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In February, we celebrated BlackHistory Month with a series of articles and videos onPharmacyTimes.com, and we will focus on important topicsrelated to DEI and SDOH going forward. Bidenalso discussed potential caps for oncology drugs.2 Theaddress also touched on other key health concerns, such asaccessibility and COVID-19.2 The National Association of Chain Drug Stores publisheda response to the address on its website on February 8, 2023,saying the government should do more to rein in PBMs.3 Pharmacy Times® will continue to report on the issue ofdrug pricing and the role played by PBMs in drug pricing andensuring that patients have access to needed medications. Publisher's Note SEVEN PHARMACY ORGANIZATIONS RELEASED A statement onFebruary 3, 2023, outlining their commitment to diversity,equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the profession.1 The organizations are the American Associationof Colleges of Pharmacy, the American PharmacistsAssociation, the American Pharmacists Association-Academyof Student Pharmacists, the American Societyof Health-System Pharmacists, BHK Consulting LLC, theNational Association of Boards of Pharmacy, and theNational Pharmaceutical Association.1 In the statement, the organizations outlined 8 steps theyplan to undertake, including implementing and supportingpolicies and programs that eliminate financial barriersfor individuals of color who seek health care professionalopportunities such as pursuing degrees, incorporating DEIconcepts into health care curricula and continuing educationrequirements, and developing mentorship opportunities forindividuals of color who are students or new professionals.1 Pharmacy Times® commits to incorporating DEI conceptsinto our coverage and focusing on social determinantsof health (SDOH). [Extracted from the article]

The article addresses the growing fear among about the future prospects of many pharmacy graduates, especially after the Australian Department of Immigration has put the profession back on the Skilled Occupations List. According to Ashleigh Coome, president of the National Australian Pharmacy Students' Association (NAPSA), the field of pharmacy is in danger of losing students to other profession due to the perception that their employment opportunities are bleak. Suggestions to prevent a potential shortage of pharmacists in Australia are discussed. INSET: Pharmacists head to CentreLink.

A test is presented that asks student pharmacists to decipher the names and dosages for the medications written in several prescriptions sent by readers of "Pharmacy Times," news magazine.

An interview with Maria Gabriela Cabanilla, a student at the University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy. Among the issues she discussed include what she thinks is the most important quality that pharmacists should possess, and the effort to increase public awareness about the many roles of pharmacists as the most important issue in pharmacy, and the things she learned while working with doctor Michelle Iandiorio that she believes will help her be a better pharmacist.

An interview with pharmacy student Tiffany Vu of Campbell University College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences is presented. Topics mentioned include the important quality that pharmacist should possess, the person or patient that could help her to be a better pharmacist, and the most important issue that affect the industry today.

The article presents the possible job or locations that pharmacy technician students go after graduation. Among the location or job include the work in retail or independent pharmacies, the move to long-term care, home infusion and hospital pharmacy, and the move to bachelor degree programs in four-year colleges.

An interview with Dallas Smith, a pharmacy student at the University of Findlay College of Pharmacy, is presented. Topics discussed include Smith's view on the most important quality that a pharmacist should possess, the opioid-based pain management for quality-of-life, and the influence of Chris Sippel, assistant dean of International, Intercultural, and Service Engagement at the university.

The article discusses how public sector job opportunities could help pharmacy students with loan forgiveness in the U.S. The loan forgiveness program is available to loan holders who are employed, and have made 120 monthly payments on a Direct Loan after October 1, 2007. Examples of positions for pharmacists that may qualify for the loan forgiveness program are also cited.

The article features Australian pharmacist and novelist Manal Oz. She owns the Pharmacy Outlet in Harbour Town, west of Perth, Western Australia, and is a lecturer at the Australian Institute of Holistic Medicine. A few years ago, she started her journey to becoming an author and screenwriter after writing a spiel for her pharmacy students. She was motivated to write after she experienced discrimination due to her Egyptian heritage. Her debut romantic comedy "Love by Prescription," was a big success in Hollywood.

