Expert: USP Volunteers Impacted the Course of the COVID-19 Pandemic by Accelerating, Supporting Pharmacists’ Vaccination Efforts

Pharmacy Times interviewed Patricia C. Kienle, RPh, MPA, BCSCP, FASHP, director of Accreditation and Medication Safety at Cardinal Health and member of US Pharmacopeia’s (USP) Compounding Expert Committee, and Nicole Palmer, the senior manager of USP Volunteer Operations, on details regarding USP’s volunteer program.

This discussion is the third video in a series collaboration between Pharmacy Times and USP that highlights USP’s work today and over its 200-year history to support the pharmacist, as well as USP’s perspective on timely and topical issues in the field.

During this discussion, Kienle and Palmer explain that pharmacists who volunteer at USP have opportunities to impact global health, share expertise and collaborate with colleagues worldwide, network with other pharmacy professionals, mentor young pharmacists, grow career opportunities, and add distinction to their career.

Additionally, Kienle and Palmer address how USP volunteers have impacted global health during the COVID-19 pandemic, what options are available for pharmacists interested in volunteering, what is involved in the work of USP organizations like the USP Compounding Expert Committee and the current open call to fill a volunteer position on this committee, and how volunteering can impact the trajectory of a career in the field.