Executive Director Update: Strength in Numbers

Executive

Director Update

Strength in Numbers

Anthony Pudlo, PharmD, MBA

The transition of executive leadership is an opportunity to reflect on the events of the past few years, in preparation for the opportunities and challenges of the next. The Tennessee Pharmacists Association has had remarkable success in recent years: Legislative victories. The launch of new Foundation programs, like Clinical Pathways. Expansion of continuing education opportunities. Progress towards provider status implementation. Over that time, we were not without our challenges, yet our success is rooted in one of TPA’s strengths—our numbers.

What continues to make TPA strong is the number of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians from different practice sites, career stages, and backgrounds, coming together to form the vision for pharmacy practice in the state of Tennessee. As I talk with colleagues in other states, it’s rare to find the depth of bench strength that we have to lead our profession in Tennessee. As I have traveled across the state in my first several months as Executive Director, I have come to see that Tennesseans have a strong voice—one for justice, accountability, and patient advocacy. That speaks volumes to the level of leadership that TPA is fortunate to have had, as well as to the strong contingency of leaders who want to continue being a part of the progressive practice of pharmacy in Tennessee.

As we continue to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and as we enter the 2022 legislative session, we have a mountain ahead of us in overcoming the efforts of PBMs that refuse to comply with Public Chapter 569, as well as working to codify provisions of the PREP Act into state law. I have faith in the strength of our grassroots network, in order to get the attention of our state legislators. This is no small feat, and we need to recognize the impact that our voices can have—individually and collectively—in influencing policy and legislation.

Your passion and effort as members must be matched in stewardship by the Association, so that our mission can continue. As your new Executive Director, I am proud to lead TPA through its new strategic plan and address the needs of the membership. My focus during these initial few months was to meet many of you in your practice setting. This focus will continue, as I meet with more members across the state in the months and years ahead. We will continue to need the strength of our numbers, as the Association takes a hard look at our structure and engagement opportunities, renews our focus on our lobbying efforts at the state capitol, and collaborates with the Board of Pharmacy to modernize the regulations that govern our profession.

Looking forward into the coming year, I believe our continued success as an association and profession will depend on an important number—the number ONE: All of us, with our diversity of experience, skill, and passion, working together as ONE profession, as we embrace the changes that come from the global pandemic to advance practice. All of us, advocating as ONE for fair compensation and a level playing field. All of us, speaking in ONE voice to explain the valuable role of the pharmacist on the healthcare team, to our provider colleagues, patients, policy makers, and communities.

Thank you for your faith in me to lead TPA into a successful future. The year 2022 will bring the next wave of opportunities and challenges for our profession, and I am confident that a large number of Tennessee’s pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and student pharmacists will be standing by, ready to advocate for and advance our profession.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.” —Margaret Mead