Iowa Pharmacy News
chasing greatness Amanda Abdulbaki, PharmD
As an undergraduate student, I participated in a leadership development program through which I was first introduced to the phrase ‘chasing greatness.’ It immediately resonated with me, and I decided to make this a motto I would live by throughout my pharmacy career. Pursuing IPA’s Executive Fellowship in Association Management is one of the greatest honors and accomplishments along my journey. Following the association route was not a career path I had planned during pharmacy school, but it was a unique opportunity that sparked a familiar feeling of excitement and inspiration the moment I learned about it. Over the past year, I have been fortunate to work with and learn from IPA’s members, Board of Trustees, pharmacy stakeholders, partner organizations and the absolute best staff anyone could ask for. To this incredible Iowa pharmacy family, thank you is not enough. Although I was new to Iowa, I never felt like an outsider. Through IPA’s Executive Fellowship, I felt absolutely joyous to be at work every single day – even on the bitter cold Iowa days and the days I had to learn to drive in snow! Our work at IPA mattered. It made a difference. Our collective efforts as one unified voice continue to push the needle to advance pharmacy practice in Iowa. The year 2020 hit, and as a professional association, we had both internal and external challenges to overcome. As a staff, we experienced a loss of a dear colleague, IPA’s former Director of Marketing and Communications, David Schaaf. Soon after, COVID-19 and its aftermath changed how we did everything globally. For me, the one stable part of life was my work – even with all the changes involved in working remotely. Some of the most valuable lessons I learned were through observing how IPA’s leadership worked through this
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| The Journal of the Iowa Pharmacy Association
challenging time, keeping a strong stance of unity and relevance for the profession of pharmacy in Iowa. For a fellowship year full of both challenges and positivity, growth would not have been possible without the leadership and support I received from my preceptors, Anthony and Kate. Thank you for always being there – for your guidance and encouragement to be as successful as possible in everything I accomplished. Mindy, Dawn, Kellie, Marla, Allison, Casey, Laura, and David – thank you for all of your support throughout the year. You all helped me piece things together whenever I was stuck and quickly became like family. To IPA’s Board of Trustees, thank you for your leadership and commitment to Iowa pharmacy. To IPA’s incredible members, thank you for always inspiring me to do more. I am excited and honored to announce that I will be staying on IPA’s staff following my fellowship year as Director of Membership and Engagement. I learned that an important goal to have, in addition to chasing greatness, is to also seek relevance. In my new role, it is my focus to live up to both. ■
