significantly in recent years,” Titus said in the release. “[They] continue to evolve. This certification is just one way we’re staying current with the latest evidence-based standards of practice … [cancer] treatment is performed to the highest medical standards at CPH, and within those standards we’re able to individualize it. Even seemingly minor adjustments to a medication regimen can make the world of difference to someone living with cancer and undergoing treatment."