(Oregon State University) 1983–84 SAPhA Vice President

I am the Senior Vice President responsible for Moda Health’s (Portland, OR) major government accounts. I am Chair of the Board of the Eastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization and a member of the Board of Directors of the Oregon Business & Industry organization. Honored as an Alumni Fellow of Oregon State University, I was most recently named as an Icon of Pharmacy by the college of pharmacy. I recently completed a 3-year term of service to the American Diabetes Association (ADA) as Vice Chair, Chair-Elect, and Chair of the ADA National Board of Directors.

While at the 2018 APhA Institute on Substance Use Disorders in Salt Lake City, UT, I heard many reasons why people wanted to attend. Some expressed an interest in working within the field of substance use disorder, while others referenced personal experiences with addiction affecting family members, friends, or even themselves.

According to the U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health, there are 20.8 million people with a substance use disorder living in the United States. That means substance use disorder is 1.5 times more common than all cancers combined and has a prevalence similar to diabetes. During your pharmacy career, you will be expected to counsel patients with diseases such as hypertension, heart failure, diabetes mellitus, and many more; but you will be prepared for this because this knowledge is part of the PharmD curriculum. However, these patients may also be struggling with addiction, and you will need to consider complications that may arise due to an active substance use disorder or substance withdrawal.

Hi, “Ami”! As a preceptor and a new practitioner in community pharmacy, I truly resonate with your rotation reflection. I, too, fell in love with the fully accessible provider role of pharmacists that inspires unique relationships with patients. I have experienced the powerful impact of that very tangible relationship with many of my patients in my practice. When I was a student pharmacist, I also fell in love with the dedicated advocacy of the pharmacy profession to advance legislation that improves patient care. Finally, I echo the earnest desire of your preceptor to facilitate a rotation experience of mutually beneficial learning.