Today's Perspective
Kristin Wiisanen, PharmD, FAPhA, FCCP, Pharmacy Today editor in chief
October is American Pharmacists Month, a time that we recognize pharmacists’ contributions to patient care and to their communities. In recent years, these contributions have grown exponentially as pharmacists’ roles continue to expand in scope from medication providers to vaccine advocates, immunizers, educators, and voices for change in their communities.
In this American Pharmacists Month edition of Pharmacy Today, you can read some of these pharmacists’ stories. Jade Ranger, PharmD, and her husband Henry Ranger, PharmD, are independent pharmacy owners in Williamsburg, VA, who have used their voices to educate their community on issues ranging from vaccine hesitancy to diversity. Mayank Amin, PharmD, owner of Skippack Pharmacy in Pennsylvania, has served as a leading vaccine advocate in his small community, organizing a team of more than 1,000 volunteers to provide nearly 50,000 vaccines. He and his team have visited homebound patients, organized small clinics, and even vaccinated patients in the middle of the night in the pharmacy when needed. As is fitting to the role that he and many frontline health care workers play in the lives of their patients, Amin dons a superman costume at most vaccination events, to the delight of his patients.
In this issue, you’ll also find the latest on maca and melatonin, and learn about the first interchangeable biosimilar insulin and other new drugs approved by FDA. Check out the newest guidelines for treating C. difficile infection and take advantage of this month’s CPE article to learn more about our journey toward health equity.
We are fortunate to be able to recognize the efforts of a few pharmacists during October of each year. However, for these and many other pharmacists, efforts persist throughout the year, as each day provides a new opportunity to help our patients. We at Pharmacy Today hope you have a happy and healthy American Pharmacists Month and extend a heartfelt thank you for all that you do for your patients!