Key accomplishments on behalf of APhA members
If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that 2025 has been a demanding—and at times downright unpredictable—year for health care and for pharmacy. Through it all, APhA has remained focused on what matters most: supporting our members in the essential work they do every day.
Our mission—as the voice of pharmacy—is to lead the profession and equip members for their role as the medication expert in team-based, patient-centered care. In 2025, our Board of Trustees and APhA staff became incredibly focused on adding meaningful value to the lives of our members. We recognize they rely on APhA not only to advance the profession but to also support their career advancement and to provide opportunities for them to thrive while engaging with them wherever they learn, live, and practice.
This past year brought no shortage of challenges—but it also brought opportunity. As we look back on the year, I’m proud to share what follows—a snapshot of how APhA worked on your behalf in 2025.
Advocacy and Policy Advancement
- Policy wins: APhA was successful in advocating for inclusion of pharmacist care services in the HHS Rural Health Transformation grant RFP, providing a direct payment mechanism by the states in 2026 based upon approved proposals. In addition, APhA staff successfully advocated for deregulation of compounding, DSCSA implementation, and other important FDA issues, and successfully lobbied for inclusion of pharmacists in federal government appointed committees to bring our voice to the table.
- Legislative engagement: APhA lobbied for inclusion of pharmacists as authorized prescribers of buprenorphine for substance use disorders in states where practice authorities allow for it, and APhA became an authorized provider of congressionally mandated buprenorphine prescriber training. In addition, APhA, in collaboration with our partners, advanced the Enhancing Community Access to Pharmacists Services (ECAPS) Act—which we are hopeful will be passed as law by the time you are reading this blog. We also were successful in lobbying the administration to have student pharmacists listed as professionals who are eligible to apply for and receive the maximum amount of federal student loan assistance allowed for by Congress. This is just the tip of the iceberg, and 2026 is shaping up to be another great year with this momentum.
- Public health initiatives: APhA took strong stands in support of vaccine science and pharmacist immunization authorities. We also took bold positions in support of science regarding the use of acetaminophen, and reminded consumers that the most important relationship in making medication treatment decisions is one’s personal pharmacist.
Member Support and Professional Development
- Educational programs: APhA met you where you are in terms of providing outstanding educational content through our Annual Legislative Update and Annual Diabetes Update, as well as continuing to serve as the leading provider of immunization information in our profession. New programs in opioid use disorders, telemedicine, and cutting edge techniques for addressing stigma were among the sessions you attended most often this year! We also launched new certificate training programs in motivational interviewing, long-acting injectable administration services, and deprescribing. Our test and treat and medication management certificate training programs were also refreshed and updated.
- Career advancement: APhA has been home to the Career Pathways program for nearly 50 years, and in 2025 we launched an even better Career Pathways program designed to not just serve student pharmacists, but all pharmacists who are exploring career transitions. We’ve launched a new platform designed to help you ADVANCE your career. In 2026, we’ll be engaging our members in some exciting opportunities regarding career development. And through our community model of member engagement, we’ve piloted new mentorship programs and career resources, helping members navigate evolving career paths and advancement opportunities in pharmacy.
- Networking events: APhA held a successful annual meeting in 2025 in beautiful Nashville, TN, and we’re partnering with the California Pharmacists Association to host APhA’s Annual Meeting & Exposition in March 2026 at L.A. Live! This is a not-to-miss event! In addition, we held special conferences for students, new practitioners, and federal pharmacy colleagues.
- Board certification: APhA is home to the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS). A record number of pharmacists have achieved board certification in one of 15 specialties, with new specialties on the horizon for 2026. APhA supports BPS certification preparation through our Learning Library. Visit pharmacist.com and bps.org for more information.
Innovation and Practice Transformation
- Advancing payment: APhA promoted the integration of digital tools and electronic health records in pharmacy practice, enhancing patient care, and workflow efficiency. Pharmacy Profiles, a subsidiary of APhA, provides the pathway for pharmacists to be credentialed with health plans to facilitate payment for care services.
- Addressing workplace issues and well-being: APhA launched HealthShifts, LLC, in collaboration with Australian AI Innovator Locumate and the California Pharmacists Association, as a mechanism to address health care staffing issues across the spectrum of patient care. We aim to give pharmacists and pharmacy technicians more visibility as they make decisions related to their workplace and work environment. Additionally, we’ve continued our Well-Being Index and a plethora of resources to support individual well-being and resilience.
- Research supporting your practice: The association, particularly through our Foundation, continued to produce evidence, and supported research initiatives focused on medication safety, health outcomes, and the evolving role of pharmacists in the health care system. This crucial work has led to the APhA Foundation being recognized as a Diabetes Umbrella Hub Organization with almost $2 million paid to pharmacies as part of our care transformation initiatives.
This only scratches the surface of how APhA has been working hard for you in 2025. We are looking forward to building an even stronger, more impactful year together in 2026. On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the dedicated staff at APhA, we wish you and your families the happiest of holiday seasons and wish you a joy-filled New Year!