Valerie Prince, PharmD, FAPhA, BCPS, is grateful to be part of an interdisciplinary team taking care of patients at St. Vincent’s Family Medicine Residency Program. Her practice focuses on patient safety, substance abuse, transitions of care, and mentorship of student and resident pharmacists and physicians. Mercer University and an American Society of Health-System Pharmacy (ASHP)-accredited residency at Regional Medical Center at Memphis prepared her well. She has enjoyed practicing in acute care, ambulatory, independent, chain, and long-term care pharmacies. Her national-level involvement in APhA includes two terms on the Board of Trustees, APhA–APPM President, Speaker of the House of Delegates, and APhA Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA–ASP) national officer. She is the immediate former Chair of the APhA House of Delegates Rules Review Committee. She received the Alabama Pharmacy Association Distinguished Service Award for her extensive state level involvement that included service as APA Research and Education Foundation (APAREF) President and APA Board of Trustees. She is a past national president of Phi Lambda Sigma leadership society and was recognized as National Chapter Advisor of the Year while at Samford University. She served the Alabama Board of Pharmacy for several years on the Committee on Rehabilitating Impaired Pharmacists. She is a recipient of the Linwood F. Tice Friend of APhA–ASP Award and the APhA–APPM Distinguished Achievement in Clinical Practice Award. She is an APhA Fellow. She has a long record of community service and mentoring and is currently serving on the Governor’s Task Force on Opioids.

What unique attributes and skills would you bring to the APhA Board to support the advancement of the Association's priorities?

I have strengths in “selling” the value of a pharmacist, establishing relationships, and in team- based care. I have established clinical pharmacy services where I wasn’t invited, not particularly welcomed, and was required to cost-justify my position. Each time I persisted and created demand for my services from other disciplines. The fight for recognition and financial viability I experienced on a personal level is of much greater importance on a global level as provider status. I have successfully navigated roles in accreditation processes in both hospitals and academic environments. In my current practice I have unique opportunities to engage medical residents including serving as the only non-physician in a physician mentoring program. I have a long history of involvement in the field of substance use disorders, a major public health and safety issue. I was blessed by 18 years of the best leadership training in pharmacy through APhA leadership positions. One of the strengths for which I am most grateful is the ability to recruit and encourage new leadership in APhA. I’ve had the honor to mentor many former APhA presidents, BOT members and student pharmacists. I have accomplished major initiatives such as revision of the APhA policy process through gaining “buy in” from other leaders and members and laying the groundwork for restructuring APPM. I served a leadership role in organizing and facilitating the initial Federal pharmacists’ caucuses as well as serving as an advocate for our members who are part of the recovering (from substance use disorders) community. I can cast a vision, influence others to believe in the vision and in themselves, and lead others to work toward the vision. I am a strong and servant leader. I humbly ask for your vote for a chance to give back to the profession and APhA family I love.

Wendy Weber, PharmD, MBA, FAPhA, BCPS, is a proud graduate of North Dakota State University. She obtained her MBA from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Dr. Weber is currently a Senior Associate at Rainmakers Strategic Solutions, a government and commercial contractor, serving as the Lead Pharmacist for the Medicare Part D formulary review contract. She also fills in at Boystown National Research Hospital as needed. As a pharmacist for over 20 years, she has spent the majority of her career in clinical and administrative positions within academic medical centers, specifically pediatrics, neonatology, critical care and emergency medicine. She has also practiced in community pharmacy, home infusion and administrative consulting. Dr. Weber is a lifelong APhA member who is currently serving as a Trustee on the APhA Board of Trustees. Her past leadership experiences with APhA includes APhA–APPM President and Trustee, APhA Foundation Director, and APhA–ASP National Member-at-large. Dr. Weber has served as a delegate to the APhA House of Delegates for 20 years and in many other appointed and elected leadership positions within APhA–APPM and was the inaugural chair of the New Practitioner Editorial Advisory Board. She is a member of the Nebraska Pharmacists Association where she has served on various committees and spends a lot of time volunteering at her church.

What unique attributes and skills would you bring to the APhA Board to support the advancement of the Association's priorities?

Vibhuti Arya, PharmD, MPH, is a Professor at St. John's University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Clinical Advisor to the New York City Health Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH). In her role, she works to integrate pharmacists into public health initiatives, particularly among high-risk, medically underserved areas in NYC, and advises on legislation. To date, Dr. Arya has been engaged with several efforts including public health detailing, policy planning, expanding naloxone access through community pharmacies, syndromic surveillance, correctional health services, and emergency preparedness. She also serves on the Health Department’s Institutional Review Board. Dr. Arya has demonstrated exemplary leadership across professional bodies and non-profits throughout her career. Within APhA, she is a former APhA-ASP National President and New Practitioner leader, helps lead the APhA-APPM Public Health SIG, and serves on the APhA Taskforce on Systemic Racism. Dr. Arya is also a Global Lead for Equity Workforce Development for the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP). Most recently, she received the Sustained Contributor Award from the American Public Health Association Pharmacy Section, and led a team to win the MIT Hacking Racism Challenge in Social Justice & Policy. Dr. Arya engages students and colleagues to examine programs and policies through the lens of equity, applying social justice principles to reduce inequities in care. She recently gave a TEDx talk on structural racism. Dr. Arya completed the Pharmaceutical Care Leadership Residency at the University of Minnesota, and MPH from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

What unique attributes and skills would you bring to the APhA Board to support the advancement of the Association's priorities?

