February 2023
Dear Colleagues,
“If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl. But by all means, keep moving.”
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
One of the many things I love about being involved in ASHP is that we are constantly moving the profession forward. ASHP President Paul Walker’s words have stuck with me throughout my Chair year, emphasizing that we are better together as a profession. Every Section Advisory Group in our Section is working on addressing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion issues, with many recommendations taken directly from the Report of the ASHP Task Force on Racial Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
I cannot believe that we are more than halfway through the volunteer year! So many things have happened this year including much advocacy in the direction of moving our profession forward during ASHP Policy Week. It was also an honor to represent the Section during Council & Commission meetings and to see the amazing and intricate work of the Councils and Commissions as they developed policies and guidance for ASHP to focus on important initiatives that move our profession forward. Major items included:
- Advocating for access to pharmacist-provided services through the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacists Services Act
- Protecting the 340B Drug Pricing Program through the PROTECT 340B Act to ensure access to medications for uninsured and underinsured patients
- Advocating for the removal of the X-wavier to expand access to medications for opioid use disorder through the passing of the Mainstreaming Addiction and Treatment Act, and
- Advocating to protect residency program funding provided by The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. If you are thinking about either a way to get further involved with ASHP work or looking for opportunities to recognize colleagues who have had significant contributions to our Section, the following deadlines are approaching quickly:
Section Advisory Group (SAG) Applications: Applications for Section Advisory Groups (SAGs) are now open until May 1st. This is an EXCELLENT opportunity to become further involved in the Section and ASHP. Our Section’s SAGs recently shared their mid-year reports and I am in awe of the number of projects, resources, publications, and educational sessions that SAG members create to better serve the members of ASHP.
Distinguished Service Award: Nominations for the 2023 ASHP Distinguished Service Awards are open now until April 1st. This is an ideal opportunity to nominate a colleague and recognize their volunteer efforts in helping to advance the profession of pharmacy. Congratulations to Mollie Scott, PharmD, BCACP, CPP, FASHP, on receiving the 2022 SACP Distinguished Service Award during the 2022 Midyear Clinical Meeting! Dr. Scott’s leadership, dedication to the Section, advancement of pharmacy practice and patient care, and mentorship and development of learners is outstanding. Learn more about Dr. Scott’s perspective on ASHP involvement and leadership in her ASHP Pharmacy Leadership Podcast episode.
There is so much for our Section to celebrate, including the tremendous amount of work our members contribute to advancing the profession of pharmacy forward.
Sincerely,
Jackie
Jaclyn Boyle, PharmD, MBA, BCACP, RPh
Chair, Section of Ambulatory Care Practitioners
[email protected]