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MPA’s 138th President: MIKE CROWE
The Unexpected Gifts of Giving Back
BY MARY WARDELL, communications manager, Michigan Pharmacists Association
When incoming Michigan Pharmacists Association President Mike Crowe was faced in 2018 with the prospect of losing the job he loved, it didn’t look much like an opportunity at the time. Discouraged, but not deterred, he reached out to his network of colleagues and fellow MPA members. The response was overwhelming.
“While it was certainly disheartening to be let go, the timing could not have been better,” Crowe said.
Diplomat was the Michigan-based specialty pharmacy that had launched his career, first through its residency program and then through an eight-year stint in clinical services working with managed care organizations, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and even with several cutting-edge adherence technology companies. Crowe loved the opportunities and development he experienced at Diplomat, but the company’s growth led to its decision to go public, and that led to internal changes.
“Eventually, expenses needed to be reduced.” Crowe said, “And one lineitem cut was my salary.”
From left, Melissa Crowe, daughters Joslyn (top) and Jolene (bottom) and Mike Crowe enjoy family time with their newest member in February 2021.
Three of the MPA contacts Crowe reached out to after discovering this grim news happened to be with Walgreens, and they knew about a special opportunity coming down the pike.
“They all redirected my resume to the hiring manager of a soon-to-beopened local specialty pharmacy, which would be located just minutes from Diplomat,” he explained. “I was hired! And three years into it, it has been my favorite role to date.”
Leading the effort to open this specialty pharmacy remains one of Crowe’s proudest accomplishments. He credits the opportunity with the network he built through MPA as a volunteer leader. Crowe sees this as one of the most valuable benefits MPA offers.
Mike Crowe, Pharm.D., celebrates the grand opening of Community, A Walgreens Pharmacy, in Flint, Mich. in November 2018. He is cutting the ribbon with Flint Mayor Karen Weaver (right of Crowe) and several Walgreens employees.
Left to right, Nikkia Washington, Pharm.D.; Crowe, Pharm.D.; and Dr. Stephen Durst, dean of Ferris State University College of Pharmacy, celebrate the grand opening of Community, A Walgreens Pharmacy, in Flint in November 2018.
“I’ve said before that I view MPA membership as insurance for our profession,” Crowe said.
Crowe became a Student MPA member during pre-pharmacy while attending Ferris State University College of Pharmacy, where he would eventually earn his Doctor of Pharmacy degree.
“I continued to be involved on campus and even attended an Annual Convention a couple times, but I didn’t really get involved with MPA until my residency year,” he said.
Crowe had joined the local pharmacy association in Grand Rapids at the end of his fourth year, which motivated him to reach out to the chair of MPA’s Local Association Development Committee (LADC), who invited him to attend a meeting. Eventually, he served on the committee and was elected vice-speaker and then speaker of the MPA House of Delegates. He went on to serve on other MPA committees and task forces, reactivated his local association in Genesee County and coadvocated for pharmacy through MPA’s governmental initiatives.
“Through my involvement, not only did I learn that networking was an incredible value facilitated by MPA, but also that advocacy by MPA was almost invaluable,” Crowe said. “Every day, MPA makes sure our profession’s and our patients’ interests are heard, understood and acted on by decision makers in Lansing. Every additional member gives more clout to MPA’s advocators, and I decided early on that I would help MPA make our voice louder simply through being a member.”
Crowe first considered the profession of pharmacy as a junior in high school, when a series of small happenstances converged – an article recommended by his mom’s friend, meeting a local pharmacy chain representative at a high school career day, and then the opportunity to work as a pharmacy technician.
“A few other pieces that helped tip the scale were my love of science, a great job market, and good pay,” Crowe added. “As I expanded my experience in pharmacy practice settings and saw the various opportunities to help people, I continued to be encouraged by my decision to pursue a career in pharmacy.”
Crowe presents research at the 2017 National Association of Specialty Pharmacy Annual Meeting.
As Crowe faces the beginning of 2022 and his year as MPA’s president, his goal is to unite and protect the profession he has come to love. One of the major strengths of the profession is the vast number of practice settings in which pharmacy professionals can serve – whether that be at a university, training pharmacy technicians, working at the corner drug store or a community hospital, seeing patients by appointment for cognitive services, consulting, or working in industry. But that strength can have a downside.
“There are certainly many options in pharmacy, but that sometimes divides our efforts,” Crowe said.
Some problems may only affect one segment of pharmacy, which may lead those professionals to feel underrepresented. Conversely, those unaffected by an issue may believe MPA is dedicating too many resources to that particular concern.
“The truth is that we are one profession, and we are all eventually affected by each pharmacy issue,” Crowe said. “Working together with a united voice is the only way we will move the mountains ahead of us.
“My goal is that your association would be nimble enough to act at the optimal time, yet discerning enough to solicit and respond to member feedback whenever able and necessary. The Association needs to be both proactive and reactive. With this strategy, I hope we can view our challenges as chances to improve our profession, and the care it provides our patients.”
Crowe said he would like to thank the members of MPA for the opportunity to serve as their president, as well as for their membership in MPA. He also asked that they consider, in the coming year, committing to remaining a member of MPA throughout their pharmacy career.
“That alone will make a great difference in what MPA is able to accomplish moving forward,” Crowe said.
Mike and Melissa Crowe take a selfie in the hotel room before heading down to the Banquet and Awards Ceremony at the 2019 MPA Annual Convention & Exposition.
That doesn’t mean every member has to join a committee or run for a position on a board, he explained, but that they consider when might be the best fit for them to change their level of involvement. Whether that be next year or 10 years from now, whether it’s attending a local association meeting or getting involved in an MPA task force, there are many opportunities and varying levels of commitment.
“We all have different capacities to engage professionally, which are constantly changing with the demands of family, work and other aspects of life,” Crowe said. “Even if you’re limited now, don’t rule out finding a way to engage in the future.”
No one can account for the way sometimes the “stars align,” when it comes to picking a career, finding a new job, making a lifelong friend, or finding that extra bit of help right when needed. But the benefits of joining MPA and sharing in the “insurance” provided by advocacy, networking and more, can add more “stars” and open more doors.
“Though I usually refer to volunteering as ‘serving,’” Crowe said, “I find that I always get way more out of the service than I put in.”
