Connections and community

There are few experiences in my time as a student pharmacist that have had as forceful an impact on me as the APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition. I could never pinpoint exactly what draws me back each year, until APhA President Nancy Alvarez, PharmD, provided her opening address in Nashville. APhA’s Annual Meetings are about connections and the community. I am reminded of the new connections I make over the course of just a few days every March, and how my enthusiasm for pharmacy is refreshed.

Moved by the new theme

One of my favorite moments of APhA2018 was the APhA–ASP House of Delegates session, during which the incoming president addressed the Academy and revealed the next presidential theme. Incoming APhA–ASP President Nimit Jindal’s speech was one of the highlights of the conference for me, especially his theme, Embrace Your Calling.

As someone who is soon to graduate, it hit me during Nimit’s address that I really am transitioning from a student pharmacist working to begin my legacy to a new practitioner embracing my calling, and in that instant, I got all of the feels. Nimit talked about how too often, people focus on what success looks like instead of what success feels like, and that you can reach a summit without feeling fulfillment. The goal then is to go on a path of discovery until you find your passions and then surrender yourself to them. As I sat with friends that I have made throughout my time in APhA–ASP, I knew for sure that I would not be the only one leaving that room ready to give the pharmacy profession everything I have.

Inspired by Foundation events

Throughout the weekend, I had the opportunity to spend some staffing time at the APhA Foundation booth on Main Street. I quizzed attendees with trivia questions, like which animal is illegal to hunt in Tennessee (spoiler alert: it’s a whale). Truly the best part of that experience was meeting the research grant and student scholarship recipients. I came away so inspired to keep pushing for change, seeing that fellow student pharmacists and new practitioners can affect the progression of our profession through their hard work.

During a conversation with Patricia Massenberg, an APhA Foundation staff member coordinating us at the booth, I mentioned offhand that I loved the areas of pharmacy that I was pursuing. She paused, and told me that she loves how student pharmacists speak that way, that I should continue to voice my love and passion for pharmacy as a new practitioner. Whether she knew it or not, this is advice that I will undoubtedly take with me after graduation. 

A brand-new opportunity for me this year was the chance to attend the APhA Foundation Contributors’ breakfast. Everywhere I looked were pharmacists and other medical professionals who have dedicated their time, finances, and so much energy to proving how much pharmacists can do for patients. This is a group of people actively pushing to advance the role of pharmacists through evidence-based research of the value they add.

It was then I discovered what I want to be when I grow up. Their efforts and celebration of those that advance pharmacy echoes what I saw at the awards celebrations and opening session: patient care is the very heart of the profession. I left feeling so proud of my profession and so inspired by these new connections.

House of Delegates action

The APhA–ASP House of Delegates was both interesting and exciting, as the 2018–19 APhA–ASP National Executive Committee was elected (see related article) and the House passed the following resolutions:

2018.1 – Education on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Other Identities
ASP encourages the advancement of optimal patient care for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Other (LGBT+) patients through the implementation of the following measures:

1. Development of continuing education programs with a focus on unique health disparities, specialized pharmacotherapeutic considerations, and advancement of cultural competencies, and;
2. Inclusion of education on topics related to diverse gender and sexual identities in the curriculum of schools and colleges of pharmacy.

2018.2 – Direct and Indirect Remuneration (DIR) Fee Practices
APhA-ASP supports legislation that opposes retroactive Direct and Indirect Remuneration (DIR) fees imposed by Pharmacy Benefit Managers(PBMs) on pharmacy claims.

2018.3 – Emergency Prescription Refill Protocol
APhA-ASP encourages state boards of pharmacy to develop a standardized protocol allowing pharmacists to provide refills, not pursuant to a prescription, during a declared state of emergency, natural disaster, or man made disaster.

1. APhA-ASP encourages state boards of pharmacy to promote awareness and competencies of all pharmacy personnel regarding standardized protocols.

“Pharm-ily” time

So what makes the APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition such a unique experience? For me, it’s my “pharm-ily.” It’s the connections, those real, honest conversations about why pharmacists do what they do. It’s the messages that others choose to share with an audience that reanimate and encourage even the most tired and school-weary student pharmacist. It’s the moments throughout the weekend that offer a reminder of why your passions should be followed.

These are the reasons that keep me coming back to this conference and to this incredible family of individuals, and what leaves me feeling renewed for another year.