Tammie Lam is a final-year PharmD candidate at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy.
As I sat down to process everything from the 2025 APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition in Nashville this past march, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. This conference wasn’t just an event—it was a collection of moments that reminded me why I chose to be part of APhA–ASP and why pharmacy is more than a profession. It’s a calling.
This was my final APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition as a student pharmacist—and what a way to go out! After 4 unforgettable years of living it up in pharmacy school, APhA2025 gave me a weekend I’ll always cherish. Surrounded by passionate student pharmacists and professionals from across the country, we gathered to celebrate our achievements, share innovations, and fuel our passion under the theme: “Igniting Inspiration.”
Reunited and it feels so good
Reconnecting with my committee for one final time was both uplifting and bittersweet. Witnessing our work on the national stage and knowing the impact we made filled me with pride and purpose.
As a 2024–2025 APhA–ASP National Communications Standing Committee member, my goal was to capture as many highlights and share any ideas, advice, and memories from the student leaders as they advocate for the profession. From mini-mic interviews featuring National Patient Counseling Competition finalists, to grabbing B-reels from the opening session, to capturing fun behind-the-scenes videos from our team as they prepared for their student kickoffs of getting “footloose,” it was an action-packed Saturday.
As the day moved along, student pharmacists gathered by region, attended the APhA–ASP House of Delegates (HoD), and celebrating our success.
Region 5 and Region 6 Meet-Up: Games, growth, and great vibes
The energy was palpable at the Region 6 Meet and Greet—made even more exciting with a special collaboration with Region 5! We kicked off the morning with a casual yet competitive Jeopardy showdown, where four mini trophies were up for grabs and the room buzzed with laughter and friendly rivalry.
For a little geographical flair: Region 5 brought the northern charm with chapters from North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, and Wyoming, while Region 6 brought the southern spirit, representing Kansas City, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. With more than 120 attendees, this event wasn’t just a fun icebreaker—it was a space where meaningful connections were made, ideas exchanged, and friendships formed.
I loved capturing the camaraderie, the cheering, the moments that reminded us that sometimes leadership looks like showing up, playing a silly game, and sharing space with passionate people. All throughout APhA2025, I saw inspiration everywhere. In every handshake, every idea shared, every new connection. In the courage of students proposing change. In the unity we shared through the highs, the challenges, and the dance-offs.
Shaping the future at the APhA–ASP House
Share your voice and shape the future of our profession was the call to action at the APhA–ASP HoD, and it was powerful to witness it come to life. The HoD was more than a meeting, it was a vibrant platform where student leaders came together to advocate, discuss, and vote on meaningful resolutions that will guide our Academy moving forward. During these sessions, PharmFlix Video Contest winners were celebrated, Back the PAC chapter participants were honored for their commitment to advocacy, and the room lit up with purpose as our voices echoed through every motion, amendment, and vote.
A standout moment came when APhA–ASP National President Miranda Montoya took the stage and addressed the House with her heartfelt mission: “For Each of Us, For All of Us.” Her words reflected the community we’ve built, a network of student pharmacists unified by shared passion, advocacy, and vision.
I saw her message reflected in every conversation, every keynote, and every spirited debate. I saw it in the unwavering determination of our future leaders to face today’s health care challenges with poise, resilience, and empathy. But most of all, I saw it in the genuine friendships and connections formed along the way—small but powerful reminders that while the work ahead is ongoing, we are never doing it alone.
Here are the chapters honored during the House:
APhA Back the PAC overall winner: Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy
APhA Back the PAC runner-Up (Division A): Ferris State University College of Pharmacy
APhA Back the PAC runner-Up (Division AA): The University of Iowa College of Pharmacy
A farewell, but not an end
As the President’s Reception and APhA–ASP Awards Celebration brought the evening to a close, I stood shoulder to shoulder with fellow leaders, reflecting on the whirlwind that has been this year. It was a moment filled with emotion, pride, nostalgia, and hope.
Here are the award recipients that were announced during the APhA–ASP Awards Celebration:
OTC Medicine Safety
- National winner: University of Maryland
- First runner-up: The University of Kansas
- Second runner-up: Harding University
OTC Medicine Safety is supported by Kenvue
Operation Substance Use Disorders
- National winner: East Tennessee State University
- First runner-up: University of Pittsburgh
- Second runner-up: The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Operation Substance Use Disorders is supported by Walmart
Operation Diabetes
- Winner: University of Pacific
- First runner-up: Lipscomb University
- Second runner-up: University of Maryland
Operation Diabetes is supported by Health Mart by McKesson
2023–2024 APhA–ASP Division AAA Chapter Achievement Award
- Winner: Union University
- First runner-up: South Dakota State University
- Second runner-up: Harding University
2023–2024 APhA–ASP Division AA Chapter Achievement Award
- Winner: University of Maryland
- First runner-up: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
- Second runner-up: University of California, San Diego
2023–2024 APhA–ASP Division A Chapter Achievement Award
- Winner: University of Kansas
- First runner-up: University of Florida
- Second runner-up: University of the Pacific
PharmFlix Award – Most Humorous: Purdue University
PharmFlix Award – Most Inspirational: Virginia Commonwealth University
PharmFlix Award – Best Overall: Lipscomb University
APhA Student Leadership Awards: Ellie Flynn, Lakin Gardner, Julia Hormann, Annaston Young
APhA–ASP Outstanding Chapter Advisor: Brittany Stewart, RD, PharmD
APhA–ASP Chapter of the Year: Lipscomb University
Carrying the flame forward
Serving in national leadership this year has shaped me. It challenged me to grow in ways I never imagined and gave me a deeper understanding of what it means to serve, advocate, and lead. This conference wasn’t just the end of a role; it was a launchpad into the next chapter of my journey in pharmacy. And while my time as a student pharmacist may be coming to an end, the fire lit at APhA2025 will continue to burn.
I leave this experience more empowered than ever—to tell our stories, amplify our voices, and champion the future of pharmacy with my whole heart. Let’s keep dancing. Let’s keep dreaming. Let’s keep igniting inspiration—one spark (and one footloose moment) at a time.