Advocacy, Community, and Equity are central to my experience in understanding and advancing pharmacists’ role in improving community health. Throughout my career, I have worked to intentionally bridge the gap between pharmacy and public health, with a focus on mentoring students and new practitioners to see themselves as key contributors and future leaders in advancing pharmacists’ role in public health. I have increased the visibility of pharmacists as partners in public health, serving as the subject matter expert to the Deputy General Counsel at the NYC Health Department, and forming advisory groups that put pharmacists at the decision-making table. Focusing on meaningful community engagement and grassroots advocacy, I have developed innovative projects, bringing together technology, public health, pharmacists, and local community partners. One such project included mapping NYC pharmacies with social determinants of health, and provided data driven insights that continue to guide strategic priorities, helped close the equity gap among high-poverty neighborhoods, and brought access to medications for patients who were displaced by Hurricane Maria. Equity continues to be the common thread that weaves throughout my career. As an experienced facilitator of racial justice work, I create tools and resources that integrate equity into strategic planning, project management, and education; I am now bringing this work to the international sphere as Global Lead for Equity Workforce Development for the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP). I will bring this lens to the APhA Board of Trustees and further the conversation on equity, both for patient care and our profession. By increasing advocacy efforts for improved patient care demonstrating pharmacists as key community partners, mentoring students and new practitioners to lead our profession, and holding equity as a priority, APhA will be better positioned to serve our members, our future leaders, our profession, and ultimately our patients.

Sean Jeffery, PharmD, BCGP, FASCP, AGSF, is Director of Clinical Pharmacy Services at Integrated Care Partners, an accountable care organization responsible for Hartford HealthCare’s value-based practice transformation. He leveraged his training in geriatrics and time as a consultant pharmacist within the VA system into leading pharmacy population health efforts within this ACO. Dr. Jeffery works with providers and payers to create novel pharmacist services. He is a tireless advocate for recognition of pharmacists as health care providers. Dr. Jeffery is responsible for the ACO's pharmacy network development, performance and strategy. Dr. Jeffery is also a Clinical Professor at the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy. Dr. Jeffery earned his bachelor of science from the University of Connecticut and his PharmD from The Ohio State University and completed a specialty residency in geriatrics at the Durham VA and Duke Center for Aging. While at VA Connecticut, Jeffery started a PGY2 Geriatrics Residency. In addition to APhA, Jeffery co-chairs the State of CT's HIE Medication Reconciliation Committee, served as President and Chairman of the Board of Directors for ASCP from 2012–2014 and chaired the AACP’s Geriatrics SIG in 2007–2008. He also chaired the Polypharmacy Special Interest Group for the American Geriatrics Society (AGS). He was recognized as a Fellow of the AGS and an Ohio State University Distinguished Alumni and received the Elan Biopharmaceuticals Innovative Pharmacy Practice Award. Jeffery is completing his first term as an APhA Trustee. He is inspired by APhA members and would be honored to be re-elected.

What unique attributes and skills would you bring to the APhA Board to support the advancement of the Association's priorities?

I’m excited to be a pharmacist practicing at this pivotal moment in our profession! The pandemic has opened opportunities for us to rethink how healthcare is delivered. Pharmacists will show the nation our incredible capacity to vaccinate every community from this virus. Like many others during the pandemic, I've found myself helping out in new and unexpected ways, such as entering COVID orders in our clinical command center. Being able to adapt to circumstances and embrace change is a skill I've worked hard to develop. I'm also very fortunate to have served in various leadership roles in APhA, ASCP, AGS and AACP. Additionally, I am co-chair of a multi-stakeholder group of technologists, informaticians, providers, pharmacists and patient advocates on a medication reconciliation committee in Connecticut. Each of these experiences has helped me be a more effective leader. Working with colleagues with different backgrounds has given me a unique perspective that I bring to APhA. In serving as president of the ASCP, I gained invaluable experience in how organizations work, collaborate, and expand members resources & how pharmacy associations can advance our profession, especially when working together. Now more than ever, our profession needs a unified voice, clarity of purpose, and strong leadership. APhA must continue to cultivate inclusivity and speak on behalf of all pharmacists in advocating for the future of pharmacy practice. My years of committee service have prepared me to be an effective Trustee at APhA. One of my strengths is being a good listener. It helps ensure I hear diverse opinions. Eventually the pandemic will pass and in its wake will be new opportunities for pharmacists to deliver value based healthcare. I helped create APhA's current strategic plan and would be honored to help implement it over the next 3-years if reelected.
 

