Expert Insights: At APhA 2025, Pharmacists Reaffirmed Their Essential Role in Patient Care

As the future of the pharmacy profession continues to rapidly evolve, it remains critical for stakeholders in the field to stay informed and educate their colleagues on the key advancements and consensuses forming around them. To that end, pharmacists gathered at the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) 2025 Annual Meeting and Exposition in Nashville, Tennessee, to discuss the latest trends and clinical insights in pharmacy and health care.

With a theme of “igniting inspiration,” attendees at APhA—through insightful discussions with peers and presentations from experts in the field—aimed to reassert the role of pharmacists as leaders in providing quality, optimized care to patients. Embracing pharmacists’ role as educators, mentors, and essential cogs of a multidisciplinary team was emphasized throughout the weekend, especially as changes abound in new technologies and strategies for medication management.

Pharmacy Times^® was on the ground in Nashville, interviewing key opinion leaders from across the spectrum of health care and learning important insights regarding the pivotal topics in pharmacy.

Innovation and Patient Safety in Pharmacy Practice

A key focus of the conference discussions was the emphasis on the integration of innovative technologies and practices to enhance medication safety, along with personalized patient care.

In a discussion focused on patient safety, Matthew Grissinger, BSPharm, director of education at the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, shared practical strategies for minimizing medication errors in community pharmacies. Grissinger emphasized the importance of systemic approaches, technology adoption, workflow optimization, and a strong culture of safety among pharmacy staff to enhance accuracy and prevent harm.¹

“To improve the culture, you need to involve them and let them be able to come to you,” Grissinger said in an interview with Pharmacy Times. “Listen to people who work for you and hear their concerns; ask them what their concerns are or where they think the next big medication error is going to happen.”¹

Continuing the focus on patient safety, Michelle Chui, PharmD, PhD, professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, provided insights into the significant impact of automation innovations in medication management. Chui detailed how these new technologies could enhance accuracy, streamline workflows, and contribute to the overall improvements in pharmacy efficacy and patient care.²

Kelsey Cook, PharmD, BCPS, clinical assistant professor at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy, offered a unique perspective focused on the crucial role of pharmacogenetics (PGx) in personalizing medication therapy. PGx is the study of how an individual’s genes impact their response to medications, which helps pharmacists guide medication selection and dosing. Cook explained the importance of understanding individual genetic variations, which could lead to more effective treatments and a reduction in adverse drug events. Despite this, there are various barriers to implementing PGx.³

“Education is a big one. Our providers don't really know about pharmacogenetics, and if they've heard of it, they're not very comfortable applying pharmacogenetics to patient care,” Cook said in an interview. “That's where we can really step in as pharmacists to then say we’re the medication experts; we've been trained in this. Here's how you can use this information.”³

Pharmacy's Impact on Patient Well-Being

The expanding role of the pharmacist was addressed when discussing vaccine hesitancy and enhancing reproductive health access, highlighting pharmacists’ multifaceted roles and purpose in patient care.

While discussing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) hesitancy, Chad Kodiak, RPh, PharmD, CEO and president of KODOCARE Pharmacy, outlined key points pharmacists should follow when tackling vaccination concerns. Kodiak, in emphasizing the effectiveness of Pfizer’s Abrysvo RSV vaccine and safety considerations, highlighted the critical importance of truly listening to a patient’s concerns and implementing strategies that address patient hesitancy in the context of their values to increase trust in the patient-pharmacist relationship.⁴

“Let's find out what's important to the patient and then figure out how to make the recommendation.” - Chad Kodiak, RPh, PharmD

“I think especially as pharmacists, we know so much and we want to share that information, and the intent is correct, but sometimes we're so impatient to share information that we don't take the time to listen to their concerns,” Kodiak explained. “Let's find out what's important to the patient and then figure out how to make the recommendation.”⁴

Furthermore, Kodiak advocated for pharmacists to remain proactive in chipping away at vaccine hesitancy through personalized care and strategic communication. “Let's have a conversation about the disease state, let's have a conversation about their concerns and your goals,” he said. “Then we can turn that into, ‘OK, let's talk about how we can help you get there’—and one of the ways is through vaccination.”⁴

Pharmacists also play a crucial role in reproductive health, which was emphasized in a discussion with Jasmine Cutler, PharmD, assistant professor at the University of South Florida Taneja College of Pharmacy. Cutler highlighted the need for pharmacists to be knowledgeable about over-the-counter contraceptives and provide comprehensive patient education. Understanding medication adverse effects and drug-drug interactions while collaborating with other health care professionals can ensure holistic reproductive health support.⁵

Developing Pharmacy Leaders and Supporting Professional Wellness

The core of the conference discussions primarily revolved around cultivating leadership, empowering teams, and fostering well-being in pharmacy—all of which contribute to the future of the profession.

