Executive Insight BY MICHAEL JACKSON, RPH MICHAEL JACKSON, BPHARM, EVP & CEO, FLORIDA PHARMACY ASSOCIATION
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Bringing the FPA Ship Into Port
wenty-five years ago, I had the honor of being asked to serve as administrator of the Florida Pharmacy Association. It was a call to service that I took seriously and worked with our great leadership team to continue the sustained growth of our organization. Of course, transitioning from managing pharmacies to being CEO of a very active, state-wide professional pharmacy association is the equivalent of being accustomed to sipping water through a shot glass and then having to learn how to drink from a high-pressure water hose. The learning curve was steep and the need to pivot quickly on the issues was both exciting and fascinating. I took an inventory of the issues that we have engaged with over the years and discovered that we have been an extremely busy and effective organization. We have advocated on your behalf before the Florida House and Senate, the Governor’s office, the Attorney General’s office, t he Depart ment of Management Services, t he Agency for Healt h Care Administration including, but not limited to, the Florida Board of Pharmacy. There was even an opport u n it y to appear before a Congressional Committee to share commentary on the distribution of prescription drugs. The pa ssi ng of leg i slat ion i s a very complex and challenging pr o c e s s; howe ve r, o u r h i s t or y has shown evidence of successful advocacy campaigns on multiple issues of benefit to the profession and business of pharmacy. This is one of the key functions of your pharmacy association. Historically, the engagement of our volunteer leaders has been instrumental in the adoption
of good public policy and the growth of our profession. Getting legislation under the Governor’s ink pen is nearly an impossible task in Florida with, on average, less than 8 percent of legislation filed actually completing the sausagemaking process. Every year we are able to file legislative reports to members citing bills that were adopted by the House and Senate and approved by the Governor of Florida. This is a
The passing of legislation is a very complex and challenging process; however, our history has shown evidence of successful advocacy campaigns on multiple issues of benefit to the profession and business of pharmacy. testament to the hard work of your leadership and your lobby team. It’s no secret that the FPA is the training ground for leadership. A number of our members have gone on to serve our national organizations on committees, councils and workgroups or in senior leadership on national boards. Three pharmacists from Florida have served as president of the
Michael Jackson, B.Pharm
American Pharmacists Association and I am pleased to share with the members that two of the three launched their service during my tenure here at 610 North Adams Street. The FPA is financially stable with adequate cash reserves to address any unforeseen circumstances. We are essentially debt free with a positive net worth balance sheet. We are very thankful for a dedicated, hardworking staff and an engaged and fiscally conservative leadership who became committed stewards of our organization’s resources. This is being shared with our members to assure that the FPA is in good hands. I have helped in some small way to steer our organization through both smooth and rough seas. Together we have navigated through change and reimagining of our practice from the development of drug therapy management rules to collaborative practice and testing and treating of Executive Insight, continued on page 15
DECEMBER 2021 |
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