Stephen Carroll, PharmD, MBA, received his PharmD in 2005 from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy. He completed his MBA at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2006. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Arkansas State University. He currently practices and is a co-owner in AllCare Specialty Pharmacy in Little Rock, Arkansas. Prior to working in specialty pharmacy, Dr. Carroll was the Chief Operating Officer of W.P. Malone, Inc, a company that included retail, long term care, and correctional pharmacies. Dr. Carroll served on the Arkansas Pharmacists Association (APA) Board of Directors from 2010–2020 and served as President of the APA Board of Directors in 2018–2019. Dr. Carroll was appointed to the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission and served as a commissioner from 2016 to 2019. Dr. Carroll was awarded the Arkansas Pharmacists Association Young Pharmacist of the Year in 2014. Dr. Carroll has led several grassroots efforts to further the profession of pharmacy in his home state to protect pharmacists from the overreaching practices of PBMs. He has participated in the state legislative process to expand the scope of practice for pharmacists in Arkansas. Dr. Carroll is an active member of APhA and the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy. 

What unique attributes and skills would you bring to the APhA Board to support the advancement of the Association's priorities?

In my over 20 years of practice in pharmacy, I have seen many different areas of practice in pharmacy. I have worked in independent and chain retail pharmacy, long term care pharmacy, correctional pharmacy, and specialty pharmacy. I have worked with 340B entities and I understand the importance of the 340B program. I also learned a great deal about medical marijuana by serving as a Commissioner appointed to the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission. During my leadership in the Arkansas Pharmacists Association (APA), I promoted the principle that the Arkansas Pharmacists Association represents all pharmacists regardless of practice setting. I believe that it takes pharmacists from all practice settings, through grassroots efforts, to bring about changes that we all want and need in pharmacy. My experiences in leadership positions have allowed me to demonstrate that pharmacists are necessary in direct patient care for new and emerging therapies. My practice settings have been beta sites for innovative pharmacy automation on several occasions. I have worked directly with technology companies to influence automation that best serves the practice of pharmacy and allows pharmacists to focus on patient care. During my leadership with the APA, I worked with state legislators to develop and pass legislation to protect the practice of pharmacy by requiring PBM licensure. As a result of a meeting I attended as APA President with the Governor of Arkansas, reimbursement for flu shot administration by Arkansas pharmacists was changed from $0 to a reasonable rate. Finally, I have worked with all 50 State Boards of Pharmacy to obtain pharmacy licensure and I am licensed as a pharmacist in 16 states. These experiences give me confidence that I can serve the membership of the American Pharmacists Association on the APhA Board of Trustees. I ask for your vote for the Board of Trustees.

Scott Tomerlin, PharmD, CPh, is a Florida licensed pharmacist. He is the Pharmacy Manager for Walgreens Pharmacy in Rockledge, FL. Born and raised in Louisville, KY, Scott is a 2006 graduate of the Mercer University College of Pharmacy in Atlanta. It is there that he met his future wife, Teresa, during their first semester of pharmacy school. Teresa is a pharmacist for CVS Pharmacy inside Target. He and his wife have three children: John, Nathan and Isabella. Scott has had training in the independent and chain community, hospital, ambulatory and nuclear settings. He also had the opportunity to complete a 5-week international rotation in Hiroshima, Japan, at the University of Hiroshima during his fourth year of rotations. Scott has served in numerous leadership roles within the profession of pharmacy, including President and Chairman of the Board of the Florida Pharmacy Association, President of the Brevard County Pharmacy Association and, most recently, on the APhA Political Action Committee Board of Governors. Scott is the recipient of the Distinguished Young Pharmacist of the Year Award by the Florida Pharmacy Association in 2007 and the Mercer University College of Pharmacy Young Alumni of the Year award in 2016. He most recently served on the Mercer University College of Pharmacy Alumni Association Board. Scott is an Eagle Scout and proudly gives back to the community through his involvement in the American Cancer Society, as well as serving as Treasurer of his son’s Boy Scout troop.

What unique attributes and skills would you bring to the APhA Board to support the advancement of the Association's priorities?

As Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Florida Pharmacy Association (FPA) in 2017 and President in 2016, I have had extensive experience in multilateral team building across a state as large as Florida with many different backgrounds of pharmacy practice, which has enabled me to see the practice and advancement of pharmacy from many unique perspectives. I also served on the Florida Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists Board of Directors, working alongside clinical hospital pharmacy practitioners across the state and country. In my leadership role at FPA, I was proud of how the membership grew under my tenure and this was, in part, due to strategic decisions and financial and operational directives advanced by my leadership team. While FPA President, we were able to successfully advocate and help advance legislation that dealt with reversing restricted network closures, which had a positive impact on many of our independent community pharmacy owners in Florida, helping them survive a very challenging business climate. I believe we must continue to advocate for our profession, and I have done this both in word and action. I have had experience in pharmacy advocacy with numerous visits to the U.S. Capitol alongside a diverse group of pharmacists and student pharmacists and additionally, I serve on the American Pharmacists Association PAC Board of Governors and the Florida Pharmacists Political Action Committee. As an employee pharmacist, I can bring to the APhA Board a unique and fresh perspective, representing other employee pharmacists and technicians from across our country, their ambitions, and their concerns. I am excited to serve, and it would be an honor to have the opportunity to continue to give back to our beloved profession by serving on the APhA Board of Trustees.

