Sean Kawa is a second-year PharmD candidate at the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and is the 2025–2026 APhA–ASP national president-elect.
Now that you are settled back in from a season of holiday rest, the 2026 APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition (March 27–30, 2026, in Los Angeles) will be here before you know it. For many, the anticipation and preparation for this meeting have already commenced over the previous months. However, still present are those student pharmacists that have yet to experience the career and life-altering experience that is the APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition. Or perhaps there are those with a lingering uncertainty about committing again to this year’s session.
To each and all of these student pharmacists, APhA2026 holds ready a wealth of professional and personal development that should not be missed!
A collective of passion from across the country
To emphasize this benefit further, I’d find it most beneficial to draw upon my experiences and the thoughts that preceded my own introduction during APhA2023 in Phoenix and thereafter.
As an early student pharmacist, my foremost needs largely revolved around forming a stronger understanding of this profession, expanding my professional network, and moreover developing my later self as a postgraduate job seeker. From a mentor, APhA’s Annual Meeting was referred to me as a collective answer to each of these needs. After weighing the costs and benefits, I took that step that would unequivocally alter the trajectory of my professional development—from Buffalo to Phoenix I flew.
What I found is what truly encapsulates the essence of this experience. I found a momentous home of professional solidarity, a collective of passion from across the country, and a range of opportunities waiting to be discovered. Student pharmacists like me were leading discussions of policy and inspiring pride in the profession. I spoke directly with companies, residency programs, and fellowships that outlined postgraduate opportunities. And I made lasting friendships that I hold dear to this day. Apart from any expectation I held before attending, it was that element of discovery to those opportunities not yet recognized that held the greatest impact.
From that point, the APhA Annual Meeting became a yearly investment that has produced compounded professional development. I continued to return with a pre-determined direction on how to capitalize on its benefits, yet always would find myself in that state of discovery to new perspectives, people, and growth. The impact I felt manifested itself into a personal desire to pass on this growth to fellow student pharmacists. As a direct consequence of these meetings, I was exposed to student leaders who defined and empowered confidence to hold positions of leadership on the regional and national scale.
Unique lineup of programming
That brings me to APhA2026—this year we’re hitting the west coast in sunny Los Angeles. APhA’s lineup of programming is unique, inspiring, and powerful. You will hear about the latest advancements in pharmacy, celebrate accomplishments of the APhA Student Community, and have the opportunity to share your thoughts on the current state of pharmacy.
As you each step into the convention center this March, you will enter again into the true collective domain of pharmacy. Student pharmacists, technicians, and practitioners will be reminded of the value they provide, about the progress of the profession, and the strength of the national relationships that unite the profession. Every attendee, regardless of their unique journey or needs, will discover the unique opportunities necessary to propel themselves toward their professional goals.
I can only hope to discover the opportunities that APhA2026 has to offer alongside you. Together, we will develop as informed, prepared, and inspired future practitioners while continuing the celebration of our professional identity. Be sure to register by February 16 for the early bird student rate at https://aphameeting.pharmacist.com.
See you in Los Angeles!