You know you are chronologically old when a colleague invites you to provide a retrospective of APhA–ASP events as you’ve seen them throughout your years with APhA–ASP. The perspective is part insider and part outsider, just as Tinkerbell said to Peter Pan: “You know that place between sleep and awake, that place where you still remember dreaming?” 

APhA–ASP has undergone many changes in 50 years, but I only can speak to 41 of them.

When APhA–ASP, previously the Student American Pharmaceutical Association (SAPhA), was born in 1969, it created a home for student pharmacists across the country. Student leaders and their supporters advocated for this Academy long before its birth, and voices grew over time. The Academy has become what it is today because of fearless leaders. Among those leaders are some of the most ambitious women the profession has known.

This year we celebrate not only APhA–ASP, but also the passionate people who dedicated their time to the profession. In the late 1970s, female involvement in the profession exploded. Pharmacy schools’ class sizes went from 10% to 20% women to 62.5%, as recorded by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy in fall 2017. Along the way, female student pharmacists stepped up to the plate to show that they were leaders too, and to inspire students across the country. 

Following APhA2019, Kelli Jo Welter will assume the role of APhA–ASP President, and thus will have a front row seat as APhA–ASP’s 50th anniversary celebration rolls on beyond Seattle. Along for the ride—and beaming with pride—will be APhA Executive Vice President & CEO Thomas E. Menighan, BSPharm, MBA, ScD (Hon). 

During the January APhA–ASP National Executive Committee Business Meeting, with the anticipation of both the 2018–19 APhA–ASP Regional Officers and a weekend snowstorm arriving in Washington, DC, Student Pharmacist sat down with Tom and Kelli Jo for a look at pharmacy’s past, present, and future, and thoughts on APhA–ASP’s big milestone.

In 1998, APhA–ASP National President Jay Phipps developed the first official APhA–ASP presidential theme “Bridging Dreams to Destiny” and established a precedent that would become the defining identity for so many student pharmacists. Since then, each national president has been tasked with the same responsibility: to lay out their vision and unite student pharmacists to work together toward one goal.

As we have both served as APhA–ASP National Presidents, we know how special the themes can be. The following are our thoughts on the process, the history, and the people behind these memorable messages.