An interview with Dominique Dormeville, 2018 Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) candidate from the South Carolina College of Pharmacy and of Haitian descent, is presented. She shares firsthand experience in Haiti of the importance of cultural awareness among health care providers. Dormeville believes one of the most important issues in pharmacy is the number of patients addicted to prescription medication. She talks about the importance for retail pharmacists to be approachable to patients.

The article discusses the importance of the proper training of student pharmacists by qualified and licensed pharmacists to improve patient care. A study conducted at Indiana University Medical Center found that pharmacy students contributed significantly to cost avoiding and cost saving in a health system. Among the factors that must be considered by a preceptor to better prepare student pharmacists are one's skill set, critical thinking and communication skills.

An interview with Salin Nhean, a pharmacy student at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, is presented. Nhean discusses her decision to pursue pharmacy as a career, as well as the need to expand the role of pharmacists in providing patient-centered services in hospitals and health systems. She points out the importance for pharmacists to posses knowledge, empathy, communication skills, attention to detail, initiative, and lifelong love of learning.

The article reports on the victory of a team of pharmacy students from the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy in the National Community Pharmacists Association's (NCPA) 2008 Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition. It states that it was the fifth year of the competition and drew entries from 30 schools and colleges of pharmacy. According to Sharlea Leatherwood, president of the NCPA Foundation, they are focused on preserving the legacy of independent community pharmacies.

The article features Jared Brown, a student at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Pharmacy and recipient of the RESPy Award in June 2008. Brown believes that the field of pharmacy provide various professional options. He has been involved in different public service and professional activities that relate to pharmacy practice. He was the camp counselor at the UAMS Pharmacy Summer Camp in 2007, where he introduced high school students to the field of pharmacy.

An interview with Nashrah Maryum, a pharmacy student at the University of Illinois at Chicago, is presented. When asked about the thing a patient or colleague taught her that will help her be a better pharmacist, she names her mother as the most influential person among her mentors and educators and talks about the culture of mentorship in pharmacy. She also cites altruism as the most important quality for a pharmacist to possess and lack of cohesiveness as the most important issue in pharmacy.

This article focuses on Kalyann Kauv, a pharmacy student at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy who has demonstrated a passion for serving patients across cultural and social boundaries. Topics discussed include Kauv's outreach trip to the Dominican Republic to help provide free health care to more than 1,000 patients, her thought about the most important quality a pharmacist should possess, and the role her parents play in helping her become a better pharmacist.

The article discusses ten changes that could alter the pharmacy profession. Topics mentioned include the increase in the number of pharmacy graduates leading to an oversupply and possible closure of pharmacy schools by 2025, transition of community pharmacies to neighborhood health centers (NHCs) which could expand point-of-care testing and allow NHCs to do more diagnostic work, and expansion of closed pharmacy networks.

The article presents two case studies and asks student pharmacists to determine the correct diagnosis and the right interventions to be administered for these cases. It suggests prescribing over-the counter (OTC) proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole and esomeprazole for a 44-year-old male patient with episodic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), while a female patient diagnosed with severe allergic contact dermatitis should be directed to obtain a prescription for oral corticosteroids.

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports within the issue on topics including the significant role of medical students in pharmacy," the 2014 Next-Generation Pharmacist™ Awards finalists, and the impact of the Affordable Care Act to health care professionals.

The article offers information on Pharmville, a virtual community that allows pharmacy students to view and study various patient situations. Pharmville features video vignettes, drug structure images, photographs of virtual community members, health profiles, and medical and social histories. A study published in the November 2012 issue of the "American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education" highlighted the benefits of the virtual community to academics.

