IPA Board of Trustees

IPA would like to thank the outgoing Trustees for their dedication and service to the profession of pharmacy in Iowa. Their leadership helped guide the association through the COVID-19 pandemic, and their insight has been invaluable in strengthening pharmacy practice in our state.

Chairman of the Board – Connie Connolly, RPh, BCACP, DeWitt Speaker of the House – Kristin Meyer, PharmD, BCGP, CACP, FASCP, Marshalltown Region 2 Trustee – Shane Madsen, PharmD, BCPS, North Liberty Region 4 Trustee – Gary Maly, PharmD, Sioux City Trustee at Large – Bill Doucette, PhD, RPh, Iowa City Trustee at Large – John Hamiel, PharmD, Waterloo Honorary President – Dan Murphy, RPh, Davenport Drake University – Courtney Temple, Student Pharmacist The University of Iowa – Alexis Clouse, Student Pharmacist

IPA welcomes the incoming IPA Board of Trustees and thanks them for their willingness to serve the profession this year. The Board was installed during the 2021 IPA Annual Meeting. Their term began with the Board Retreat November 4-5, 2021 in Des Moines.

Chairman of the Board – Diane Reist, PharmD, RPh, Cedar Rapids President – Christopher Clayton, PharmD, MBA, Manchester President Elect – Cheri Schmit, RPh, Ames Treasurer – CoraLynn Trewet, PharmD, Ankeny Speaker of the House – Deanna McDanel, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP, Coralville Vice Speaker of the House – Heather Ourth, PharmD, BCPS, BCGP, Ackworth Region 1 Trustee – Wes Pilkington, PharmD, Waterloo Region 2 Trustee – Pamela Wiltfang, PharmD, MPH, BA, CHES, North Liberty Region 3 Trustee – Candace Jordan, PharmD, BCPS, MBA, Winterset Region 4 Trustee – Grant Houselog, PharmD, CSPI, Sergeant Bluff Trustee at Large – Emily Beckett, PharmD, BCPS, Johnston Trustee at Large – Nancy Bell, PharmD, West Des Moines Trustee at Large – Jackie Gravert, PharmD, MPH, Cedar Rapids Trustee at Large – Angie Spannagel, PharmD, BCACP, Maquoketa Honorary President – Sharon Cashman, RPh, Waverly Pharmacy Technician – Tammy Sharp-Becker, CPhT, CSPT, Ames Drake University – Mahi Patel, Student Pharmacist The University of Iowa – Jose Rodriguez, Student Pharmacist

2021 SPEAKER’S ADDRESS TO THE HOUSE

Kristin Meyer, PharmD, FASCP, BCGP, CACP

Speaker of the House IPA Board of Trustees

Associate Professor, Drake University Thank you, Vice Speaker McDanel. Good evening fellow delegates, student attendees, and all others in attendance. It is my honor to be your Speaker of the House, and I am looking forward to conducting the business brought before us this meeting.

Last year, as we joined Speaker Ashley Dohrn from our basements, spare bedrooms and dining room tables, she reminded us that despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, our pharmacy profession had an opportunity to shine. And how we did shine! Earlier, President Reist outlined the many accomplishments of our association and our members over the past year.

Over the years, other speakers have tried to inspire the delegation with a quote from an influential person. One of the most influential people in my life, my father, used to say, “Don’t forget who you are.”

When I first heard these words, they were a directive to me not to get into trouble with my high school friends on a Saturday night. I am sure his words were met with an eye roll back then. Many years later, now with teenagers of my own, I find myself tempted to call after them in the same way. Those words also have a deeper meaning for me as I look at how they apply to my personal and professional relationships as an adult.

So, who are you?

You are a caring health professional, ensuring safe, effective and accessible drug therapy for your patients. You are an educator and innovator with unique skills and knowledge, collaborating with other members of your team and your patients. You are trusted with details of people’s lives they may not even share with their families. You strive for excellence and have the integrity to do the right thing, even when no one is watching. You are an engaged leader in the health professions. You are strong and resilient.

Some days we may not feel all of those things, or any of those things. If we were sitting together in the House tonight, I would challenge you to look around at your colleagues, but you can imagine it with me. You would see many familiar faces ready to remind you of who you are, who we are when we come together at IPA.

The IPA Annual Meeting allows us to build upon professional connections, pursue new career opportunities, and create impactful policy. Tonight, we will hear statements from the Policy Committee for Professional Affairs on medical billing, pharmacist credentialing and vaccine confidence. Our Policy Committee for Public Affairs will present policy related to brown and white bagging, health equity, and the rural workforce. We will have the opportunity to debate, adopt and focus our future educational and legislative efforts on issues that show our colleagues and our communities who we are.

In closing, I would like to thank the IPA staff in advance for working so hard to facilitate what is sure to be another incredible meeting, despite the adjustments we have had to make. Thanks to my fellow Board members for their service this year, and the executive committee for the rewarding experience of working alongside you. Thanks to our committee members for their commitment of time, service and expertise to prepare these policies, and especially the committee chairs, Andy Stessman and Sarah Sougstad.

As we kick off our Annual Meeting with the first session of the House of Delegates tonight and return to our places of practice at its conclusion, let us “not forget who we are.” I am proud to be with all of you as colleagues and delegates. I look forward to the debate of another lively IPA House of Delegates. ■