Mike Hennessy, President, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer

We welcome our new editorial advisory board member, a leader and innovator in the industry. 

Welcome to the first bimonthly edition of 

! We are very pleased to bring you the rich content you have come to expect from this unique publication. As we enter our third year under the direction of Dan Steiber, editor-in-chief, we are committed to providing insightful discussions on those “keep-youup-at-night” topics that are critical for your success in this fast-paced, growing marketplace. You’ll hear from key players in this space as we work with them to give voice to all the imperative needs of this industry.

With the focus on increasing the value of specialty pharmacy services through accountability and collaboration, this issue’s cover story is authored by one of our newest editorial advisory board members, Michael R. Agostino, RPh, BSPharm, who is both an innovator and an entrepreneur. On where specialty pharmacy is today, he says pointedly, “The need for change in this dynamic and everchanging health care environment is continuous.” The 24/7 world is nowhere more prevalent than in the specialty pharmacy profession.

As president of Amber Pharmacy, Agostino provides comprehensive services for patients with chronic health conditions, including transplant, oncology, hepatitis C, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and most other chronic conditions—bridging the need for customer care and working with patient, caregiver, and provider. This family-owned, independent provider of specialty services is a truly great example of how specialty pharmacy is growing&mdash;and how it is making a difference.

As you review this issue, you’ll also find condition-specific information that you and your teams can use in your daily practice in such areas as multiple sclerosis, transplant therapy, gout, Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and oncology as we delve into these complex medical conditions.

Specialty pharmacists work hard to bring the very latest medications and treatments to their patients, in every setting. Indeed, specialty pharmacists are the face and voice of pharmacy for the most difficult medical needs, and as such are intricately involved in the business and practice of caring for this country’s most serious health needs. We are here to support you.

—our new website dedicated to specialty pharmacy and the community of professionals who work in this space. You can also access 

 anytime on your iPad with a free app which brings exclusive multimedia content.

Articles

Specialty Pharmacy: Making a Difference

 has been reaching our readers for just over a year now, and we take great pride in the fact that we are the only publication in this space that tackles the important topics in depth. Industry leaders have joined with us to share their key insights into what makes specialty pharmacy tick. Specialty pharmacy is the fastest growing sector in pharmacy today, and we are committed to bringing the players in this field what they need to be successful.

	As Editor-in-Chief Dan Steiber, RPh, says in this issue, specialty pharmacy is both a profession and a business—and the constant need for rich information is keen in a changing world. That world is changing so fast, in fact, that our cover story discusses the current demand for more trained specialty pharmacists. Where will they get their training? How can real-world situations be a part of that training? We have seen that specialty pharmacists display an incredible entrepreneurial spirit that will surely find a solution to this workforce dilemma. In fact, I’m certain specialty pharmacists will thrive and rise to the challenges in the coming years. Our mission at 

 is to serve as a guide for the challenges and opportunities you face.

	In today’s climate, where companies of every size are forced to maneuver through government’s mazes—especially in the health care arena&mdash;it is important for individuals to maintain their balance and sense of responsibility. Specialty pharmacists are doing this in many ways with the programs they have put in place to help patients receive the specialty pharmaceuticals they need to tackle complex and chronic conditions. In each issue, we bring you “Specialty Speaks” by Nicholas Karalis, RPh, co-owner of Elywn Specialty Care and a founding member of the Community Specialty Pharmacy Network, to bring to life the realities of working with patients who need this unique, special care.

	Because specialty pharmacy involves such complex health issues and revolves around a community of professionals from a wide variety of fields, cooperation and collaboration are pivotal to success. To that end, we’ve called on leaders from the industry to help make 

 relevant, timely, and a must-read. Your response has been terrific, so we plan to bring this unique journal to your door 6 times next year. You can also access 

 on your iPad as well as online with a brand-new, enhanced Web site—