Call for Articles

North Carolina Pharmacist (NCP) is currently accepting articles for publication consideration. We accept a diverse scope of articles, including but not limited to: original research, quality improvement, medication safety, case reports/case series, reviews, clinical pearls, unique business models, technology, and opinions.

NCP is a peer-reviewed publication intended to inform, educate, and motivate pharmacists, from students to seasoned practitioners, and pharmacy technicians in all areas of pharmacy.

Articles written by students, residents, and new practitioners are welcome. Mentors and preceptors – please consider advising your mentees and students to submit their appropriate written work to NCP for publication.

Don’t miss this opportunity to share your knowledge and experience with the North Carolina pharmacy community by publishing an article in NCP.

Click on Guidelines for Authors for information on formatting and article types accepted for review.

For questions, please contact Tina Thornhill, PharmD, FASCP, BCGP, Editor, at tina.h.thornhill@ gmail.com

Official Journal of the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists

1101 Slater Road, Suite 110 Durham, NC 27703

Phone: (984) 439-1646

Fax: (984) 439-1649 www.ncpharmacists.org

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Tina Thornhill

LAYOUT/DESIGN

Rhonda Horner-Davis

EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS

Anna Armstrong

Jamie Brown

Lisa Dinkins

Jean Douglas

Brock Harris

Amy Holmes

John Kessler

Angela Livingood

Bill Taylor

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Penny Shelton

PRESIDENT

Ouita Gatton

PRESIDENT-ELECT

Bob Granko

PAST PRESIDENT

Matthew Kelm

TREASURER

Ryan Mills

SECRETARY

Beth Caveness

Madison Wilson, Chair, SPF

Anita Yang, Chair, NPF

Katie Trotta, Chair, Community

Jeff Reichard, Chair, Health-System

Dave Phillips, Chair, Chronic Care

Andy Warren, Chair, Ambulatory

Riley Bowers, At-Large

Elizabeth Locklear, At-Large

Macary Weck Marciniak, At-Large

North Carolina Pharmacist (ISSN 0528-1725) is the official journal of the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists. An electronic version is published quarterly. The journal is provided to NCAP members through allocation of annual dues. Opinions expressed in North Carolina Pharmacist are not necessarily official positions or policies of the Association. Publication of an advertisement does not represent an endorsement. Nothing in this publication may be reproduced in any manner, either whole or in part, without specific written permission of the publisher.

A Few Things Inside

Corrections

For

The time began as a practically perfect spring day in downtown Raleigh. The sun was bright, the sky nearly cloudless, and the temperature delightful for the beginning of a robust time in the North Carolina legislature on behalf of the pharmacy profession. Traveling from the mountains, coast, and many places in between, over 90 pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy students, NCAP board members, and leadership flooded the legislative halls on Jones Street in Raleigh on April 19 this year to provide a united voice centered on expanded collaborative practice, immunization authority, and appropriate reimbursement for pharmacy services.

To prepare for the legislative invasion, all attendees were asked to attend an NCAP-hosted webinar on the Thursday before the legislative day. Penny Shelton, NCAP Executive Director, provided detailed information on all the bills NCAP had in play at the time. She also reviewed the talking points document NCAP created to direct any conversations that were had with legislators. Those who attended the training were also

Pharmacists Represented Well On Legislative Day 2023

provided an easy navigation tool to determine their own senator and representative for their local areas.

On legislative day, strategy sessions were held by team leaders and their assigned group members prior to visits with legislators. A debt of gratitude goes to Tony Solari, Debra Conrad, Mike James, Bobby Rawls, Ritesh Patel, Penny Shelton, and Michelle Fritsch, who served as the team leaders for these groups. NCAP lobbyists Tony and Debra, as well as Penny and other key state leaders, prepared the best strategies to share with each unique pharmacy team ahead of time. This advanced readiness enabled conversations much easier to navigate the often-misunderstood world of pharmacy for the legislators. Profession advocates visited committee meetings, thanked bill sponsors on both sides of the political aisle, and echoed each other in their common messages once engagement began.

The date of the legislative day was timely. Members had just returned from the General Assembly’s spring break; the energy was high, and their attention was focused on pharmacy legislative day (PLD) attendees who sought an appointment. A highlight of the day was when Representative Wayne Sasser shared progress and hopes surrounding the various bills that will benefit pharmacy. He was particularly focused on the passage of bills related to transparency and fair reimbursement for pharmacy services.

The PLD attendees were well-represented by all four pharmacy schools. Future pharmacists from UNC, Wingate, High Point, and Campbell were learning how to advocate for the profession early in their careers. High Point University surprised everyone when a purple and white bus arrived, carrying their student pharmacists, eager and ready to learn.

