Fred M. Eckel, RPh, MS, ScD (Hon) Pharmacy Times Editor-in-Chief

Thank you all for your support and encouragement, but it is now time for me to put this part of my career in the past.

Sometimes changes occur so incrementally that they are hardly noticed until we eventually realize that drastic change has occurred.

As we struggle to allow pharmacists to practice at the top of their license, the issues of professionalism and ethics will become more critical.

As pharmacists, we should feel privileged to be able to contribute to the health of others.

Medication reconciliation is being discussed frequently in the pharmacy literature because it has become an integral part of the care transition process.

I have held a number of different jobs as a pharmacist, but I have had only one career.

What an exciting time to be a pharmacist! Our role is expanding, more pharmacists are participating, and new opportunities are becoming available.

Age gives you the perspective to see how these jobs fit together to make a career.

Creating a standardized process for pharmacists made great sense to me, so as a pharmacy educator, I devoted much effort toward making it happen.

Now that the FDA has approved the first biosimilar in the United States, pharmacists will be dealing with new opportunities to save patients money on their drug therapy costs.

The recent explosion in deaths from opioids seems to be different from any previous observations.

There appears to be a growing uproar in both the lay press and professional literature about the high cost of many pharmaceuticals. Is such an uproar justified?

Because the pharmacist is a trusted professional, recommending an OTC product conveys the idea that the product is special, will treat the patient's problem, and can be trusted.

Various pharmacy segments have recently been focusing their attention on what they can do to reduce avoidable readmissions of patients to hospitals, including improving the discharge process.

When we each adopt the theme that we advance as one and feel empowered to make a difference, pharmacists will be able to take their rightful place on the health care team.

With a caring attitude and a compassionate spirit, a pharmacist focuses on serving the patient in a private and confidential manner.

Could proponents of this legislation be more interested in protecting market share in the name of patient safety?

A new year provides an opportunity to reflect on your past, evaluate your current circumstances, and dream about your future opportunities. One of the best things about life is that we can have a new beginning if we are willing to accept change, make sacrifices, and delay immediate gratification. Many individuals are not willing to pay this price, but those who are can make a fresh start.

Legislation can stand in the way of practice innovation.

Medication nonadherence takes a toll on both quality of life and cost of care.

Could the effort to achieve pharmacist provider status bring the broad pharmacy community together?