Mary L. Euler, PharmD, FAPhA, serves as Professor and Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs at the West Virginia University School of Pharmacy. Prior to arriving in Morgantown, WV, she served for 4 years as McGee Chair for Doctoral Studies and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the University of Charleston School of Pharmacy and 21 years as a faculty member and administrator at the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Pharmacy. Her academic career includes experience in curricular design, faculty development, distance education, experiential learning, leadership development, and academic service learning. Her teaching interests include professional communications, pharmacy history, patient education, health care ethics, leadership development, self-awareness training, and vaccine-preventable illnesses. She is an APhA certified immunizing pharmacist and trainer. Dr. Euler is also the Associate Executive Director for Phi Lambda Sigma, the pharmacy leadership society, after having served as the Executive Director from 1999–2020. She is also the recipient of many professional and community service awards, including the APhA–ASP Outstanding Advisor Award, the APhA Gloria Niemeyer Francke Leadership Mentor Award, the Missouri Pharmacist Making a Difference Award, and the University of Missouri–Kansas City’s Mathew Wilson Award. In 2011, she was inducted as an APhA Fellow. Engaged in her community, Dr. Euler co-chaired the H1N1 education committee for the Kanawha County Health Department and served on the health department’s Multi-Agency Emergency Response Task Force. She is a certified trainer–facilitator for GIANT Worldwide leadership development programs.

Abir El-Alfy, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Biopharmaceutical Sciences–Pharmacology at the Medical College of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy (MCWSOP). She is a graduate of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Egypt. She has an MS in Microbiology and a PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology from the University of Mississippi. Before joining MCWSOP, Dr. El-Alfy held several faculty positions in pharmacy and medical schools. Dr. El-Alfy held several leadership positions, including Director of the Behavioral Neuroscience Core-NPN at the School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, chair of several governance committees at different pharmacy schools, and spearheaded the development and implementation of the MCW SOP co-curriculum program. Dr. El-Alfy’s teaching experiences include physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. She is a seven-time recipient of teacher of the year award in the College of Pharmacy. She also received the 2015 Chicago State University Faculty Excellence Teaching Award and the 2020 MCW Faculty Service Award. Dr. El-Alfy is an active member of many professional societies and acts as a grant, dissertation, and manuscript reviewer for various national and international organizations. Dr. El-Alfy's research interests focus on the role of the endocannabinoid system in neuropsychiatric disorders. The ultimate goal of this research is to develop new therapeutic targets for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. Dr. El-Alfy has more than 40 peer-reviewed publications and 100 national and international presentations. She is a co-inventor of two provisional patents and one full patent. She has received several research grant awards.

Statement of Candidacy 
1) Establishing collaborative research: Establish an initiative that focuses on research projects that investigate health-related issues from a translational approach, with clear collaboration between pharmaceutical and clinical researchers. The initiative can also help pharmaceutical researchers connect with clinical ones to help initiate their translational research programs across institutions.  Relevant Experience: During my tenure at Chicago State University, I collaborated with clinical pharmacy, psychology, and social science faculty to acquire an R24 grant that investigated the role of mindfulness in helping patients with substance use disorders (SUD). At MCW, I’m currently collaborating with medical school faculty to examine the use of chick embryos as a model to examine the cardiac effects of various opioids. In addition to basic research, I collaborate with clinical faculty to develop and implement various interprofessional educational (IPE) experiences for our student pharmacists.

2) Establishing a mentoring program: With the changing face of pharmacy, junior faculty trained in pharmaceutical sciences sometimes struggle to transition to the new roles in academic pharmacy. Pairing these junior faculty with experienced mentors can guide them through the demands of their new roles. Relevant Experience: I currently mentor several faculty in our program, as well as serve as a mentor for the AACP Biological Sciences SIG.

3) Establishing an initiative for community engagement: Emphasizing the role of basic, clinical, social, economic, and administrative science members in identifying health issues and ways to address and educate the public. Relevant Experience: As the faculty lead for a co-curriculum program, I oversee various community engagement activities that our students participate in. I give presentations on various health issues and my research efforts to address them. Recently, I have focused on disseminating knowledge regarding cannabis-based products and educating the public with available evidence for therapeutic application, adverse effects, interactions, and precautions.

