APhA Member News
APhA staff
A minute with...
Khyati Patel, PharmD, BCACP
Associate Professor, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL;
and Ambulatory Care Pharmacist, Advocate Aurora Health, Kenosha Medical Center, Kenosha, WI
Member since 2008
Being a member of APhA as a student, resident, APhA–ASP chapter advisor, educator, and practitioner has had a significant impact in every milestone of my career. APhA has provided me with practical information regarding leadership, career development, networking, community service, student chapter advising, teaching, patient care, and professional advancement; these opportunities have been invaluable in shaping the pharmacist and educator I am today.”
How has APhA helped you establish meaningful connections?
APhA has always provided platforms for members to connect with peers and leaders in the profession. As a student member, I attended local state organization meetings, Midyear Regional Meetings, and APhA’s Annual Meeting & Exhibitions. As an advisor, educator, and practitioner, I have continued to attend annual meetings.
In addition, I’ve connected with fellow chapter advisors across the nation and discussed various APhA–ASP chapter–related concerns. The Diabetes Management Special Interest Group (SIG) has offered leadership connections where we work together to fulfill the SIG and Professional Affairs Committee charges.
How does APhA help you thrive in your everyday practice?
APhA keeps me updated on various practice- and profession-related changes on a daily basis. It provides a variety of resources for me to support my student chapter at the Rosalind Franklin University. Through the Diabetes Management SIG, I’ve accessed many practice-related resources and discussed them with peer members in real-time.
What excites you about the profession of pharmacy?
What excites me the most about our profession is the fact that pharmacy is ever-evolving and nimble to the demanding changes in health care. This drives innovation and new skill development for pharmacy practitioners.
Such changes have a palpable impact on patient care, and I feel fortunate to be part of a health care field that is always ready to make those changes and work with all health care partners to improve patient care.
Can you share a meaningful story about a time you interacted with a patient?
I’ve chosen to practice in an ambulatory care environment because it allows for longitudinal relationships with patients on which I thrive.
I have a very close relationship with most of my anticoagulation patients and one older patient was reporting unusual increased frequency of falls which is very concerning for anticoagulation outcomes. Speaking with the patient in detail, I investigated medication, personal, and social factors that were contributing to their falls. I presented the concerns and developed solutions while working with her primary care provider, primary pharmacy, family members, and our senior resource care nurse.
The patient was very thankful to have an advocate who went above and beyond the duty of an anticoagulation provider and rectified a multitude of issues to help decrease her risk of falls. I still remember how she responded to this; she said, “I am glad to know there is someone out there who cares for me more than I care for myself.” ■
Explore
New shows incoming!
We’re thrilled to announce that the RX Report podcast launched on January 10, 2025! Join us and dive into the latest pharmacy news, expert interviews, and practical insights. Check out the
trailer at apha.us/RxReport and stay tuned for more updates! ■
Did you know?
Maternal immunization
CDC estimates that 100 to 300 children under the age of 5 years die each year due to an RSV infection. Fortunately, patients who are pregnant can protect their unborn babies with the RSV vaccine.
If you are currently administering or considering offering the RSV vaccine to your patients who are pregnant, check out these new free resources to ensure you’re equipped to answer questions about RSV and the availability and benefits of RSV vaccines:
“A Conversation Guide: Maternal RSV Vaccinations” to assist with communications strategies with patients and other health care providers.
A patient and caregiver pamphlet, “Protect Your Baby from RSV,” designed to increase awareness of maternal RSV immunizations.
A Show You Know Quiz, supported by Pfizer, to test your knowledge on the topic.
Visit apha.us/RSVImmunization for these resources and more information. ■
Get involved
Preceptor SIG
The APhA Preceptor Special Interest Group (SIG) serves as an interactive community where pharmacists who precept students and residents can communicate and receive feedback on precepting strategies, precepting challenges and solutions, and opportunities for preceptor growth and development.
“What I enjoy most about the Preceptor SIG is that any pharmacist in any setting can be a preceptor, so everyone brings something unique to share with other members of the SIG,” said Elizabeth Yett, PharmD, assistant dean of student success at Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy at the University of Texas at Tyler and former SIG coordinator. “Our goal as a SIG is to provide resources to help each of us best develop our students into practicing pharmacists and hopefully empower them to become preceptors themselves one day! You might be interested in joining the Preceptor SIG if you enjoy learning about best practices and tools to use when interacting with learners—from layered learning and mental health to topic discussions and difficult conversations.”
Please visit apha.us/PreceptorSIG to learn more. ■