Passion and adaptability are crucial in navigating the evolving landscape of pharmacy, according to a discussion with Emlah Tubuo, PharmD, owner of Powell Pharmacy, CEO and founder of Intentional Living with Emlah. Tubuo emphasized the shared role that pharmacists have in shaping better patient outcomes, which stems from having passion for practicing pharmacy. She explained the necessity of pharmacists to develop their soft skills, or "human" skills, to better connect with patients and team members.⁶

“I think as pharmacists, we are often subconsciously taught to downplay our soft skills because the clinical aptitude is usually not a problem for pharmacists,” Tubuo explained in the interview. “Clinical aptitude is usually almost 100% for almost every pharmacist that I've encountered, but the part that is difficult for us to transfer are the soft skills.”⁶

However, in developing these soft skills, pharmacists and pharmacy leaders may be faced with unique stressors that challenge personal boundaries. Lauren W. Bristow, PharmD, MBA, senior director of pharmacy for Providence, identified strategies for maintaining well-being, setting boundaries, and effectively leading teams through challenging situations. Bristow offered advice for pharmacy leaders who struggle with delegation and workload management, emphasizing the need to recognize stress signals to mitigate burnout and ensure a proper decision-making framework is in place.^7,8

“For me, the framework I use in leadership is I put the patients first and have the team’s back,” Bristow described in an interview with Pharmacy Times. "If your decision was in line with that, then I will back it, and we can do that.”^7,8

Through Mentorship, the Future of Pharmacy is Bright

Expanding responsibilities and leadership roles to pharmacy technicians could aid workload management; however, mentorship is needed to shape the future of pharmacy. Nancy Lyons, BSPharm, MBA, CDCES, vice president and chief pharmacy officer of Health Mart, highlighted the importance of advocacy and ongoing professional development. Lyons emphasized promoting continuous learning to ensure pharmacists remain at the forefront of health care.^9,10

“Advocacy for the challenges that are real for the profession is critical." - Nancy Lyons, BSPharm, MBA, CDCES

“Another big part of the reason that pharmacists and pharmacy students come to APhA is to get aligned on that voice of ‘one,’” Lyons explained. “Advocacy for the challenges that are real for the profession is critical. It goes at the national level, like at APhA, but it also falls into the state associations.”^9,10

Key to blossoming professional development is a healthy focus on personal goals and fulfillment while stepping outside your comfort zone, according to Tubuo. Ultimately, while all the innovations and evolutions in the field being discussed at APhA are critical to advancing pharmacy, the field cannot advance without a strong workforce of dedicated pharmacy professionals who are willing to make new connections and work together with peers.⁶

“It's really important to step outside of your current practice to embrace new ideas from new people, learn from them, and get inspiration from them,” Tubuo said. “That way, I'll bring it back and elevate everybody around me.”⁶

REFERENCES

1. Ferruggia K, Grissinger M. APhA 2025: Strategies for reducing errors in community pharmacy settings. Pharmacy Times. Published March 21, 2025. Accessed April 8, 2025. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/apha-2025-strategies-for-reducing-errors-in-community-pharmacy-settings

2. Ferruggia K, Chui M. APhA 2025: Pharmacy automation and medication management insights. Pharmacy Times. Published March 23, 2025. Accessed April 8, 2025. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/apha-2025-pharmacy-automation-and-medication-management-insights

3. Ferruggia K, Cook K. APhA 2025: Advancing pharmacogenetic practice in health care. Pharmacy Times. Published March 23, 2025. Accessed April 8, 2025.https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/apha-2025-advancing-pharmacogenetic-practice-in-health-care

4. Ferruggia K, Kodiak C. APhA 2025: A pharmacist’s guide to overcoming vaccine hesitancy.Pharmacy Times. Published March 22, 2025. Accessed April 8, 2025. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/apha-2025-a-pharmacist-s-guide-to-overcoming-rsv-vaccine-hesitancy

5. Ferruggia K, Cutler J. APhA 2025: Advancing reproductive health care access and patient education. Pharmacy Times. Published March 23, 2025. Accessed April 8, 2025. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/apha-2025-advancing-reproductive-health-care-access-and-patient-education

6. Ferruggia K, Tubuo. APhA2025: Embracingchange and passion in pharmacy practice. Pharmacy Times. Published March 22, 2025. Accessed April 8, 2025. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/apha-2025-embracing-change-and-passion-in-pharmacy-practice

7. Ferruggia K, Bristow L. APhA 2025: Navigating stress and well-being in pharmacy leadership. Pharmacy Times. Published March 24, 2025. Accessed April 8, 2025. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/apha-2025-navigating-stress-and-well-being-in-pharmacy-leadership

8. Ferruggia K, Bristow L. APhA 2025: Empowering pharmacy leaders by navigating challenges and personal boundaries. Pharmacy Times. Published March 27, 2025. Accessed April 8, 2025. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/apha-2025-empowering-pharmacy-leaders-by-navigating-challenges-and-personal-boundaries

9. Ferruggia K, Lyons N.APhA 2025: Training pharmacy technicians as community health workers. Pharmacy Times.Published March 26, 2025. Accessed April 8, 2025. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/apha-2025-training-pharmacy-technicians-as-community-health-workers

10. Ferruggia K, Lyons N. APhA 2025: Building pharmacy's future with mentorship, advocacy, and professional development. Pharmacy Times. Published March 27, 2025. Accessed April 8, 2025. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/apha-2025-building-pharmacy-s-future-with-mentorship-advocacy-and-professional-development