2022 Speaker’s Address

MADE FROM GRIT BUT FULL OF GRACE

Deanna McDanel, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP

Speaker of the House Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC)

2022 SPEAKER’S ADDRESS

Thank you, Vice Speaker Ourth. Good morning to my fellow delegates, student attendees, and all others in attendance. Man, I missed seeing all of your beautiful and smiling faces! First and foremost, I would like to take this time to thank the delegates who had faith in me two years ago when you elected me to this role, as I had big shoes to follow after Speaker Meyer. I hope that I will not let you down. It has truly been my honor to be your Speaker of the House over the last year.

Now all I can say is…THREE years! Can you believe it has been three years since we have been able to come together in person to celebrate the success of the association, join our collective minds in debating policies live at a microphone (and not through Zoom), and feel the palpable energy of bringing our pharmacy family back together. As I reflect over the last three years, I know it has had a profound impact on me, professionally and personally.

I hope you can all bear with me, as I would like us all to take a few seconds in silence to do a mindfulness exercise. I would like for you over the next fifteen seconds to reflect on the last three years and hold on to the first few words that come to mind.

Thank you for joining me in this exercise. For me, one word that I feel represents the last three years is GRIT. Why grit, you may ask? Well, I wear this pearl necklace today, as this was a gift from a very dear friend of mine early on in the pandemic. The message that came in the box about the pearl was about GRIT, and that message really resonated with me as I was preparing this address to the House. I would like to share part of this message with you, modifying the pronouns with the association in mind.

“We always show up and never give up. We are unshakable, not because we don’t know pain or failure, but because we always push through. We believe anything is possible no matter the odds. We are beautiful because of the way we choose to live and embrace life’s experiences – good or bad. We are willing to bend but never break, and we have courage to believe that darkness cannot hold us as long as we continue to create our own light. We are just like a pearl – made from grit but full of grace. We are unstoppable – we know it is not what happens but how we choose to respond, with perseverance in our minds and passion in our hearts.”

This is a powerful message, something I did not take lightly when reading it. I hope you all can resonate with some part of this message as you think back over the last three years personally, professionally, and as an association. We have had courage and resolve to make it through this trying time. Breaking the word GRIT down even further, there are themes within the meaning of grit that have influence. Maybe some of these are words that came to you when we did the reflective exercise.

G – GRATITUDE & GENEROSITY I am so grateful for all of you! I am grateful to call you colleagues, friends and my pharmacy family. Look around. I guarantee you will see at least one, if not many, “We always show up people in the room who you have and never give up. connections with and have no doubt We are unshakable, impacted your life in one way or another. As an association, we are not because we stronger together. Our collective don’t know pain or ideas, vision, voices and profesfailure, but because we always push sional pursuits help amplify the ONE VOICE we have as a unified association. through.” You have all been so generous with you time, love for the profession and kindness to the patients we serve. Having generosity in spirit means we give liberally and share with those in need. I think about how we rose to the challenge of the pandemic, especially as the vaccination, treatment and prevention efforts of COVID-19 fell upon pharmacy as the first point of contact in many ways. I know so many of you spent numerous hours, hours you likely did not have, and hours away from your family and friends to ensure that we provided the most optimal patient care to the public. For the first time, we were finally being recognized as healthcare providers! That alone is a success we must celebrate.

R – RESILIENCE & RESPECT

I know some of you probably cringed when I said the word resilience. I have heard this word so many times over the years, but it is true. We ARE resilient. We have had to have the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties faced in our profession and personal lives.

We did not have time to give up or break. We had to bounce back when times got hard so we could provide quality care to our patients and be sustainable in the workforce. Coworkers and patients relied on us. Through much adversity, we persevered.

Pharmacy is still one of the most respected professions in healthcare. We have a responsibility entrusted to us by the public. We take an oath as a pharmacist to maintain the highest principles of moral, ethical and legal conduct. We do not see patients as mere customers but as human beings that need our help. We are accessible and admired for our professional abilities, qualities and achievements, and we devote ourselves to a lifetime of service.

I – INSPIRATION & INNOVATION

I have been inspired by all of you. I have tried to serve the past two years as your Vice Speaker and now Speaker of the House while listening with my ears wide open. I have witnessed collaborative work and sharing of ideas, especially in the policy making process. I have firsthand experienced the outcomes of this teamwork in continuing to advance practice, advocate for change, lead in legislative efforts, educate and promote leadership amongst our members.

The innovation that exists in our pharmacy profession is astounding. Pharmacy has so many pathways that one can take. As I look out in the room, I see the far-reaching impact your innovative practices and roles have had in the state of Iowa and beyond. Other states look to us to be the guiding light to inspire their innovative ideas and pursuits.

T – TECHNICIANS & TRUST

This is a time for us to really celebrate the efforts of our pharmacy technicians. Who would have thought three years ago that we would have such advanced roles for technicians in pharmacy? It was, however, LONG overdue. Without the dedication and diligence of our technicians, we would not be where we are today. You are important and vital to our association’s success, and we thank you for all that you do!

Last, but not least, is trust. Patients and other healthcare providers put faith in us because we provide reliable care with profound ability. Trust is earned, respect is given and loyalty is demonstrated. We place trust in the association to carry out the strategic plan with the pillars of practice transformation and amplified voice. I have full trust that the association carries forth our mission of “empowering the pharmacy profession to improve the health of our communities.”

In closing, I want to thank the IPA staff for working so hard to facilitate a re-energized Annual Meeting and thank the Board of Trustees, the Executive Team and staff at IPA for their amazing support over the last year. I have learned so much from you, and your dedication to serving the association is amazing. It has been my honor to serve alongside such a wonderful team. Additionally, I would like to thank our committee members for their commitment of time, service and expertise to prepare these policies before you over the next two days, especially the committee chairs, Laura Knockel, Emma Kraayenbrink and Michele Evink.

As we kick off our second session of the House of Delegates, I am looking forward to conducting the business brought before us. I look forward to the debate of another lively IPA House of Delegates. I would like to thank all of you for the GRIT you have shown over the last few years, and just remember, like a pearl, “We are unstoppable.” ■

Deanna McDanel serving as Speaker of the House at IPA Annual Meeting 2022