CharLeigh Steverson is a final-year PharmD candidate at the University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy. Following graduation, she will serve as the 2024–2025 Board of Pharmacy Specialties Fellow at APhA headquarters in Washington, DC.
As student pharmacists, we should strive to champion the causes that matter, advocate for the profession, and inspire positive change for generations to come. My journey in advocacy has been transformative and has given me a sense of purpose as a voice for change within our profession.
Purpose and pride
My interest in advocacy took off during my second professional year at the University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy, when I went on my very first Capitol Hill visit with the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding. This experience gave me an immense sense of purpose and pride for the profession. Additionally, I had the honor of serving as my APhA–ASP Chapter’s policy vice president. Through this role, I channeled a lot of my energy into exposing student pharmacists to the various roles that pharmacists can have within the realm of government and legislative affairs.
Following my second year, I had the privilege of working alongside pharmacist and Rep. Buddy Carter (R–GA) as a pharmacy fellow on Capitol Hill. This provided invaluable insights into the legislative process and the pivotal role pharmacists play in shaping health care policies. It further fueled my determination to continue to serve as an advocate for our profession.
During my third and fourth professional years, I served as a student board member on the South Carolina Pharmacy Association (SCPhA) Board of Directors. This role has allowed me to actively participate in legislative discussions and advocacy efforts at the state level. From supporting initiatives to expand pharmacist-led services to making health care–related legislation easily digestible for pharmacists and student pharmacists, I witnessed firsthand the impact of advocacy in driving positive change within the profession.
All students can make a difference
Serving as a member of the APhA–ASP National Policy Standing Committee has allowed me to engage with pharmacy leaders and policymakers on a national scale. It provided a platform to exchange ideas, share perspectives, and advocate for policies that prioritize the well-being of patients and the profession.
It should be stated that advocating for the profession is not limited to those in leadership roles; every student pharmacist has the power to make a difference. Engaging in advocacy can be as simple as staying informed about legislative issues affecting pharmacy practice, participating in grassroots campaigns, or reaching out to elected officials to voice your concerns. Advocacy is essential for shaping the future we want to see for the profession. Advocacy assists in the fight for pharmacists to be recognized as essential health care providers, empowered to fully use their expertise to improve patient outcomes. By actively engaging in advocacy, we not only contribute to the advancement of pharmacy but also advocate for the well-being of the patients we serve.
It's a privilege
Through my experiences with APhA–ASP and SCPhA, I’ve learned that advocacy is not just a responsibility but a privilege—one that allows us to shape the future of pharmacy and make a meaningful impact on the lives of patients. I’m grateful for the opportunities that life has afforded me, and I was incredibly humbled and honored beyond words to receive the 2024 Good Government Student Pharmacist of the Year Award at the 2024 APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition last month in Orlando, FL.