The Cornerstone of a Strong Profession

With this issue, we are extremely proud to present the finalists for the 2015 Next-Generation Pharmacist^TM awards, marking the sixth year that Pharmacy Times, in partnership with Parata Systems, has showcased the achievements of pharmacists in this unique awards program. Within this issue, you will find a special section that profiles these individuals in 11 categories of excellence that highlight the main facets of the pharmacy profession. As in the past, categories for students and pharmacy technicians are included to acknowledge their very important roles within pharmacy.

These Next-Generation Pharmacist^TM finalists represent the cornerstone on which a strong profession is built. They are innovators and motivators, inspiring others with the can-do attitude required to solve the health challenges we face as a nation. By focusing on patients and counseling for better health, these finalists are ready for the patientfocused future I discussed in last month’s issue. They also demonstrate their innovative spirit and passion for serving the community by establishing new adherence models, introducing cost-effective solutions to improve outcomes and work flow, and creating new ways to reach patients. This is just what we need to ensure that preventive medicine and value-driven care result in improved health. Who is in a better position than pharmacists to influence people and guide them toward better health on a daily basis?

On August 6 in Orlando, Pharmacy Times, along with Parata, will announce the winners in each of the 11 Next-Generation Pharmacist^TM categories as we honor them at an awards gala. It is sure to be an inspiring event, so we invite you to join in the celebration. For details, please visit www.nextgenerationpharmacist.com. The winners will also be featured in the August issue of Pharmacy Times.

The awards gala is taking place in conjunction with the 1st Annual Convenient Healthcare & Pharmacy Collaborative, which will be cohosted by Pharmacy Times' Office of Continuing and Professional Education and the Convenient Care Association on August 6 and 7 in Orlando. For the first time ever, community pharmacists are invited to join Convenient Care Association members and clinicians in the continuing education (CE) classroom to learn the latest about disease prevention, health care screenings, chronic care management, and treatment of common acute and chronic conditions (eg, diabetes, respiratory disease, obesity). Attendees can earn up to 10 CE credits. For more information, please visit www.pharmacytimes.com/chpc15.

The Convenient Healthcare & Pharmacy Collaborative and the Next-Generation Pharmacist^TM awards are among the many innovative ways that Pharmacy Times strives to support and celebrate pharmacists, whose contributions— both big and small—have built a strong profession.

Thank you for reading!

Mike Hennessy

Chairman and CEO