By Lucy J. Adkins, PharmD
When entering my final-year of pharmacy school, I was a bit uncertain about where my career was headed, but I was determined to do one thing during rotations—that was to try it all. One of these rotations took me to the Tennessee Pharmacists Association (TPA).
During that rotation month, I had the opportunity to work with other state pharmacy associations, help assist staff with several conferences, and meet with the Tennessee Medical Association to discuss collaborative pharmacy practice. As a business administration major in college, I was able to use some of my business and leadership skills in a way that I did not think would be possible within pharmacy. After being encouraged by some of my mentors, I decided to apply for the Executive Residency that TPA offered at the time. And I got it!
Starting to thrive
It was during my year in residency where I really began to thrive and understood my path. I got involved in various projects and took a large interest in the organizational structure. There were many aspects of running an association and working on grants that I had not previously been exposed to, and really developed an interest in the non-profit sector and association management.
At the end of my residency, I was very fortunate to be offered a position to stay on. I felt that the work that I had done and my willingness to tackle new projects allowed TPA to see the value I could bring to the association.
It’s all about our mission
Now, as the Director of Pharmacy Practice Initiatives, I work for the members of TPA. In this role, I help support the mission of the organization, which is, “The Tennessee Pharmacists Association advances, protects, and promotes high-quality pharmacist-provided patient care in Tennessee.” When considering my role at the association, everything ties back to this statement.
- Advances. A large part of my role is to identify and develop key projects or grants that pharmacists can be involved in, as well as to coordinate and identify important continuing education topics. I have been able to help to provide comments to change state board of pharmacy rules, develop training for pharmacists dispensing of hormonal contraceptives, lead pharmacists through a grant to develop diabetes self-management and training in their practice site, and develop a pilot program that allows for technician product verification in order to help transform community pharmacy practice.
It is extremely important that pharmacists are well prepared to assume provider status responsibilities at a national level. TPA works toward ensuring that pharmacists are in a strong position to take on this role.
- Protects. We work closely with legislators and regulatory agencies to ensure that excessive regulations or burdens are not placed on the profession of pharmacy. During any given legislative session, we are tracking 20 to 30 bills that could affect pharmacy practice in the state. We provide position statements, talk with legislators, and encourage members to reach out to legislators to have their voices heard. It is important to completely understand the state’s political process so that we can effectively communicate the status of bills to our members.
- Promotes. On any given day, I interact with individuals from numerous organizations. In these meetings, I usually enter with one goal: include pharmacists in whatever project is being worked on. We work closely with the Tennessee Department of Health, other health care associations, and community partners. We discuss ways for pharmacists to get involved in projects that they are working on and make sure that the pharmacist perspective is included. By showing up to these meetings, it helps plant the seed with potential partners on the role of the pharmacist on the health care team.
In addition to these activities, I also work on association management tasks such as coordinating committees, answering member questions, and developing meeting and educational ideas.
Find your niche
I am very grateful for the career I have. I have been able to gain additional skills, such as project management, grant writing, and association management that will be helpful as I further develop my career. Some state and national associations offer residencies or fellowships, but staying involved in these organizations through committee work and leadership can also provide a path to a career in the field.
The most important thing to do is to find a niche that you enjoy and can apply your skills, and go with it, as you never know what it will turn into.