American Pharmacists Association
Experiential Programs in Association Management

The American Pharmacists Association (APhA), founded in 1852, represents the third largest health profession composed of more than 227,000 pharmacy practitioners, scientists, and student pharmacists. APhA is a leader in furthering the professional and scientific advancement of pharmacy, in advocating the value of pharmaceutical care to the individual patient, and in safeguarding the health and well-being of every American.

APhA offers elective rotations and summer internships in the area of national association management to students enrolled in a school or college of pharmacy who are members of APhA. The experiential program is structured to provide students experience in national association activities, pharmacy practice issues, educational programming, state services, scientific affairs, student development, public relations and project management.

What is Association Management?
Association Management is defined as meeting the needs of the Association’s members via communication, education and avocation, as well as strategically planning for the future of the profession and its members.

Association Management Objectives
APhA will work with each student to tailor an internship or externship in Association Management to meet his or her career goal and interests. As a result of participation in the APhA Experiential Program in Association Management, all students will:

Gain an understanding of the mission, goals and objectives, organizational structure, programs and services of the American Pharmacists Association.

Participate in appropriate staff and leadership meetings of the Association occurring during the rotation.

Identify and analyze high priority issues in pharmacy practice.

Develop skills in verbal and written communication, information gathering, evaluation, and analysis for use in specific organizational areas.

Applying for an APhA Experiential Program:
APhA provides two opportunities for students to learn the operations of a national association---I.) The APhA Student Pharmacist Advance Pharmacy Practice Experience Program and II.) The APhA Summer Internship in Association Management.

Regardless of concentration area, all student pharmacists interested in pursuing an APhA Experiential Externship or Summer Internship in Association Management must contact the Student Development department at APhA. A Student Development staff member will assist you with additional information about the concentration areas as well as secure internal logistics for your internship/externship.

A complete package, including 1) a current resume or curriculum vitae (CV), 2) letter of intent by the student pharmacist, including the dates of rotation or internship and preferred concentration area and 3) a confirmation letter by the experiential coordinator from the college of pharmacy (including exact dates of rotation) or recommendation letters for summer interns should be sent to the following address to be considered for an internship or APPE at APhA headquarters:

American Pharmacists Association
APhA Experiential Programs
Attn: Student Development
1100 15th Street NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20005-1707
1-800-237-APhA ext. 7586
APhA-ASP@aphanet.org

SELECTION OF THE INTERN/Student Pharmacist on APPE
Students interested in either the APhA Summer Internship or APPE in Association Management should be full-time student pharmacists in good academic standing. The student should be actively involved in professional programs and organizations.

APhA is unable to accommodate both APhA Summer Interns and student pharmacists on Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences during the same rotation period; therefore, APhA does not accept experiential externs from May 1-August 10.

APhA reserves the right to refuse, with sufficient notice, the request of any student to participate in the elective rotation in the event of significant organizational scheduling conflicts which would interfere with the quality of the student's experience.

Internship/APPE Concentration Areas
Depending upon the internship/APPE, each student will obtain intimate knowledge and insight into the department that they are working.

A maximum of 2 Summer Internships are available in the areas of Student Development, Practice Development, or Strategic Alliances and Business Development. Additional areas of concentration may be available from year to year.

The following areas are available to accept experiential externs for rotations:

1. Student Development
   1. Understand the programs, products, and services provided to members of the APhA Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP).
   2. Research, write and edit an article for Student Pharmacist Magazine.
   3. Identify, implement and/or manage a Student Development project.
      
2. Practice Development
   1. Understand the programs, products and services provided to members of the APhA Academy of Pharmacy Practice and Management (APhA-APPM).
   2. Contribute to the on-going enhancement of the Community Pharmacy Residency Program (CPRP).
   3. Identify, implement and/or manage a Practice Development, Community Pharmacy, New Practitioner, or Public Health-focused project.
      
3. Professional Practice
   1. Assist in the research, development, and implementation of immunization related programs.
   2. Attend selected organizational, interorganizational, and interprofessional meetings.
   3. Understand the programs, products and services provided to members of the APhA Academy of Pharmaceutical Research and Science (APhA- APRS).
   4. Participate in the direction, overall planning, and operation of the APhA Professional Practice Division.
      
4. Policy and Advocacy / State Services
   1. Understand current high priority issues in pharmacy practice.
   2. Review and analyze a current legislative or regulatory issue for its impact on pharmacy practice and prepare a written issue brief.
   3. Participate in selected interorganizational and interprofessional meetings.
   4. Discuss the major issues affecting pharmacists at the state level and the programs being implemented to assist pharmacists and state associations.
   5. Prepare and present the results of a background paper or survey project on an issue affecting the practice of pharmacy at the state level.
      
5. Public Relations
   1. Prepare and distribute news releases on APhA issues and activities.
   2. Participate in the development, distribution of materials, and planning of activities related to American Pharmacists Month.
   3. Assist with media relations activities, including telephone media pitches and follow-up.
      
6. Periodicals
   1. Understand how the production cycle of a magazine works.
   2. Research, write and edit an article for Pharmacy Today magazine and Pharmacist.com.
   3. Assist editors with story ideas, story development and selecting art/photos.
   4. Participate in and attend art, lay-out and Communication Group meetings.
      
7. Strategic Alliances and Business Development
   1. Understand the dynamics of developing and managing strategic relationships with partners groups, organizations, and the pharmaceutical industry.
   2. Participate in business planning activities and analysis including proposal development and conceptualizing new opportunities.
   3. Prepare and present a final project that encompasses market research, needs assessment, and strategy development.
   
   APhA is also involved with 2 credentialing entities:
   
8. Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties (BPS)
   BPS was established by APhA in 1976 and is the profession’s agency responsible for advanced practice, specialty-level certification of pharmacists.
   1. Understand the concept of specialization in Pharmacy and the role of the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties in this process. Develop materials to be used to convey this information to student pharmacists and other audiences.
   2. Research and write an article for Pharmacy Specialization.
   3. Participate in selected Specialty Council Meetings and/or other BPS activities as appropriate during the rotation/internship.
   4. Plan for BPS exhibits at APhA-ASP Midyear Regional Meetings (MRMs).
      
9. Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)
   PTCB is jointly governed by the following organizations -- the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), the Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists (ICHP), and the Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA). Since July 1995, PTCB has certified over 250,000 pharmacy technicians through the national Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination and transfer process.
   1. Understand the mission, goals and objectives, organizational structure, and programs of the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board.
   2. Participate in appropriate staff and leadership meetings of PTCB during the rotation.
   3. Develop and implement a marketing project such as working on PTCB's Web site, www.ptcb.org or other technology initiatives.
   4. Work on programs to enhance the pharmacist/Certified Pharmacy Technician team.
   5. Work on projects to promote pharmacy technician as a career.