December 2023
Happy December, New Practitioners!
While the weather is starting to turn colder, I hope that you are able to enjoy the warmth that comes from holiday traditions, spending time with those close to you, and looking back upon having completed another year as a new practitioner. In these winter months, though there is always much to do, it can be rejuvenating to set aside time for reflection and self-care. Doing so can make a huge difference towards beginning the New Year with a clear direction and strong momentum!
To that effect, in contemplating your professional journey over this past year (and so far as a new practitioner), make sure to take advantage of the job preparation resources available for NPF members; these include a comprehensive multitude of CV resources that can help you effectively capture all of your accomplishments thus far and while transitioning throughout the stages of your early career. In addition, know that ASHP has detailed transition guides for those residents moving from PGY1 to PGY2 as well as those residents entering the workforce. Reviewing these can bring an exciting amount of peace and added preparation as you set out for the horizon that is 2024!
Shifting into a new year also brings about unique opportunities based on your goals. For those in residency, visit the research resources available to help you as you finalize your scholarly project and dissemination strategies. Those focusing on growing their precepting skills in the New Year will benefit from the toolkits, webinars, podcasts, and articles all prepared with the goal of assisting new practitioners as they transition into effective experiential educators. Finally, if you have a New Year’s Resolution tied to achieving board certification, ASHP has many certification-specific study materials. I personally utilized the Review and Recertification Reward Program to prepare for my pharmacotherapy and geriatric exams; this helped me defray up-front costs and provided me with extremely useful study materials before the exams as well as a plan for recertification after passing!
And, while the season can certainly be a merry and exciting time, there is no denying that professional demands tend to pile up towards the end of each year. It is during these times, when stress sneaks up, that making time for decompression can be most helpful. Use the ASHP Wellbeing Resource Center to read stories of how others practically preserve wellness, share your own story, and check out webinars and podcasts about the wellness topics most relevant to you. The gift of wellness is certainly a useful one, especially around the holidays!
Make sure, also, to have your voice heard as a member of the NPF! For those attending the Midyear Clinical Meeting, we hope to see you at the NPF Networking Session on Sunday, December 3, 2023 from 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM PT. In addition, if you have any suggestions, comments, or questions for the New Practitioners Forum Executive Committee, please email us at [email protected] or contact us through the NPF Connect Community.
With that, I hope that you feel empowered, energized, and well so that you may actualize your goals while transitioning into another year. In the meantime, I wish you the very best of the holiday season!
Sincerely,
Joe Marchiano, PharmD, BCPS, BCGP
Member, New Practitioners Forum Executive Committee
