July 2024
“Human plus AI will always be better than your best AI and your best human.” — Dr. Harvey Castro
Dear Colleagues,
Attending the inaugural ASHP Pharmacy Futures 2024 meeting, which featured the first-of-its-kind artificial intelligence (AI) summit, was an enriching experience. The summit focused on the latest AI advancements and explored the intersection of pharmacy and AI. The emphasis was on how AI can augment us within our profession, and how to utilize different AI-enabled tools to advance pharmacy practice while keeping a close eye on ethics and equality. The AI Town Hall, which concluded the summit, gathered pharmacy professionals from various fields to discuss and create a list of action items and deliverables. ASHP will collate these insights to shape the future of our profession.
As I reflect on the past year, I am incredibly proud of the achievements and contributions made by the members of the Section of Pharmacy Informatics and Technology (SOPIT). Our section advisory groups (SAGs) have made remarkable strides this year. From launching insightful blogs and webinars to updating critical guidelines and exploring the intersection of AI and pharmacy, each group's dedication has significantly advanced our field. Their collective efforts have enriched our understanding and provided new insights into pharmacy informatics, ensuring we remain at the forefront of technological innovation in patient care. Thank you all for your hard work and commitment to excellence.
As this will serve as my last message as the chair of the section, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the current members of our executive committee for their outstanding service and leadership:
- Ben Anderson, who completed his term as immediate past chair. We deeply appreciate his leadership and dedication over the past three years, following his three-year term as director-at-large before that.
- David Agüero, who completed his term as director-at-large. We are thankful for his enthusiasm, innovative ideas, and contributions.
- Jeff Chalmers, who was installed this month as chair of SOPIT. Having previously served as director-at-large, Jeff is an exemplary servant leader and will ensure the continued success of the section and our initiatives.
- Ryan Cello, who is in his second year as director-at-large. We appreciate his steady and insightful contributions and commend his leadership and commitment to our goals.
- Casey Olsen, who was installed this month for his first year as director-at-large and will serve another two years. We are grateful for his dedication, leadership, and optimism.
- Vivian Johnson, who will complete her year as the ASHP Board of Directors liaison for SOPIT in August. We appreciate her guidance, advice, and support.
- Scott Anderson, our section director, for his unwavering support and guidance.
To determine your new executive committee officers, please VOTE in this year’s election! There is a great slate of candidates nominated to serve ASHP and SOPIT. Voting for officers, Board of Directors, and section leaders is open until July 12.
In closing, as we move forward, I am excited about the future and the continued impact we will have on pharmacy informatics and technology. Thank you for your dedication, hard work, and commitment to our profession.
With much respect,
Hesham Mourad, PharmD, EMBA, FASHP
Chair, Section of Pharmacy Informatics and Technology (2023-2024)
sections@ashp.org
