From the Desk of the CEO

As pharmacy practice continues to evolve, pharmacists must have the autonomy to exercise their professional judgment and make decisions based on the needs of their patients. In this blog, CEO Michael Hogue explains why pharmacists must control their own practice and why professional autonomy is essential to protecting patients and advancing the profession.

Like many of you, I remember exactly where I was when I learned that an airplane had been intentionally flown into the World Trade Center in New York. Standing behind the counter at Morgan City Drugs, I didn’t have access to a television. However, we did have a radio, and it wasn’t hard to find a station that was covering the real-time events that morning. When the second airplane hit, we all knew that this was no accident, but an intentional attack on the very freedom we hold dear.

On August 1, 2026, pharmacy lost another of our trailblazers, Peter Vlasses, former ACPE executive director. As I learned this news, I was reminded that Pete was the 2022 Remington Honor Medalist, earning the profession’s highest honor.

Pharmacists, regardless of practice setting, are well aware of the impact of the 340B program on pharmacy revenue. For student pharmacists and others who may not have encountered this program before, you can get a crash course on the history of the program from its origins in 1992 and how it currently operates at the Health Resources & Service Administration’s (HRSA’s) website.

APhA members consistently identify pharmacy staffing, PBM reform, and payment for pharmacists' services as among the most urgent challenges facing the profession today. While each issue presents unique concerns, all are tied together by the financial realities confronting community pharmacy. In this blog, CEO Michael Hogue shares APhA's approach to advancing policy solutions, supporting pharmacists in the workplace, and creating a stronger foundation for the future of patient care.