Jessica Lewis-Gonzalez, PharmD, BCOP, discusses the management of hematologic and non-hematologic toxicities in cancer patients, emphasizing the importance of proactive monitoring and collaboration between clinicians and pharmacists.
Michael Fifer, MD, discusses the Maple HCM study, which compared the cardiac myosin inhibitor Aficamten and the beta blocker Metoprolol in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
Crystal Hodge, PharmD, BCIDP, BCPS, emphasizes that declining vaccination rates below the 95% herd immunity threshold have fueled recent measles outbreaks, underscoring the urgent need for pharmacist-led vaccination advocacy.
Legislative efforts aim to improve oncology medication access, addressing transportation barriers and advocating for mail delivery from cancer clinics.
Elizabeth Vaughan, MD, MPH, RD, highlights how pharmacists can build patient trust, encourage vaccination, and use simple strategies to spark conversations with hesitant individuals.
An expert emphasizes the importance of prompt antiviral treatment and personalized pain management for shingles—particularly in high-risk patients—while highlighting the pharmacist’s role in guiding appropriate over-the-counter care, promoting vaccination through timely conversations, and leveraging tools like immunization registries and word of mouth to improve prevention efforts.
Trisha Winroth, PharmD, highlights the critical role of vaccination in preventing shingles—especially for high-risk patients with chronic conditions—while addressing challenges such as postpandemic vaccine fatigue. She emphasizes pharmacists’ unique position to build trust, offer timely education during routine visits, and improve uptake through personalized, visually supported, and seasonally timed conversations.
Joshua K. Sabari, MD, highlights pharmacists’ roles in coordinating access, financial assistance, and early adverse effect management for patients starting zongertinib (Hernexeos).
Joshua K. Sabari, MD, explains zongertinib’s (Hernexeos) favorable safety profile and quality-of-life benefits over intravenous antibody-drug conjugates in patients with HER2-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Elizabeth Vaughan, MD, MPH, RD, addresses how state-level differences and potential new prescription requirements could impact patient access to COVID-19 vaccines this fall.
Jessica Lewis-Gonzalez, PharmD, BCOP, discusses the challenges of managing myelofibrosis, from its heterogeneity and symptom burden to limited curative options.
Joshua K. Sabari, MD, discusses how zongertinib’s inclusion in the National Comprehensive Care Network (NCCN) guidelines represents a game-changing second-line treatment for HER2-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Susan Cantrell, RPh, MHL, CAE, CEO of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP), warns that politicizing the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) could undermine vaccine trust.
Elizabeth Vaughan, MD, MPH, RD, highlights the key role pharmacists play in providing clear, trusted guidance for patients seeking COVID-19 vaccines this fall.
A chief pharmacy officer emphasizes the vital role of pharmacists in enhancing patient care, advocating for recognition, and integration within health care systems.
Allison Hill, PharmD, RPh, highlights the need for pharmacists to leverage resources, collaborate with other providers, advocate on social media, and support rural communities with limited access to care.
A panelist discusses how emerging chronic myeloid leukemia treatment advancements, including the addition of asciminib as a frontline tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) option and ongoing research into dual TKI therapy and optimal dosing strategies, are expanding therapeutic choices while pharmacists play a key role in educating patients and providers about evolving treatment algorithms, evaluating new literature, and helping teams manage newer agents with less clinical experience.
Panelists discuss how the importance of having pharmacists embedded in oncology clinics has transformed metastatic colorectal cancer care by enabling real-time decision-making and dose adjustments, while highlighting that these are exciting times with multiple new oral treatment options that patients often prefer over infusions, though managing adherence and side effects remains challenging, and emphasizing that current targeted therapy opportunities include rare but actionable NTRK fusions, HER2 amplifications (3% of cases with multiple treatment options), and KRAS G12C mutations (3% of cases), with future promise in pan-RAS inhibitors, expanded immunotherapy beyond MSI-high tumors, and combination therapies, though dermatologic toxicity from targeted agents like RAS inhibitors will likely be the rate-limiting factor requiring better assessment tools and multidisciplinary management including dermatology support.
Sherry Vogt, PharmD, BCOP; and Megan Hinkley, PharmD, MBA, BCOP, discuss how pharmacists play a crucial role in managing patients with bladder cancer through treatment selection, patient education, adverse effect monitoring, and the evolving landscape of therapies including traditional chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and antibody-drug conjugates like enfortumab vedotin plus pembrolizumab.
David Eagle, MD, Chair of Legislative Affairs and Patient Advocacy, explains how CMS’s ban on community oncology practices mailing medications creates inequities with PBMs and adds burdens for vulnerable cancer patients.
Susan Cantrell, RPh, MHL, CAE, highlights the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacy Services (ECAPS) Act as the top federal priority to preserve pharmacists’ authority in testing, treatment, and immunization services.
An expert discusses strategies for educating patients about the serious, long-term complications of shingles by using vivid, relatable language and real-life examples—emphasizing the disabling nature of postherpetic neuralgia, leveraging personal stories to increase vaccine receptivity, and reframing shingles as a pain condition rather than just a rash to prompt more meaningful prevention conversations.
An expert discusses how to effectively engage patients in conversations about the shingles vaccine by using visual aids, clarifying misconceptions, and personalizing education based on timing and health status; they emphasize the importance of setting realistic expectations about adverse effects, identifying high-risk individuals through prescription history, and leveraging pharmacists’ regular contact with patients to drive timely, impactful vaccine recommendations.
Allison Hill, PharmD, RPh, discusses how rapid changes in vaccine schedules and state-level authority highlight the importance of the American Pharmacists Association's advocacy.
Sherry Vogt, PharmD, BCOP; and Megan Hinkley, PharmD, MBA, BCOP, discuss how pharmacists play a crucial role in managing patients with bladder cancer through treatment selection, patient education, adverse effect monitoring, and the evolving landscape of therapies including traditional chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and antibody-drug conjugates like enfortumab vedotin plus pembrolizumab.
Susan Cantrell, RPh, MHL, CAE, CEO of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, stresses the importance of listening, empathy, and science-based communication in pharmacists’ efforts to guide patients through vaccine decisions.
Allison Hill, PharmD, RPh explains how pharmacists’ accessibility and trusted relationships make them key to combatting vaccine hesitancy.
Alyssa Modic, PharmD, discusses the evolving role of pharmacists in adult immunizations and strategies to improve respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine education and uptake.
Explore the benefits and challenges of long-acting injectables (LAIs) in managing schizophrenia for improved patient outcomes.
Employers are facing higher costs and employees higher premiums as 340B’s growth drives lost rebates and rising drug prices.
