From the President

David C. Phillips, PharmD, BCPS

2020 – A Year for CHANGE

Leslie Dwight, an aspiring writer, penned the following poem and shared it on social media on June 3 rd :

“What if 2020 isn’t cancelled?

What if 2020 is the year we’ve been waiting for?

A year so uncomfortable, so painful, so scary, so raw — that it finally forces us to grow.

A year that screams so loud, finally awakening us from our ignorant slumber.

A year we finally accept the need for change. Declare change. Work for change. Become the change.

A year we finally band together, instead of pushing each other further apart.

2020 isn’t cancelled, but rather the most important year of them all.”

So, what if 2020 is not cancelled? What if 2020 is a year for significant change? As we reflect on the first half of the year, we realize our attention has largely been divided. On the one hand, COVID feels like part of a new normal. We continue to feel humbled by all the unknown and the rising numbers of cases and hospitalizations in our state. On the other hand, we are largely focused on issues raised by recent killings, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the implications for us as individuals and as a profession. NCAP stands united with national pharmacy organizations, and the pharmacy profession as a whole, to fight against the inequities and racism plaguing our country! To learn more about what NCAP and pharmacy organizations across the country are doing and the actions they are taking to fight racism, click here to read the full statement.

In a continued effort to keep you informed and up-to-date, NCAP has been hard at work to develop and provide numerous resources and tools for our members. On June 12 th , a COVID-19 Testing Toolkit was released. This toolkit, developed by the NCAP COVID-19 work group in partnership with Campbell University College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, serves as a resource for NC pharmacists to get the latest updates on COVID-19. To access the toolkit click here. NCAP has launched a new legislative and government affairs homepage to organize all our advocacy work in one place. Click here to check out the new homepage.

Do not forget to save the date for the 2020 NCAP Annual Convention that will be held at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem on October 29 th and 30 th . The theme for this year’s convention is public health and NCAP will be celebrating its 20 th anniversary. Stay tuned for more details!

Finally, I would like to take a moment to recognize the Class of 2020. Congratulations on successfully graduating from your respective pharmacy school or residency program. You put in numerous hours of hard work and your final year of education was unlike any other. You should be very proud of your achievements. Good luck on all your future endeavors! Please know that NCAP is here to support you, and we would be honored to have you join us in strengthening our voice. Make 2020 your year and “be the change you want to see in the world.” (Mahatma Gandhi)

David C. Phillips, PharmD, BCPS