Greetings from the New Practitioner Advisory Committee (NPAC)! My name is Alison Knutson, a 2010 graduate coming to you from the balmy state of Minnesota. I am working as an ambulatory clinical pharmacist full-time in a family medicine clinic, dividing my time between providing MTM and medical resident education. I have been a New Practitioner for nearly 4 years, and I have been so grateful for the opportunities that have been available through the NPN to continue to stay involved in the profession. I can say that my perspectives on pharmacy and the future of the profession have changed time and time again over the past 4 years, and I enjoy having a network of other practitioners to discuss these perspectives with.

I am thrilled to announce the newest addition to the APhA New Practitioner Network social media toolkit: the NPNsider blog. The NPAC strives to bring quick and usable information and resources to our New Practitioner membership through a variety of resources including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Transitions. NPNsider will feature monthly posts from NPs in a variety of practice settings on topics including leadership, practice management, and news and legislation impacting our profession. NPNsider will also provide updates on how your NPAC is working to serve you.

The mission of the APhA NPAC is to support the transition from student to pharmacist by helping new graduates discover opportunities in pharmacy, develop themselves and their professional network, and empower them with the knowledge and skills necessary to define the future of their profession. New graduates from PharmD programs across the country have a tremendous amount to contribute to the profession of pharmacy. Whether moving into practice, residency, fellowship, or graduate school programs, our unique experiences (and sometimes lack thereof!) provide necessary insight to move pharmacy forward. The NPAC welcomes any suggestions and ideas you may have to contribute to NPNsider.

I hope you are busy planning your trip to APhA2014 in Orlando. I look forward to seeing you there!

Best,

Alison Knutson, 2013-14 NPAC Chair