Annual Pharmacy Technician Convention Brings Educational Opportunities, Leadership Development

More than 100 pharmacy technicians gathered at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences this past summer to brush up on pharmacy law and other professionally relevant information at the 43rd annual Pharmacy Technician Convention of the American Association of Pharmacy Technicians (AAPT).

Pharmacy technicians across the country traveled to AAPT’s convention, and a handful tuned in virtually. The 3-day convention began June 5 with invitation-only leadership meetings for those who volunteer to serve on AAPT’s advisory team, which meets virtually throughout the year with the convention serving as the only in-person meeting. Much of the preconvention planning as well as operations during the convention are made possible by those serving on AAPT’s advisory team.

Attendees were welcomed into the beautiful Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences building on June 6 to begin 2 days of valuable continuing education (CE). A diverse list of topics is something attendees can expect every year, with experts and thought leaders presenting each topic.

Each convention CE session was 1 hour of a topic specific to the pharmacy technician role. Highlights of the programming included the following:

• “Advanced Pharmacy Practice Through Enhanced Technician Roles,” presented by Zachary Green, CPhT, director of professional affairs at the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
• “Stressed Pharmacy Technicians—Now What?” presented by Wes Nuffer, PharmD, BCPS, CDCES, BC-ADM
• “Bridging Cultures, Breaking Barriers: The Pharmacy Technician’s Role in Global and Inclusive Healthcare,” presented by Chandler Follett, PharmD
• “Old School Meets New School: What Generation Are You?” presented by Shayna Killam, PharmD, MS
• “Collaborative Practice, Statewide Protocols, and Independent Prescriptive Authority: How Pharmacy Is Expanding Services to Increase Access to Patients,” presented by Donald Klepser, PhD, MBA
• “From Pharmacy Technician to Pharmacist: A Pathway for Pharmacy Technicians Interested in a PharmD Program,” presented by Drew Prescott, PharmD, BCACP
• “Population Health: The Role of a Technician in Promoting Positive Patient Outcomes,” presented by Christopher Zaleski, PharmD
• “Pharmacy Technicians: Understanding Colonoscopy Prep Meds and How to Help Your Patient,” presented by Judy Neville, CPhT, CSPT, and James Sullivan, MD
• Two particularly popular presentations were “Health & Human Trafficking: The Role of the Pharmacy Technician,” presented by Laura Lederer, JD, a subject matter expert in human trafficking, and a panel discussion titled “Not Your Typical Pharmacy Technician Position: Advice on Atypical Positions & Navigating HR,” moderated by Neville and presented by pharmacy technician panelists Fred Shackelford, CPhT; Becci Roetman, CPhT; Dimitrios Papadopoulos; and Ashley Lee.

Four awards were distributed at this year’s convention. AAPT’s Team Lead of the Year was awarded to Cynthia Montoya, CPhT, RPhT, lead pharmacy inventory technician at Ascension Seton Hays in Kyle, Texas. AAPT’s Founders Award went to Neville, from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy, and AAPT’s Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Papadopoulos, a pharmacy technician with Thermo Fisher Scientific in New Jersey. A special recognition award was given to Rachel Wagmaister, of the University of Colorado, for her work bringing AAPT and the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences together for the convention.