Magaly Rodriguez de Bittner, PharmD, MS, FAPhA, FNAP, FFIP, President, APhA
As I stood before colleagues, friends, and family at the 2026 APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition in Los Angeles, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude, happiness—and responsibility. Gratitude and happiness for a profession that has given me so much, and responsibility to help lead us toward what comes next. Our theme, “Redefining Possible,” is more than a slogan. It is a mindset. And for me, it is deeply personal.
When I think about redefining what is possible in pharmacy, three words guide me: passion, purpose, and joy. These are not just words. They are what has sustained me throughout my career, especially during moments of challenges and change.
Passion
My passion for pharmacy was shaped early, inspired by my parents—educators in small-town Puerto Rico who believed deeply in the power of learning/education to change lives. They taught me that education opens doors not just to knowledge, but to purpose. That belief carried me into pharmacy, where I quickly realized that our work is never just about medications. It is about people. Every prescription represents a story, a family, a hope for better health. That human connection is what fuels our passion and pushes us to ask, What is my why?
Purpose
Purpose gave my passion direction. Early in my career as a community pharmacist, I made a commitment to myself: I did not want to be the pharmacist who simply handed over medications. I wanted to be the one who offered clarity, compassion, and empowerment. That sense of purpose guided my work in practice transformation, education, and leadership. Along the way, I have seen what is possible when pharmacists move from behind the counter to alongside the patient—when we claim our role as clinicians, innovators, and partners in care.
But passion and purpose alone are not enough. Joy is what sustains us.
Joy
Joy is not ignoring the realities of burnout, workforce challenges, or systemic barriers. It is choosing, even amid those challenges, to stay connected to meaning. Joy is found in a patient who feels seen. In a colleague who discovers new confidence. In teams that feel safe to try, fail, learn, and grow together.
Some of the most joyful moments of my career have been simple ones—a thank you, a hug, a patient saying, “You made me feel like I matter.” Those moments remind me why this work matters.
As I start my year as President of APhA we are committed to redefine what is possible in pharmacy.
We are prioritizing workplace challenges confronted by pharmacy personnel and are committed to working with members and employers to act now, to have our voices heard to make meaningful changes. We are moving steadfastly to secure provider status and to advance standard of practice legislation at the state level securing fair compensation for our services and promoting and achieving recognition of the value that pharmacists bring to society and the health care system. We will continue our work to address pharmacy deserts and pharmacy closures via payment reform and changes in PBM practices.
We are committed to starting a new recognition program in collaboration with the APhA Foundation to recognize the amazing feats pharmacists achieve every day! Let’s saturate social media with positive stories highlighting the incredible job you do every day!
I invite each of our members to lead with your story, anchor your work in purpose, and intentionally cultivate joy. When we do that, we not only transform pharmacy—we transform ourselves and the communities we serve.
The future of pharmacy starts with us. Let’s redefine possible—together. Lead with passion, purpose, and joy!