July 2026
Happy July! I sure hope this note finds you well, immersed in the sunshine and long days of summertime, and finding time away from work to relax and reset. My summer is officially starting after wrapping up one of my favorite work-related events – the 2026 ASHP Pharmacy Futures meeting, which was held June 13 to 17, 2026, in St. Louis, Missouri. As an introvert, I really appreciate the energy of this event: there is intentional focus on a handful of topics (including the specialty pharmacy educational community!), with multiple opportunities to learn from peers, and to form and strengthen connections with new and old friends. I typically find this conference to be intimate and energizing, and not too overwhelming if I build in a couple of naps.
I am going to describe my conference experience, and as I do so, I hope that you imagine yourself doing some of these things. Take a moment and try on these experiences in your mind and realize that this could be you – if I can do it, you can too! And if you are curious about different service pathways, please reach out. Let’s find a way that is meaningful to you to advance the profession, and I will be glad to get to know you, happy to help you make a connection, or encourage you to try something new.
There was a lot of activity at the futures meeting:
- We had the Section of Specialty Pharmacy Practitioners (SSPP) Executive Committee meeting, where we reviewed how the year went for the Section, and identified priorities for the coming year.
- I had the privilege of representing the Section in the ASHP House of Delegates (HOD), and introducing a resolution on behalf of the section about Alternative Funding Programs that was originally drafted by the Outcomes and Value Section Advisory Group (SAG). This resolution has been referred to the Councils for further work.
- The section had great representation at the early afternoon poster sessions, including some resident projects!
- I was immensely proud to see friends awarded FASHP status in recognition of their service to the profession.
- I was able to attend a handful of fantastic educational sessions and was wistful that I missed a handful of other sessions that took place while I was in the HOD. I had the opportunity to collaborate with a colleague from the Section of Ambulatory Section Care Practitioners, Danny Truelove, to present collaborative service expansion opportunities in areas where Ambulatory and Specialty pharmacy services overlap. I hope that future years continue to have collaboratively planned sessions, because there was a great mix of folks in the audience and there is always so much we can learn from each other.
- It wasn’t all work – there was some karaoke (not me, but you should know we have some very talented colleagues!), some beautiful nights for baseball, and a lovely evening with dear friends at the Missouri Botanical Garden.
In the warmth of the summer, it is hard to imagine that the days will shorten, the weather will cool, the leaves will change and fall again. What is not hard to imagine is how much there is to look forward to. We are excited to welcome Infusion Services as a new formal SAG in the Section of Specialty Pharmacy Practitioners, with a great group of new members. The Executive Committee anticipates kicking off the SAG season this fall by hosting a virtual networking session, more details to come. I am looking forward to learning from the leadership of Thom Platt, the incoming SSPP Executive Committee Chair. I am excited to learn the results of the current ASHP election, and to be able to share the news about the recipient of the SSPP Distinguished Service Award for this year.
The days are long, the years are short, and the future is bright. It was truly an honor to be the SSPP Executive Chair this year. Thank you all so much for your service to patients and the profession. Your engagement with ASHP makes a difference, and your presence is important and appreciated. I am glad you are here, and I hope our paths cross again soon.