Heidi Mansour, PhD, RPh, is a tenured Associate Professor in the College of Pharmacy and College of Medicine at The University of Arizona (The UA) in Tucson, AZ. Dr. Mansour’s leadership positions include Director of the Pharmaceutics/Pharmacokinetics Track and Director of the PharmD/PhD dual-degree program. Dr. Mansour is a Registered Pharmacist and has practiced in community pharmacies, a clinic pharmacy, and an urgent care/acute care pharmacy. In addition, she worked as a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist managing drug formularies and a Clinical Instructor. She is active in leadership committee positions in the American Thoracic Society (ATS), ISAM (International Society of Aerosols in Medicine), American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), and at The UA. Dr. Mansour has been an active member of APhA–APRS for many years. Working on committees, she has been active in creating a new faculty teaching toolkit, pharmacy professional committee, professional advisory council, curriculum committee and sub-committees, and AACP Pharmacy Virtual Fairs and Discovery Pharmacy Open Houses. Dr. Mansour has published 92 peer-reviewed scientific journal papers, 13 book chapters, two edited books, and over 100 scientific conference abstracts. In addition, Dr. Mansour is an active inventor with nine patents and two licenses on inventions from her innovative research program. She is co-founder of a start-up spin-off company, Surastar Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Mansour serves on the editorial advisory boards of the journals Royal Society of Chemistry Molecular Systems Design & Engineering, APhA/FIP Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Technology, and Pharmaceutics.

Statement of Candidacy 
The top three priorities of the Academy should be: 1) Research and Scholarship; 2) Career Development, Mentoring, and Leadership Development; and 3) Diversity and Inclusivity Promotion. I have extensive experience and expertise in research/scholarship, career development/mentoring/leadership development, and diversity/inclusivity promotion.

1) I have a demonstrated track record in research and scholarship. I lead an active multidisciplinary research program comprising a Research Assistant Professor, Postdoctoral Scholars, PharmD student researchers, and graduate students. My research program has produced a number of Assistant Professors who have been awarded tenure at major research universities in the United States and in the Republic of South Korea. I created new courses for our pharmaceutics graduate program, our PharmD professional program, and our undergraduate program. I am committed to excellence in research and scholarship and promoting such opportunities.

2) I have a demonstrated track record in career development, mentoring, and leadership development. As Major Professor, I have successfully graduated three PhDs. As Major Advisor, I have successfully trained over 10 Postdoctoral Scholars/Fellows and many PharmD student researchers who have published with me. I serve as a faculty mentor to several early-stage faculty members. I am committed to mentoring trainees at all stages and early-stage junior faculty members. I am committed to providing more opportunities for professional development and leadership training at various stages.

3) I have a demonstrated track record in promoting diversity and inclusivity, starting with my own research program, which consists of minorities, and my active mentoring of minorities in various minority health disparity programs funded by the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation. All of my PhD graduates as Major Professor are minorities. Several of my PharmD student researchers and undergraduate researchers who have published with me are minorities. I am committed to promoting diversity/inclusivity and enhancing career development of minorities.

Jackoline M. Costantino, PharmD, BCCP, is the Clinical Coordinator at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio, TX. Dr. Costantino received her PharmD from Idaho State University College of Pharmacy in 2013. She then completed a PGY1 pharmacy residency at the University of Maryland Medical Center and a PGY2 cardiology residency at Advent Health Hospital in Orlando, FL. Dr. Costantino is passionate about training and mentoring pharmacy students and residents. She currently serves as a preceptor within BAMC's PGY1 pharmacy residency, ensuring military pharmacists and technicians are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to provide high-quality pharmaceutical care wherever their mission takes them. Having practiced as a pharmacist in a variety of settings and a number of states, she is keenly aware of many of the opportunities and challenges we face as a profession and is dedicated to demonstrating the value of pharmacy.

Statement of Candidacy
My experience in both community and health-system pharmacy have provided insights into the value pharmacists can provide at various points on the health care continuum. Several priority areas for the Academy should be to increase awareness of APhA as the professional home for pharmacists, expand opportunities to recognize the valuable contributions made by pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, and leverage the collective knowledge of both APPM and APRS to increase the body of knowledge that demonstrates the value of pharmacy to key stakeholders. I feel that my current role within federal pharmacy and my unique journey in the profession, having moved from community pharmacy to community health-system, back to residency, to an academic medical center, and to academia, will bring a unique perspective and highlights the constantly evolving nature of pharmacy that many pharmacists are having to navigate today.
 

