WELCOME TO INDEPENDENT PHARMACY

Welcome to the best professionin the world?pharmacy. You are enteringthe pharmacy profession at a veryexciting time. And while the challengesthat face us today and into the future aresignificant, as always, the opportunitiesare nearly limitless. The ultimate gathering of and for pharmacyprofessionals?the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA)109th Annual Convention and Trade Exposition?is taking place this year inAnaheim, Calif. This year?s convention offers numerous educationalopportunities, the most powerful and productive exposition in the pharmacyindustry, and a variety of social gatherings that help you to ?Discover theMagic of Independence.?

Choosing the path of independent pharmacy gives you the uniqueopportunity to develop exactly the type of pharmacy practice that you want,as these articles showcase. For some, pharmacy is a career inheritance thatspans multiple generations.As ownership passes from one generation to thenext, the new generation often brings with it fresh ideas and technologicaladvances that enhance the practice and improve the delivery of services andhealth outcomes for patients. Find out more at the Technology Seminar onthe latest Internet and pharmacy technologies to enhance your pharmacy?sefficiency, improve patient care, reduce costs, and boost profits.

Another way to begin the road to pharmacy ownership is via a juniorpartnership that allows the sale of a pharmacy to occur over several years, asthe owner gains management responsibility and an increasing percentage ofownership from the previous owner. You can learn more about how otherstook advantage of this option in this issue and during the Junior PartnershipShowcase. Be sure to check your convention program for more details.

Community pharmacies must be able to meet the needs of the diversecommunities they serve, and to do so may require some cultural care. Learnmore about how pharmacists are improving their cultural competence inthis issue and during the Survival Spanish for Pharmacists educationalworkshop and corresponding publication available at the NCPA store.

The NCPA is pleased to partner with Pharmacy Times to bring you thispublication. We hope it piques your interest to find out more aboutindependent pharmacy and the NCPA. Go online to www.ncpanet.org, orcall us at 800-544-747 to find out more, and enjoy the convention.