The author discusses the Next Generation Pharmacist awards for pharmacists. The author notes that as chairman of the panel of judges for the award, he was able to review the accomplishments of the members of the pharmaceutical industry and recognize the valuable contributions of pharmacists, technicians and pharmacy students to the society. He argues that the awards is a great way to encourage and help students.

The article discusses a study published in a 2012 issue of the "American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education" about the effectiveness of a Facebook page as a tool to boost pharmacy students' learning.

An interview with American pharmacist and 2015 PharmaD candidate at Palm Beach Atlantic University's Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy Julie Brown is presented. When asked why she chose to become a pharmacist, Brown says pharmacists are very accessible health care professionals. She explains why pharmacy students should be advocates for the profession. Brown also shares her views on issues facing pharmacists today.

The article focuses on a study published in the May 2012 issue of the "American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education" which found that online instruction can increase the confidence of pharmacy students when interacting with patients.

An interview with Carlie Traylor, a pharmacy student who will graduate from the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Pharmacy in 2014, is presented. When asked why chose pharmacy, she states that she liked helping people and she figured that she would probably go into a health care profession. She mentions that her dream job is to work in a small town hospital.

An interview with "Pharmacy Times"/Walmart RESPy winner and University of Southern California School of Pharmacy student Parth Parikh is presented. According to Parikh, he plans to finish pharmacy school and gain some pharmacy-related work experience. He reveals that for his long-term goal, he plans to work with academic institutions in India to improve the ways pharmacy care are integrated into their academic programs. He states that patient care remains the most important issue in pharmacy.

The article discusses the need for pharmacists and their professional associations to have more extensive and effective communication with their legislators. Topics include the value of collaborating on pharmacy's legislative priorities and the imperative of involving student pharmacists in the process of legislative influence as part of their training.

An interview with Katherine Denney, pharmacy student and February 2011 "Pharmacy Times"/Walmart Respect, Excellence, and Service in Pharmacy (RESPy) Award recipient, is presented. Among the issues she discussed include her long-time professional goals, how she utilizes pharmacy technology, and what she considers as the most important issue in the field of pharmacy today.

The article reports the move by several pharmacy students from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy as of January 2011 to study ways of helping senior citizens how to cope with multiple chronic illnesses and complex medication regimens. The students include doctoral students Jingjing Qian and Jennifer Lloyd, and postdoctoral fellow H. Ker, Yang. Their studies covered such topics as medications for congestive heart failure (CHF), depression and dementia.

The article discusses a study published in an issue of the "American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education" about the use of human patient simulators or robotic patients in teaching clinical skills to pharmacy students in the U.S.

The article features Kim Moody, the recipient of the RESPy award which is given to pharmacy students by Walmart and "Pharmacy Times." Moody is a fourth year student at the University of Washington's School of Pharmacy. Her community service activities revolve around providing preventive care and interacting with patients. She also worked at the Salvation Army of King County Adult Rehabilitation Center as volunteer.

The article profiles Kristen Zeitler, winner of the Walmart/Pharmacy Times Respect, Excellence and Service in Pharmacy (RESPy) for March. She is a student at the University of Buffalo (UB) School of Pharmacy in New York and will graduate in May 2011 with her PharmD. She was a leader in the Erie County Drug Disposal Program and has organized and volunteered for senior community health clinics. She plans to pursue a postgraduate residency in a hospital or institutional setting.

In this article the author examines the state of the independent pharmacy community sector in the U.S. The performance of the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) is suggested as a basis for measuring the success of independent pharmacy. Among the indicators that the sector is performing well are an increase in the number of pharmacies that were opened in 2008, as well as the number of student pharmacists who attended NCPA meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana in 2009.

The article features Somer Smith, third-year student at Auburn University Harrison School of Pharmacy. The commitment and passion of Somer to help other people led her toward a pharmacy career. According to her, the lessons she learned from spending time with his grandfather, who lived in a care facility, motivated her to master the pharmacy profession. Information on the educational achievements of Somer is provided, along with her efforts to help those who are in need.