Chris Johnson, PharmD, MEd, BCACP, is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy. His practice site is the UAMS Family Medical Center, where he provides chronic disease management under collaborative practice agreements for a variety of disease states and precepts student pharmacists, pharmacy residents, medical students, and medical residents. Dr. Johnson utilizes his rotations as an opportunity to prepare learners to work in interprofessional teams to provide high quality care to our most vulnerable patients. Additionally, Dr. Johnson serves a chapter advisor for the award-winning UAMS APhA–ASP chapter. Dr. Johnson graduated from Oregon State University and completed his PharmD at Concordia University Wisconsin School of Pharmacy. After graduation, he completed the 24-month Practice and Academic Leadership residency at Concordia. As part of the residency, Dr. Johnson developed pharmacy services at a Federally Qualified Health Center in the Milwaukee, WI, area. This residency program also provided him with the opportunity to complete a Master of Science in Education. Dr. Johnson has been involved in a number of service opportunities within APhA and the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy since beginning his pharmacy career. He has been involved in multiple SIG and Academy committees within APhA, including the APhA–APPM Policy Standing Committee and co-chairing the CUP SIG Communications. Dr. Johnson previously chaired the AACP Junior Faculty Learning Community Committee and serves on the AACP Teacher's Seminar Planning Committee and AACP Bylaws and Policy Development Committee.

Statement of Candidacy
APhA is critical to advocating for solutions to a number of issues within the profession of pharmacy. Among these, fair and transparent reimbursement practices and provider status are crucial to the continued advancement of pharmacy practice and the improvement of patient care in the United States. Community pharmacists are struggling due to the unfair practices of PBMs, and this has caused a rash of pharmacy closures (>9500 closures between 2009–2015). Pharmacy closures make it more difficult for patients to access medications and initial health care. Additionally, there is a plethora of data that pharmacists improve health outcomes in a variety of disease states, but there are too few patients with access to these life-saving services. APhA is in a critical spot to advocate for pharmacists and patients on these issues. As APhA–APPM Member-at-large, I would work with APhA Executive Board and staff to provide resources and develop a program through which we can systematically involve our membership in advocating for legislative changes within our nation.

Another issue that has been brought to the forefront of our profession by a number of courageous women is the impact of sexual harassment on our colleagues and trainees within the profession. Our profession is wonderfully diverse, bringing strength to pharmacy and better relationships with our patients. As APhA-APPM Member-at-large, I would work with these women to develop a shared reporting system, encompassing colleges of pharmacy, employers, and professional organizations, that would help victims report this behavior so that appropriate actions can be taken. Every member of our profession should be valued, encouraged, and mentored to pursue their passions without fear of sexual harassment.

While we have work to do, I am proud to be a pharmacist and a member of APhA! Thank you for your consideration for APhA–APPM Member-at-large.
 

G. Blair Sarbacker, PharmD, BCACP, FAPhA, is currently working as an Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy. She is practicing as a clinical pharmacist at Advanced Family Medicine, a rural primary care clinic, where she practices medication and disease state management. She received her PharmD from Wingate University School of Pharmacy in 2008. She completed an ASHP-accredited residency in Community Pharmacy Practice at the Community Healthcare Center by Kerr Drug in Lenoir, NC, in association with Wingate University School of Pharmacy. She obtained her Board Certification in Ambulatory Care, in addition to completing certificate training in the areas of immunizations and diabetes management. She is also certified to teach APhA’s Immunizations and Diabetes Certificate Programs. She has served as an advisor for APhA–ASP for 7 years.

Statement of Candidacy
I believe the top three priorities of the Academy of Pharmacy Practice & Management are:  

1) To advance the role of the pharmacist: The role of the pharmacist is ever-changing as we adapt to the changes in the health care climate. As a profession, we need to come together to create new avenues to expand our services to increase job opportunities. As we continue to fight for provider status, we need to prepare ourselves to expand into new areas of practice (e.g., primary care, urgent care, rural health, etc.) so that when we achieve our goal of provider status, we are able to not only have a greater impact in patient care, but increase patient access to health care. 

2) To advocate for the profession of pharmacy: APhA creates a strong voice for the profession of pharmacy. As an Academy, we need to support APhA’s efforts with grassroots advocacy. Understanding the issues surrounding pharmacy practice in all areas is important to help provide a collaborative voice as an Academy.  

3) To support pharmacist growth through education: As our professional role continues to develop and new drug therapies become available to patients, continuing education is vital for professional growth. The Academy should continue to support clinical education, certificate training offerings, and leadership education. To stay well-rounded, educational offerings should occur at all levels, from novice to expert, and include topics on advocacy, ranging from where to begin to current issues in pharmacy. 
I absolutely love my profession and want to be a part of the change process. The Academy’s dedication to assisting members in enhancing the profession of pharmacy, improving medication use, and advancing patient care closely align with my professional priorities. I look forward to the opportunity to continue my service within APhA on the Academy level.
 

