NACDS President Urges Students to Commit to Advancing Pharmacy

At the Dean’s Convocation at the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, held on September 28, 2011, NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson spoke about the “unsurpassed value” of community pharmacy in saving lives and improving health care in the United States.

“If you want to know what the future of pharmacy will look like, I can tell you. Pharmacy will become whatever people like you envision. And its advancement will reflect the energy with which you engage,” said Anderson.

Anderson emphasized four 4 points, urging tomorrow’s pharmacists to help advance pharmacy as the “practice of the future” by:

• Committing to advance pharmacy
• Promoting pharmacy’s “great” value
• Fully commit to help pharmacy achieve the status of “practice of the future,” and “make a long-term commitment to revolutionizing healthcare through pharmacy.”
• Each pharmacist must have a specific role he or she can play, “today, and every day as a member of the pharmacy profession.”

In speaking to the students, Anderson provided statistics that reflect the accessibility and public trust of community pharmacists, and the strong return-on-investment that community pharmacy services deliver. He emphasized community pharmacy’s ability to help patients take medications correctly, thus reducing reliance on costly forms of care.

Anderson also highlighted community pharmacy’s value through initiatives such as vaccinations, health screenings, and education, and described community pharmacy’s increasing success in achieving public policy victories as elected officials gain a greater understanding and appreciation for its cost-effectiveness.

Describing NACDS’ ongoing initiative to educate the government, opinion leaders, the media, and others about pharmacy’s role as “the face of neighborhood healthcare,” Anderson said the message has taken on new importance in the wake of economic turmoil. “Our position is that there is no greater value in healthcare delivery than neighborhood pharmacies,” he said.

Anderson also highlighted the effectiveness of the NACDS RxIMPACT grassroots advocacy program, through which community pharmacy advocates connect with their elected officials.

“I am fired up about pharmacy,” he noted. “While the times around us are challenging, the opportunities before us are invigorating. I am thankful for the opportunity to be with you today to talk abo

ut what pharmacy has accomplished together, and the work that lies ahead.”