Today's Perspective
Kristin Wiisanen PharmD, FAPhA, FCCP, Pharmacy Today editor in chief
When Hurricane Helene ravaged several southeastern and mid-Atlantic states in September 2024, its aftermath was catastrophic—historic flooding, power outages, and communities thrown into chaos. Yet amid this turmoil, and other devastating medical crises such as COVID-19, pharmacists stood tall as vital responders, showcasing their essential role in severe weather disasters and widespread medical emergencies.
This month’s Pharmacy Today cover story delves into the growing importance of the pharmacist’s role in disaster planning and response. For example, after Hurricane Helene in Tennessee, pharmacists played a key role in implementing a new Emergency Prescription Assistance Program. This initiative provided uninsured residents with replacement medications, medical equipment, and critical vaccines—services that were nothing short of lifesaving. The role of pharmacists as front-line health care providers during severe weather events and other catastrophes has been accelerating. Events like Helene underscore just how indispensable they have become. Pharmacists are now embedded in Disaster Medical Assistance Teams, offering clinical expertise and medication management during crises.
In this issue of Pharmacy Today, you’ll also learn more about camu camu for wellness and skin health, the benefits of sulfonylurea deprescribing, and dangers of finasteride for hair loss in males. You can read about the pharmacist’s role in helping older adults get needed vaccinations, the latest options on treating dry mouth, and catch up on your CPE credit with this month’s article on how to recognize and manage benzodiazepine-induced brain dysfunction.
We can let the events of Hurricane Helene be a reminder to us all: Pharmacists are not just health care providers—they are emergency responders, crisis managers, and pillars of community resilience. Our profession must continue to embrace this evolving role. In times of disaster, the pharmacist’s white coat is a beacon of hope. ■