APhA Member News
A minute with …
Susan Nguyen, PharmD, BCACP
Clinical Pharmacist, Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada;
Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice Roseman University of Health Sciences, Henderson, Nevada
Member since 2009
“APhA has always been the premiere organization at the forefront of evolving our profession as a whole. From advocating for provider status, access to resources, providing endless networking opportunities, and more, APhA is truly the organization that strives to unite our profession through our common goals.”
I joined APhA because:
I wanted to become an active member in a student organization during pharmacy school, but I stayed a member because of the inspiring leaders that I continue to meet at the annual meeting and through the special interest groups. They have motivated me to continually strive to become the best pharmacist I can be.
Why do you love being a pharmacist?
I love being a pharmacist and I love my career because I get to educate student pharmacists and patients. It is so rewarding to see the proverbial lightbulb click on when students and patients are able to understand and apply the education I provide. My goal is to make sure my students and patients become self motivated and empowered to accomplish their goals.
Can you share a meaningful story about a time you interacted with a patient? Perhaps a time you felt like you really made a difference for them?
At the clinic where I work, I met a couple who both had uncontrolled diabetes. The doctors wanted to initiate insulin and referred the patients to my service to discuss this with them.
The patients were both reluctant to start insulin, so I listened to their concerns and provided them the reasons why insulin was necessary to treat their diabetes.
At the end of the appointment, the patients agreed to start the insulin and now, with the help of lifestyle modifications, the patients’ A1C levels are now controlled.
That couple expressed that they were happy to have met a pharmacist who listened, cared, and motivated them to change for the better.
Professionally, I want to:
I want to train the next generation of pharmacists to be passionate about the profession, practice in collaborative settings, and provide patient-centered care.
I am also dedicated to providing underserved patients with the highest quality of care and making sure that other pharmacists have the resources to do the same.
Members in motion
Tyler Kiles recognized as Young Pharmacist of the Year by National Pharmaceutical Association
Tyler Marie Kiles, PharmD, BC-ADM, an assistant professor in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), was recently named Young Pharmacist of the Year by the National Pharmaceutical Association (NPhA). Kiles also serves as clinical coordinator for the community-based pharmacy residency program at UTHSC and chapter adviser for the UTHSC chapter of the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) across all campuses.
The Young Pharmacist of the Year Award is presented annually to one pharmacist in the country for individual excellence and outstanding contributions in pharmacy activities, community affairs, and professional practice. Kiles was formally recognized with the honor during NPhA’s 2021 virtual Annual Convention. “I’m extremely honored to receive this award,” she said. “For me, this honor signifies everything coming full circle from student to professional.”
Kiles has been a faculty member at UTHSC since 2019. She also serves as a member of the College of Pharmacy’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Council, advocating for the importance of minority faculty in pharmacy academia. Although only in the beginning stages of her career, Kiles is already making strides to become a champion for minority pharmacists and improve overall health equity.
Get involved in APhA
Immunizing Pharmacists SIG
The APhA Academy of Pharmacy Practice & Management (APhA–APPM) Immunizing Pharmacists Special Interest Group (SIG) provides an opportunity for leadership development and involvement of immunizing pharmacists in the Academy’s policy, advocacy, and awards processes.
In turn, the Immunizing Pharmacists SIG unites a collaborative network of pharmacists and student pharmacists who share an interest in the arena of immunizations.
Members of the SIG participate in activities to increase awareness of immunizations, and advocate for patients and pharmacists providing immunizations. They also compile and develop resources for pharmacists to promote the roles of pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians as immunization resources and providers at the state level.
Interested in getting involved in the Immunizing Pharmacists SIG? Learn more at apha.us/ImmunizingPharmacistsSIG.
Did you know?
APhA’s Pharmacists’ Guide To Coronavirus is your go-to resource for all things COVID vaccine–related
The redesigned Pharmacists’ Guide To Coronavirus Resource Center provides quick access to trending topics and the latest information and resources from APhA, including pages for all archived episodes of our 15 on COVID-19 series and recordings and slides of our Open Forum Webinar Series.
You can now easily access content organized by trending topic areas, such as Testing in Pharmacies, COVID-19 Vaccines, Immunizing During COVID-19, Vaccine Confidence, Telehealth, Advocacy, Well-Being, Compounding, Medications Being Studied, and Managing Your Pharmacy. You can also easily browse through APhA advocacy content, practice resources, public resources, and online community topics.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, be sure to stay up to date on the latest
vaccine information and treatment protocols by visiting www.pharmacist.com/coronavirus.