For Lisa Scholz, PharmD, MBA, FACHE, pharmacy is her foundation. Being a 340B pharmacy steward drives her to demand what is right for patients in underserved communities. The opportunity to effect change in health care motivates her. Our communities inspire her to wake up every day with passion to exceed and drive results. EXPERIENCE: Her experiences in health care have driven her to be an inclusive, trusted thought leader. She is known nationally as a 340B evangelist with a career path that spans community pharmacy, nonprofit health systems, government, association management, and technology. When she is engaged, she learns and knows her subject matter and speaks with passion and conviction. With over 150 presentations, her style is convincing, engaging, factual, and articulate; not only with pharmacists, but with other professionals as well. RELATIONSHIPS: Her relationships and understanding of the market help her focus on developing collaborative teams that implement solutions and achieve goal-oriented outcomes. She is a key strategic partner in developing solutions to complex challenges. She has worked with countless leaders in pharmacy, health care, and other professional and trade associations. Additionally, her experience working both inside and outside of the federal government has helped her navigate strategy necessary to succeed. LEADERSHIP: Her leadership style has a signature approach that has attracted successful team members to create opportunities, solutions, and processes as a team. Her strengths are strong discipline and focus that leads to successful execution. Her persistence results in the timely deployment of engaging discussions with a unique balance that relates to people and motivates them to make changes.                                 

Statement of Candidacy
The Care of Underserved Patients SIG has three priorities that will best support our success as pharmacists to lead and support those most in need: Engagement, Education, and Empowerment. E is for every pharmacist. Every pharmacist has encountered a patient who couldn't afford their medicine. Every pharmacist has helped a patient make a tough decision on affordability. Every pharmacist has impacted an underserved patient. But not every pharmacist has the engagement, education, or empowerment. Our SIG will prioritize engagement, education, and empowerment to support EVERY pharmacist to be an advocate for the underserved.

ENGAGEMENT to continue to develop the diverse network of pharmacists, residents, and student pharmacists with interest in providing care to underserved patients. The answers are in the network.

EDUCATION and learning about programs, services, and resources to support the underserved population are integral to pharmacists who are often asked for information on affordability or access to medications, programs, or medication services and being able to identify disparities at the point of care. Knowing where to find those answers is key.

EMPOWERMENT of pharmacists in all settings to support caring for diverse underserved patients and be their voice. Be the voice your patient deserves. I have been part of the original CUP SIG as part of the leadership team and advocacy chair for the last 2 years. I've grown to understand the APhA volunteer structure, processes, and leadership. More importantly, I've learned that pharmacists from all practice settings are impacted and want to help connect patients in need. My experience in serving as a leader in the safety net has prepared me to lead our pharmacy profession to better understand resources available to our profession and patients. More importantly, our profession needs to have a place to engage, be educated, and be empowered. Thank you for the opportunity to serve my profession.

Anna Staudt, PharmD, is a Clinical Pharmacist at a multicenter Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Columbus, OH. She received her PharmD from Cedarville University. Upon graduation, she completed a Community Pharmacy Practice Fellowship through Cedarville University School of Pharmacy, where she served in two roles, as a Clinical Pharmacist and an Instructor of Pharmacy Practice. Her fellowship clinical practice site was an FQHC in downtown Columbus, where the majority of the patient population was homeless. As the first Clinical Pharmacist at this FQHC, she developed their clinical pharmacy services to offer chronic disease state management and served in a dispensing role in the clinic's free pharmacy, where select medications were dispensed to uninsured or underinsured patients. After the fellowship, she transitioned into a Clinical Pharmacist position at a different FQHC after the organization had a period of time without clinical pharmacy services. She redeveloped these services and now offers chronic disease state management focusing on diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, asthma, COPD, smoking cessation, and HIV PrEP. She also assists with 340B program and quality improvement initiatives and serves as a preceptor to pharmacy students. Most recently, she has served in the APhA–APPM Care of Underserved Patients SIG as an ENGAGE Moderator (2018–2020), Communications Committee Co-Chair (2019–2020), and Communications Committee Chair (2020–2021). Her clinical interests include diabetes, hypertension, and HIV. Professionally, Dr. Staudt is involved in various organizations, including APhA, the Ohio Pharmacists Association, and the American College of Clinical Pharmacy.

Statement of Candidacy
The APhA–APPM Care of Underserved Patients SIG provides a great way for pharmacists from various backgrounds to connect through their passion for serving the underserved and learn about ways we can advocate for our patients. I believe our SIG should continue to grow by focusing on three priorities:

1) Promote engagement and encourage members to communicate/collaborate. As the ENGAGE moderator for the past 2 years, I helped track member involvement in the SIG and worked on the communications subcommittee to identify discussion topics to promote conversation. I want to continue to identify hot topics and display this information in a comfortable, fun, and engaging way that sparks interest in interacting with others and in sharing experiences, such as quizzes, journal clubs, and interactive platforms, as well as providing a way to network.

2) Understand the needs of SIG members and develop beneficial educational activities/resources. I believe we need to better identify the needs of members to develop more educational opportunities. Many people are members of this SIG to share and gain resources that will assist in caring for patients and developing clinical practice. However, these resources are currently limited. I have worked with the education and communications committees over the past few years to assess member interest and organize resources in the SIG library and notify members of the available resources.

