February 2022
Greetings everyone,
I’d like to start my message with a quote about the profession of pharmacy’s outstanding response to the global pandemic: "It [the pandemic] served to establish in the estimation of the public, the practice of pharmacy as a profession. That pharmacists saved lives, many lives, is indisputable and that they conducted themselves with conspicuous and self-sacrificing devotion to duty and to humanity is equally conclusive”. Although this quotation could reflect recent activities of pharmacists in the face of the COVID pandemic, it was actually published in the December 1918 issue of the Druggists Circular to highlight pharmacists’ response to the 1918 Influenza pandemic. I am always encouraged about my profession when I see my peers “stepping up” to handle challenges for the good of public health and for the profession. With that being said, I want to thank you all for the extra hard work you have done over these past two years.
Hopefully, you all participated in the recent Virtual Midyear Clinical Meeting. The staff, organizers, and presenters really delivered an excellent conference given all of the uncertainty of the pandemic. We are now in an exciting (and busy) time of year where thousands of students and residents are seeking their ideal residencies and jobs. These young people are our future and they look to us for good mentorship.
The membership of the section has been hard at work over the past year with much to show for its efforts. We saw a lot of great section-initiated programming at the Midyear Clinical Meeting, several section advisory groups hosted Twitter Chats and podcast. The section has also been working for the past two years to update the Section Strategic Plan to better include diversity, equity and inclusion. The Section Executive Committee invited the section advisory group leaders to our annual midyear meeting. This allowed the Executive Committee to gain helpful feedback and suggestions form a larger swath of the membership.
If you would like to get more engaged with section activities, please consider signing up to serve on an advisory group, committee or to serve as a roundtable discussion leader by submitting your application here: SCSS Section Advisory Group and Committee Appointments. Do you know someone who should be recognized for their sustained contribution to the Section of Clinical Specialists and Scientists? If so, nominate them for the Distinguished Service Award. This past year, Dr. Ali McBride was selected for the Section’s Distinguished Service Award you can review his remarks by clicking this link. . Thanks for stepping up Ali and congrats!
Finally, I want to encourage you to work on maintaining your well-being and resilience during this challenging time. I have always found time with family and friends to be helpful. Participating sports, music, and other hobbies can also be great for the soul. Did you know that as an ASHP member you have free access to the HeadSpace app? You may also want to visit the ASHP Wellbeing & You page.
Thanks for stepping up!
Best regards,
Doug
Douglas Slain, PharmD, BCPS, FASHP
Chair, Section of Clinical Specialists and Scientists
[email protected]