July 2025
Dear Colleagues,
I hope this message finds you well as we embark on another year of advancing health-system specialty pharmacy practice.
This year, we’ve seen significant growth and engagement within our section. I’m particularly excited to highlight the overwhelming interest and rapid progress of our newly formed Infusion Services Strategy AdHoc Committee. The enthusiasm has been remarkable, and the group has already made significant strides, hosting engaging networking discussions at the Midyear meeting and establishing a dedicated ASHP Connect Infusion Services Community. This demonstrates the strong desire within the ASHP membership to address the evolving landscape of infusion services. Thank you to Samantha Bochenek and Noah Franz for leading this engaged group.
As we celebrate our progress and look forward to the future, it is with heavy hearts that we must also pause to remember and honor the legacy of Tara Kelley, our section’s most recent distinguished service awardee. Tara was tragically taken from us too soon, leaving a profound void in our community. Her instrumental role in the creation of the Section of Specialty Pharmacy Practitioners (SSPP) cannot be overstated. She was an integral component to the inaugural SSPP Executive Committee. We owe her a debt of gratitude for her collaborative spirit and unwavering dedication to the mission of ensuring the highest quality care for our patients. Without her vision and dedication, this space for collaboration and growth wouldn’t exist. Her passion for advancing our profession is a powerful reminder of the impact we can have, and she inspires us to continue building on the foundation she helped establish.
In that spirit of continued advancement, advocacy remains a top priority for our Executive Committee. We have engaged in several crucial discussions with the ASHP Government Relations Office to address the rapidly evolving advocacy landscape, particularly within the 340B space. We are committed to ensuring that our voices are heard and that the needs of health-system specialty pharmacies are represented in these critical conversations.
As we move forward, we are committed to providing you with the resources and support you need to thrive in this dynamic field. Keep an eye out for upcoming podcasts, resources, and webinars from our dedicated Section Advisory Groups and Educational Steering Committee.
Looking back, I was particularly excited to attend the recent ASHP Pharmacy Futures meeting. This event featured the Summit on Advanced Therapeutics and numerous sessions with dedicated specialty pharmacy content and also hosted the ASHP House of Delegates. We had the opportunity to delve into discussions surrounding the critical roles of health-system specialty pharmacies in supporting patients on advanced therapeutics. I greatly enjoyed the specialty-focused sessions, especially the annual legal considerations update, which I find invaluable. And, of course, I was honored to represent our section within the House of Delegates, where we can actively drive ASHP policy and advocacy priorities. I encourage you to join us at next year’s Pharmacy Futures to learn, network, and contribute to the future of our profession.
Thank you for your continued dedication and commitment to our shared mission. Together, we are making a difference in the lives of patients every day.
Sincerely,
Erica Diamantides, PharmD, MHA, BCPS
Chair, Section of Specialty Pharmacy Practitioners