3) Advocate for the underserved population and organizations that serve the underserved. Not everyone understands the circumstances many underserved patients face, and I believe it is our duty to educate and advocate for our patients. I want to help provide resources to ENGAGE that others can use to better understand the population, educate others, and advocate. I have informed students and guided them for the past 3 years to best serve the underserved as a preceptor.
 

Emily E. Leppien, PharmD, BCPS, is originally from Buffalo, NY. She received her PharmD from Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Following graduation, she completed 2 years of postgraduate residency training at the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Buffalo Psychiatric Center, specializing in neurologic and psychiatric pharmacy. Dr. Leppien joined Binghamton University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in August 2018 as a Clinical Assistant Professor within the Department of Pharmacy Practice. She also serves as a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at Lourdes Center for Pain and Wellness, where she provides pain management and behavioral health services as part of an interdisciplinary team. Her current research projects include 1) opioid and nonopioid pharmacotherapy, 2) complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine, 3) nonopioid alternatives for pain management (i.e., medical cannabis and low-dose naltrexone), 4) integration of behavioral health and OUD/SUD treatment within pain management services, and 5) interprofessional education. She is passionate about destigmatizing neuropsychiatric illnesses, including chronic pain, to provide effective and compassionate patient care. Dr. Leppien is actively involved in APhA. She currently serves as a Co-Chair of the APhA–APPM PPCA SIG Education Committee, and is a member of the APhA–APPM Education Standing Committee. Dr. Leppien also serves as a faculty co-advisor for APhA–ASP at Binghamton University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Statement of Candidacy
As opioids continue to be used as a mainstay of treatment for pain management, the number of individuals who misuse, abuse, or become dependent on such therapy continues to increase in prevalence over time. According to statistics provided by the Addiction Center, approximately 20%–30% of patients who take prescription opioids misuse them. Of that narrowed population, approximately 10% develop opioid use disorder (OUD).

A top priority of the Pain, Palliative Care, and Addiction (PPCA) SIG should be to educate on alternative pain management strategies, including nonpharmacotherapy interventions. These educational efforts will optimize member learning and the care they provide to patients, adding value to their APhA membership experience. Currently, I serve as a coinvestigator and research mentor on research projects evaluating the efficacy of alternative pain management strategies, including ketamine, low-dose naltrexone, dronabinol, and medical cannabis. I am also actively involved in a research project evaluating barriers to the use of nonpharmacologic interventions.

Another priority of the PPCA SIG should be to complete a needs assessment, encouraging feedback from current members, to ensure education and research resources are highly valuable and applicable to improving best practices. SIG leaders must continuously interact with members via the Engage platform and actively update the Opioid Resource Center to ensure dissemination of new and existing pain management resources.

In addition to these efforts, significant attention should be placed on creating networking and professional relationship-building opportunities for students and pharmacists—ideally, an event where students interested in pain management, substance use disorder treatment, or palliative care can network with pharmacists currently working within those specialties. As Operation Substance Use Disorders becomes more prominent among APhA–ASP chapters, these networking events will improve student outreach programs to improve educational efforts regarding prescription medication safety.
 

Larry Selkow, RPh, BSPharm, has been a community pharmacist for almost 40 years. He is a staff pharmacist at Albertsons in Palm Desert, CA. He has a BS Pharmacy from Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy, Brooklyn, NY in 1982 and a BS Biology from Pennsylvania State University, 1979. He has been a member of APhA for almost 30 years. Mr. Selkow is very involved with many aspects of APhA, being a member of various Special Interest Groups and Committees. He is currently Communications Chair of the PPCA SIG and Public Health SIG. Mr. Selkow is also involved with APhA House of Delegates (HOD), serving as a delegate for many years and also serving on various committees within the HOD. On a local level, Mr. Selkow is President of his local chapter of the California Pharmacists Association. Serving as Communications Chair of the PPCA SIG, Mr. Selkow would like to be considered for SIG Coordinator. He is interested in Pain and Addiction Medicine, and would like to work with SIG members and students in this area. He feels his experience as communications chair and his SIG activities would make him a perfect fit as SIG Coordinator. Mr. Selkow is eager to work with the leadership of APhA to make the PPCA SIG better in all aspects. Promoting the activities of the PPCA SIG and working with others would be a top priority.

Statement of Candidacy
I have been a member of APhA for almost 30 years. I have been active with APhA in many activities. It would be an honor to be considered for SIG Coordinator of PPCA. The top three Priorities of the SIG: 1) Promote the SIG to APhA members, including student pharmacists, since the SIG is new and relatively small compared to other SIGs. 2) Bring more attention to addiction and pain medicine to members of APhA. 3) Work with other organizations in the area of addiction and pain medicine and form a liaison with APhA. Serving as Communications Chair of both the PPCA SIG and Public Health SIG, I feel my experiences  would benefit me greatly as SIG Coordinator. Serving on various committees within APhA and forming relationships with those involved will help me serve this SIG in a better capacity.