July 2019
With my final message as your Chair, I have exciting news of the Section’s name change. In my March message we reviewed the Section’s updated strategic plan including new advisory groups and committees. The updated strategic plan work also included a recommendation to update the Section’s name. Today, I have the pleasure of sharing our NEW name, the Section of Pharmacy Practice Leaders (SPPL). This is an exciting and important change to recognize the growing diversity of leaders from all levels and backgrounds within our Section and the significant influence of our members in leading their organizations!
During the strategic planning process, we solicited feedback from Section volunteers and past Executive Committee members. We heard clearly the pharmacy enterprise has significantly advanced alongside of an increasingly complex health care environment. Further, the scope and influence of pharmacy leaders has grown with the emergence of multi-hospital system leaders, Chief Pharmacy Officers, Directors of Pharmacy, Associate Directors of diverse services lines, Front Line leaders, and the quadrupling of Health System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership residencies along with all residency program growth.
Very soon, you will see the new branding and updates to the Section’s website with the Section of Pharmacy Practice Leaders (SPPL). We have already experienced how well the strategic plan has resonated with members with an incredible number of members submitting applications for appointments to the NEW Advisory Groups and Committees that reflects the diversity of roles leading our pharmacy enterprises. These new groups are:
- Advisory Group on New and Emerging Leaders
- Advisory Group for Frontline Leaders
- Advisory Group on Value, Quality and Compliance
- Advisory Group of Business Development and System Integration
- Advisory Group on Strategy and Industry Disruption
- Educational Steering Committee
- Multi-Hospital Pharmacy Executive Committee
I am so very confident these changes will set the Section on a trajectory for success and we will continue to serve our members and the profession at the highest level!
This of course brings to the forefront the immense appreciation we all have for our Section volunteers. It is through their efforts the Section creates resources, webinars, networking sessions, educational programming, and advocacy support on issues so important to our success as pharmacy leaders. This past 2018-2019 year was no exception and the quality and breadth of outcomes by our groups and committees has been excellent! The hours of time our peers contribute to keep us connected, always looking forward, and well represented is tremendous. Thank you all for your support and service!
Recognitions:
One of my favorite activities as Chair is being part of the special recognitions we do for Section members that have made significant accomplishments to the profession. This past year we recognized Patricia C. Kienle as the 2018 John W. Webb Lecture Awardee and Cindy Williams as the Section’s 2018 Distinguished Service Awardee . Additionally, Scott Knoer was selected as the 2019 John W. Webb Awardeeand he will be presenting his lecture at the 2019 Conference for Pharmacy Leaders and Northeastern University College of Pharmacy this fall.
Serving as Chair of the Section of Pharmacy Practice Leaders has been my greatest honor. As I look to the future, the Section is in excellent hands under the leadership of incoming Chair Sam Calabrese. Our work is a team effort, and I want to recognize the contributions of all Executive Committee members, including Immediate Past Chair Jen Tryon, and Directors-at-Large Phil Brummond, Bob Granko, and Lindsey Amerine. Special thanks to our board liaison Julie Groppi and to David Chen for all of his support and dedication to our Section and our members.
Sincerely,
Kristi Gullickson, Pharm.D., M.B.A., FASHP
Chair, Section of Pharmacy Practice Managers (2018-2019)