PLD 2023 set up great momentum toward much success for our profession in this North Carolina lawmaker assembly. Fortunately, NCAP is a healthy organization with strong leadership. But it takes dollars from many pockets to ensure appropriate candidates that understand pharmacy are on ballots and elected. Because Wayne Sasser is a pharmacist, he serves not only in his legislative capacity but as an advisor to many of his non-pharmacy colleagues that serve alongside him in both chambers. He told our group he cannot serve forever; he encouraged the untried in the room to think about running to fill his shoes. He also challenged us to think about how we currently support candidates and issues pertinent to pharmacy.

NCAP has always had a fund that focuses on raising money solely dedicated to advocacy efforts. Never has funding been more important than these last several years of successful advocacy efforts on behalf of North Carolina pharmacy. There now exists a convenient way for NCAP members and non-members to give to support this advocacy fund. While most other NCAP fund-raising efforts do not allow businesses to contribute, businesses can give to the NCAP Advocacy Fund.

This year’s goal is to raise $10,000 to help fund our grassroots work and help with the cost of NCAP’s lobbyists. It is very easy to give. Simply text “Give2NCAP” to (202) 8581233 or give directly to the NCAP website (www.ncpharmacists.org); click on ‘Donate to NCAP Advocacy Fund’ under the ‘Advocacy’ tab on the home page to make a one-time donation or to pledge a sustaining donation. Let’s meet this monetary goal this year!

If you are not a member of NCAP, please join today! If we do not advocate for ourselves, no one else will. No one tells our story as well as we do!

Until next time…

Upcoming Events

Mark your calendars for the following upcoming events and continuing education opportunities. Visit the NCAP website, www.ncpharmacists.org, often for details as they are confirmed and to register for these events.

More events to watch for:

Sunday Evening Webinars for the remainder of 2023

2023 Student Pharmacist Conference

Ouita

Friday, July 21, 2023

2023 NCAP Residency Conference

9:00 am to 3:00 pm

Novant Health Conference Center

Winston-Salem, NC

Details and Registration

Sunday, July 30, 2023

July Sunday Evening Webinar

6:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Live Webinar

Details and Registration

Friday, October 27, 2023

25th Annual Anti-Infective Conference

8:30 am to 3:30 pm

Greensboro Country Club

Greensboro, NC

Details Coming Soon

Jennifer Plair, PharmD, MSPH, will begin her Executive Fellowship with NCAP on July 10, 2023. Dr. Plair is from Hampton, Virginia. She earned a BS in Biology from Saint Augustine’s University in Raleigh, NC, completed a Masters Degree in Public Health from Campbell University, and recently graduated from East Tennessee State University with her Doctor of Pharmacy degree. She has an interest in pharmacy management, community pharmacy, and pharmacy practice advancement. She looks forward to transitioning to North Carolina and joining the NCAP team.

As my time as the Executive Fellow with NCAP comes to an end, I take this opportunity to reflect on the incredible experiences and growth I have gained during this transformative journey over the past two years. Being NCAP’s first Executive Fellow came with its fair share of challenges. There was no one before me to lay out the blueprints or to model the path forward. At times, it was difficult, but looking back, I am filled with gratitude for the chance to forge my own way.

My fellowship with NCAP provided me with the platform to excel, collaborate, and advocate for the advancement of pharmacy practice in North Carolina. I learned from and worked closely with pharmacy leaders from across the state. Not only was this invaluable to my professional pursuits, but it has also been instrumental in helping me develop my skills and grow as an individual. This immense personal growth was unexpected for me. I owe many thanks to the mentors for the guidance I have received, which has profoundly influenced my development as a pharmacist and a leader.

Megan Witkowski, PharmD, MSPH

A Farewell from NCAP’s First Executive Fellow

One of my primary responsibilities during my fellowship involved acting as the Managing Network Facilitator for the CPESN North Carolina network. This position allowed me to work alongside passionate independent pharmacists from our state and around the country who are constantly pushing our profession forward by practicing in new and innovative ways. This experience taught me many things about leadership, project management, and implementation, but above all, it showed me the boundless potential we possess when we unite in pursuit of a common purpose.

As I embark on the next chapter of my career, I carry with me the lessons learned, the passion ignited, and the commitment to making a meaningful impact in the field of pharmacy. I am proud to have been an NCAP Executive Fellow and will forever cherish the memories and experiences that have shaped my journey.

Thank you, NCAP, for this remarkable opportunity and for the lasting impact you have made on my professional life. Farewell (for now) with heartfelt gratitude and anticipation for the bright future that lies ahead.