Celebrating National Pharmacist Day

January 12, 2018, is National Pharmacist Day, a date set aside to honor and recognize the positive impact that pharmacists have in health care. Pharmacist recognition days are crucial for increasing awareness about the importance of the profession.

As health care becomes more collaborative and pharmacists are integrated into care teams, the true significance of the profession has come to light.

On November 1, 2017, Pharmacy Times® and Specialty Pharmacy Times® launched the joint #APharmacistIs campaign to celebrate the crucial role of the pharmacist in both the patient journey and in the real world.

During this ongoing campaign, pharmacists from all walks of life have shared numerous photos on social media showing interests ranging from waterfall rappelling in Costa Rica, to painting, to playing in a rock band comprised of nearly all pharmacists.

The #APharmacistIs campaign, much like #NationalPharmacistDay, seeks to raise awareness in the health care space and among the general public to provide a better understanding of who pharmacists are and just how important they are for overall patient health.

Traditionally, individuals may think of a pharmacist as a health care professional who wears a white coat and dispenses pills, but we know that the role of the pharmacist expands beyond dispensing drugs and that filling prescriptions is just the beginning of their mission.

The goal of the #APharmacistIs campaign is to break certain assumptions and show another side of pharmacists. Pharmacists can use the #APharmacistIs platform to define their true role and help differentiate the countless faces of the pharmacists.

“Pharmacists are the last line of defense for safe dispensing of medications, and often the first line of opportunity to make the most of them,” said Troy Trygstad, PharmD, PhD, editor-in-chief of Pharmacy Times®.

Pharmacists make a difference every day in the pharmacy and in their personal lives. On National Pharmacist day, we encourage you, your co-workers, family members, and friends to share photos of you doing an activity of you enjoy or tell us how you are celebrating the day. Be sure to use #APharmacistIs and tag Specialty Pharmacy Times® and Pharmacy Times® on social media.

“Happy National Pharmacist Day! We don’t always make the medications, but we make them better. #onepharmacycommunity,” Dr Trygstad said.