APhA 2025: Nakia Eldridge, PharmD, MBA, Highlights Must-See Sessions

As a pharmacist working in the public health sector, I am excited to attend my third American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Annual Meeting & Exposition, taking place March 21 to 24, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee. These meetings provide a valuable opportunity to stay informed, connect with colleagues, and gain new insights into patient care and medication safety.

Nakia Eldridge, PharmD, MBA, is the director of health care quality, safety, and information at US Pharmacopeia and a Pharmacy Practice in Focus: Health Systems editorial advisory board member.

In my current role as director of health care quality, safety, and information at US Pharmacopeia (USP), I focus on developing tools and resources to help health care practitioners enhance patient safety. However, my background is rooted in hospital pharmacy, with residency training in pediatrics. Given my experience, I have historically attended more American Society of Health-System Pharmacists meetings than APhA, but I now recognize the unique and essential perspectives APhA offers.

At this year’s meeting, I am eager to hear from other pharmacy practitioners about the challenges they face and the solutions they have developed across various patient care settings. Additionally, I look forward to sharpening my knowledge of newly approved medications, particularly in areas outside my expertise, and earning continuing education credits toward my pharmacy licenses.

One of the most valuable aspects of APhA’s annual meeting is the opportunity to gain a broader perspective on community pharmacy. The event brings together pharmacists from both rural and urban settings, providing insights into the challenges they encounter in different states. Hearing firsthand about their work allows me to better appreciate the impact of community pharmacy and explore ways to bridge gaps in patient care across the profession.

Like many pharmacists, I carefully plan my conference schedule in advance, mapping out key sessions in my mobile calendar. A few of the sessions I am particularly looking forward to include:

• Not Just 9 to 5 on Medication Safety (March 21, 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM): A session featuring Matthew Grissinger, RPh, FASCP, director, education at the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), one of my favorite speakers, discussing recent updates to the ISMP Medication Safety Best Practices list for hospitals and community pharmacies.
• Rockin’ Remedies: Your Annual OTC Update (March 21, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM): A deep dive into over-the-counter (OTC) products that have recently entered or been removed from the market.

You Can Teach an Old Dog New Drugs (March 22, 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM): A review of the latest therapeutic agents, including their indications, mechanisms of action, and key clinical considerations. As I reach my 20-year mark as a pharmacist, staying up to date on new drugs remains a priority.

• The RSV Rundown: Expert Reports on Current Insights and Vaccine Recommendations (March 22, 5:30 PM - 7:15 PM): A symposium addressing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) from an adult patient care perspective, an area that differs from my prior experience with RSV in neonatal settings. This session will help me better respond to patient and family questions regarding RSV prevention and treatment.
• Saddle Up for NADAC Insights (March 23, 8:45 AM - 9:45 AM): A session focused on understanding how national average drug acquisition cost (NADAC) impacts cost reimbursement across various pharmacy settings.

Attendees talking during conference break. Image Credit: © KOTO - stock.adobe.com

Finally, beyond the sessions, one of the best aspects of these meetings is the networking opportunities—making new connections, exchanging ideas, and sharing stories with fellow pharmacists at all career stages, from students and new practitioners to retirees. Whether in the halls, during sessions, or at social events, these interactions are what truly make professional meetings like APhA’s so valuable.

I look forward to another inspiring and insightful APhA Annual Meeting and the chance to bring back new knowledge to my work in public health and medication safety at USP.