October 2026

As we move into fall, the Section of Digital and Telehealth Practitioners (SDTP) continues to connect members with practical resources, engagement opportunities, and forums to learn from one another. With the Midyear Clinical Meeting and Exhibition approaching and ASHP’s annual policy and leadership nomination cycles underway, this is an especially active time for our Section. Our work remains centered on helping pharmacy professionals navigate a rapidly evolving digital environment and ensuring we play a meaningful role in shaping how technology is incorporated into practice and patient care.

Connect with Us at Midyear in Orlando
I am excited to share a new opportunity at the 2026 ASHP Midyear. SDTP and the Section of Pharmacy Informatics and Technology (SOPIT) are partnering to host a combined Informatics and Digital Health Networking and Poster Session on Sunday, Dec. 6, from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in W Hall A2, Level 2 of the Orange County Convention Center West Building.

The session will begin with a facilitated networking discussion, followed by a poster session featuring Professional Poster presenters and PGY2 Informatics residents. The goal is to create a dedicated space for attendees interested in informatics and digital health to connect and explore current work taking place across the country. All Midyear attendees are welcome. 

This collaboration is a natural extension of SDTP’s work with SOPIT. Our Sections have partnered on resources such as the Glossary of Pharmacy Informatics and Digital Health Terms, reflecting the increasingly interconnected nature of informatics, digital health, and technology-enabled pharmacy practice. 

Other notable digital health and telehealth events at Midyear include:

• Sunday, Dec. 6
  • 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. Networking Session: Technology Adoption in Pharmacy: Organizational Drivers of Success
    Hosted by SDTP and SOPIT 
  • 2:30 – 4 p.m. Empowering Clinical Pharmacists with Digital Technology to Bridge Prescriber Gaps
    Featuring Hanlin Li, SDTP’s Director-at-Large (2026 – 2028), and Addison Ragan, past SDTP Executive Committee member
  • 6 – 7 p.m. Joint SOPIT and SDTP Social Hour
    Location coming soon!

• Tuesday, Dec. 8
  • 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Pharmacy Forecast 2027: Turning Emerging Trends into Strategic Advantage
    Featuring Scott Nelson, SDTP’s Director-at-Large (2025 – 2027), and Lisa Stump, SDTP’s Immediate Past Chair

• Wednesday, Dec. 9
  • 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Networking Session: Emerging Care Delivery Models: AI, Operations, and Clinical Workflows
    Hosted by SDTP and the Section of Clinical Specialists and Scientists (SCSS)
  • 3:30 – 5 p.m. Pixels to Patients: Foundational Digital and Telehealth Skills for Pharmacy Excellence
    Featuring speakers from SDTP’s Working Group on Digital Health Competencies 

I hope you’ll connect with us in Orlando!

From Policy to Practice
October is an important time to stay engaged with ASHP’s policy work. In September, Policy Week brought together five policy-recommending councils and the Commission on Affiliate Relations to shape professional policy, identify emerging issues affecting pharmacy practice, and kick off the ASHP policymaking process.  For those working in digital health and telehealth, policy engagement is especially important as technology continues to raise new questions about practice models, regulation, reimbursement, workforce roles, and the responsible adoption of emerging technologies.

SDTP has contributed to these conversations since its inception, including work on licensure portability, telehealth reimbursement, and modernizing terminology for evolving digital care models. I encourage members to follow ASHP policy activity, review draft guidance and policy documents when opportunities arise, and bring your digital health and telehealth experience to these discussions.

Share What You Are Learning About AI in Practice
One of the most useful ways we can learn from one another is through real-world experience. The ASHP AI in Pharmacy Practice Case Study Library highlights examples of AI implementation, outcomes, challenges, and lessons learned across pharmacy practice.

If you or your organization are evaluating or implementing AI, whether your experience has been highly successful, is still evolving, or has surfaced unexpected challenges, consider submitting an AI Case Study. Learning from what did not work as expected can be just as valuable as learning from successful implementations. SDTP has intentionally emphasized collecting practical examples and translating emerging AI experience into usable resources for members.

The ASHP Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence Resource Center is also a central place to explore AI case studies, educational offerings, and other digital health resources as this body of work continues to grow.

Get Involved with SDTP
Fall is a good time to consider becoming more involved in your ASHP Section. The Pharmacy Practice Sections Call for Nominations opens in mid-October for the 2027 election cycle, with completed applications due Feb. 11, 2027. The SDTP Executive Committee provides leadership, guidance, and advice to ASHP on how best to meet the practice needs of members. If you are interested in sharing your expertise and helping shape the future direction of SDTP or another Pharmacy Practice Section, I encourage you to consider putting your name forward.

Elected office is only one way to engage with SDTP. You can also submit an application to be appointed to an SDTP Working Group, participate in the Connect Community, contribute to educational programming, review ASHP draft guidance and policy documents, or share your expertise through an ASHP webinar, podcast, or publication.

Celebrating National Pharmacy Week
I also want to recognize National Pharmacy Week, celebrated during the third full week of October, and thank pharmacy professionals across our community for the impact you make every day. Join ASHP’s Pharmacy Week Celebration to recognize pharmacy professionals' contributions and raise awareness of the vital role pharmacists play on the healthcare team.

I look forward to connecting with many of you at Midyear and continuing to learn from the experiences, questions, and ideas you bring to our digital health community. Whether you attend a session, share your experience, contribute a resource, or volunteer your expertise, your engagement helps shape the work of our Section and the future of pharmacy practice.

Feel free to reach out to me at any time by emailing sections@ashp.org.