Why You Should Attend a Pharmacy Conference

Professional development is a huge part of pharmacy, and attending conferences is a huge part of professional development.

Now, you might believe you’re too busy to attend a conference, but it’s one of the most effective ways to develop as a professional. I’ve found that the networking and résumé-building opportunities afforded by conferences more than justify the cost and time involved in attending.

Still not convinced? I spoke with Lucinda Maine, CEO of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, who shared some of her pharmacy conference experiences and insights.

When Maine was a first-year pharmacy student at Auburn University, she joined a student APhA-ASP chapter. After getting involved in it, she drew the attention of some upperclassmen who encouraged her to travel with them to New York City to the APhA conference. They further encouraged her to interview to serve on the national committee—so she did, and ended up being appointed to it. At her second national meeting, she ran for national office and became the president of the Student APhA.

In addition to gaining confidence and experience while making great professional contacts, you can develop deep, endearing relationships with colleagues by participating in an association.

“The people I met as a student through my involvement in pharmacy associations are some of my very best friends to this day,” Maine said.

She shared some tips to help you maximize your conference opportunities—and convince yourself to attend in the first place:

1. Make the Time

When it came to participating in pharmacy associations as a student, Maine had a phrase that could probably get her in trouble with some deans: “Never let school interfere with your education.”

Her involvement in APhA-ASP at the local, state, and national levels expanded her mind, ignited her passion for the profession, and improved her student life and time management skills.

“[Associations are] all really part of this journey that we are on; it’s the people we know and the opportunities that become available…because we haven’t just stayed home and studied for that next pharmacotherapeutics test,” Maine said.

2. Factor in Intangible Benefits

Ever heard the phrase, “Your network is your net worth”? You can grow your network exponentially by going to conferences. Making friends and business contacts, getting to know others in the field, understanding different industry sectors’ needs, or helping someone find a job can also benefit your career.

3. Listen to Experienced Participants

If it’s the first time you’re attending a particular conference, it’s especially critical to listen to those who’ve participated previously. Your chapter adviser, colleagues, or upperclassmen can provide valuable advice on everything from what sessions you should attend, to what you should wear, to residency program meet-and-greets. Experienced participants can also help you strike a balance across education, politics, networking, and fun.

4. Find Your Purpose and Take Action

If you’re looking to network (which should be one of your top priorities), go to the events where you believe the important individuals are also going to be.

In addition to networking and helping you find a job, pharmacy conferences can help you meet your professional goals. For example, if you’re interested in specialty pharmacy, you could easily sit at your computer and collect CE hours to help you learn about specialty pharmacy, but wouldn’t it be better—and more fun—to go where the specialty pharmacists are? Perhaps during lunch or a coffee break, you’ll meet an approachable specialty pharmacist with a ton of experience. I guarantee that no online CE program will connect you with a potential mentor or employer in person.

5. Make the Most of Smaller Meetings

It’s no secret many national pharmacy conferences are very large. The advantage of state meetings is they tend to be much smaller, meaning it’s easier to be in places where those important individuals are. After all, you’ll want to avoid being an anonymous face on the wall.

Students and young pharmacists always stand out because they don’t usually attend conferences as often as established practitioners. If you’re a student or a young pharmacist, use this to your advantage. Most associations are quite interested in cultivating relationships with younger practitioners, understanding their needs, and helping them launch their careers successfully.

6. Find Your Niche

If you’re an extrovert, you probably enjoy going to conferences. If you’re an introvert, however, big meetings might feel overwhelming. Even though some meetings attract more than 2000 attendees, try to pick programming that fits with your niche—like experiential education, specialty pharmacy, or student affairs—with 50—100 attendees per session.

Choosing smaller sessions that focus on your specific area of interest can make networking less overwhelming. For example, you might approach the speaker or another session participant to ask if you could chat about a particular topic. Your chat might turn into a sit-down over coffee, and all of a sudden, you’ve made a contact!

Maine considers a meeting successful if (1) she leaves knowing somebody she didn’t know before and now considers them a colleague or a friend, or (2) she deepened a relationship with someone with whom she was already acquainted.

Overall, attending a pharmacy conference guarantees you’ll come away with more knowledge, professional contacts, and passion for your career.