From the President

“Time flies when you are having fun” is the phrase that resonated in my head when I thought about the final President’s article, I would share with the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists (NCAP). Identifying the source of this idiom is not as simple as one would expect. Between 38 and 32 BC, the roman poet Virgil recorded ‘fugit inreparabile tempus,’ which means ‘time escapes and is irretrievable.’ Around 1800, Shakespeare, in the sonnet “A Lover’s Complaint,” penned the words “…the swiftest hours, as they flew.” Regardless of the source, the phrase resonates with many of us when reflecting on a milestone.

I have been fortunate this year to participate in a structured mentor program. I have been paired with a recent Campbell graduate, currently completing her PGY -1 residency. Last week we spoke about the importance of professional engagement. It has been my experience that any investment made in becoming involved in a professional organization comes to pay you back 10-fold. I encouraged my mentee to join both a national organization and one at the state level. It has been a revelation over the course of my career how much can be accomplished at thestate level. From the timely information shared in eNCAPsulated, to the networking opportunities at NCAP’s Convention and relationships formed with other pharmacists in this state, the impact of NCAP cannot be understated.

Without a doubt, 2022 was a successful year for NCAP. From a successful legislative day to hosting our first in-person annual Convention since the pandemic, to be followed by the equally well-received Student Conference and Residency Showcase, and the Anti-Infective Conference. We also established and welcomed our inaugural class of Fellow Practitioners. Furthermore, NCAP continues to provide significant professional development programming giving pharmacists the resources to take advantage of our newly acquired authorities for hormonal contraception, post-exposure prophylaxis, long-acting injectable administration, nicotine replacement, and prenatal vitamins. Additionally, 2022 saw our membership grow by XX[MK1]% and the most successful year of industry partnership in convention support.

NCAP is poised for so much more in 2023. With the start of a new year, we begin the long legislative session. Historically, this is the period in our state legislative cycle where the most progress can be made, and NCAP has a robust agenda for the coming year. Our priorities will focus on collaborative practice, fair reimbursement for pharmacy services, pharmacy benefit managers’ business practices reforms, and test and treat authorities. I highly encourage our members to become more knowledgeable of these priorities through our advocacy website and by supporting the NCAP Advocacy Fund.

Finally, I want to thank several important contributors to our past year’s success:

1. To our Board of Directors: you have been a dedicated and talented team of volunteers who share their time, expertise, and energy to shape our organization’s present and future. I greatly appreciate the group’s collaborative nature and engagement in our organization. 2. To our Endowment Board: your financial support to the educational mission and organization has been notable. 3. To the NCAP staff: your consistent and welcoming demeanor, responsiveness to requests, and tireless efforts to make our in-person events successful cannot be understated. We are fortunate to have such a dedicated team supporting the organization. 4. To Penny Shelton, our Executive Director: on a dayto-day basis, your guidance

Matt Kelm, PharmD