With American Pharmacists Month (APhM) behind us, I wanted to take a moment to celebrate the spotlights that shined on our profession, focusing on our pharmacists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and the incredible work that they do. We saw APhM recognized across social media channels, state proclamations by governors, and even through an on-camera shout out at the TODAY Show on their plaza. This well-deserved recognition goes a long way in sharing with the world the value and importance of pharmacists and pharmacy personnel in all settings.

The kickoff of American Pharmacists Month (APhM) in October is always exciting for me because it falls at the same time as my birthday. My annual birthday present to myself is a flu shot. This year I added a bonus gift of a COVID-19 bivalent booster. It brought me such pride and joy for the pharmacist to jab me with these gifts knowing how our profession rose to the occasion these past few years and how pharmacists continue to be on the front line of care. Those were tears of joy on my face when Joan Kim at Grubb’s Pharmacy in Washington, DC jabbed me!

A letter from Interim CEO Ilisa Bernstein, PharmD, JD, FAPhA, to Dr. Robert Califf, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), on the importance of pharmacists being allowed to prescribe oral COVID-19 treatments.

Hear from Ilisa BG Bernstein, PharmD, JD, FAPhA, APhA’s new interim executive vice president and CEO, about her background and history with APhA as well as our top strategic priorities, which will propel us to move the profession forward.

You have been front and center during the pandemic, providing vaccines, tests, treatments, and continuity of care. You are providing care in pockets of the country where patients would otherwise be without health care, and you are helping address health equity in the U.S. You and our profession are shining.