HOPA President-Elect Shares Plans for First In-Person HOPA Annual Meeting in 2 Years

Pharmacy Times interviewed Heidi D. Finnes, PharmD, BCOP, FHOPA, president-elect of Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA); senior manager of pharmacy cancer research at the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center; assistant professor of pharmacy in the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine; and director of the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center Pharmacy Shared Resource, on details of the upcoming HOPA 2022 conference as well as her plans for the direction of the organization as she steps into her role as president of HOPA this year.

Alana Hippensteele: Hi, I’m Alana Hippensteele with Pharmacy Times. Joining me is Heidi D. Finnes, PharmD, BCOP, FHOPA, president-elect of Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA); senior manager of pharmacy cancer research at the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center; assistant professor of pharmacy in the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine; and director of the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center Pharmacy Shared Resource. Heidi is here to discuss the upcoming HOPA 2022 conference as she steps into her role as president of HOPA this year.

What are you looking forward to at the upcoming HOPA conference this year?

Heidi Finnes: I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone in person. It's been 2 years since we've had a HOPA meeting in person, and while we've had excellent platforms, nothing takes the place of that live hug of a colleague that you don't see or haven't seen in a long time, or that live interaction with speakers and networking that can occur.

We have an exciting keynote speaker, Dr. [Bryan] Sexton, who will be talking about little bits and pieces we can do to deal with burnout, which I think ties in very well with everything going on in health care. So those are just some of the many things at the conference this year. Also, research—we haven't had live research presentations, and so, hearing what some of those awardees have been doing will be very exciting.

Alana Hippensteele: Right, absolutely. So, you've talked a little bit about how exciting it is to be in person and the importance of this. How about the opportunity for educational events in person? How does the in-person experience at HOPA’s networking and educational events change the potential for for growth during this time?

Heidi Finnes: I think it just allows for more interaction and the opportunity for interaction. We have several things where we'll have kind of a lounge, where we'll have different HOPA members that will be available so that other members can ask questions.

We have an active board buddy system. So, if you're new to the conference, people have someone that maybe has been to the conference and can introduce them to people.

I remember coming to my very first HOPA meeting and there was no one else from Mayo Clinic there. It can be intimidating. But I think the opportunity just to meet other people and understand the things that you can learn and sessions that are important to go to is helpful through those types of interactions.

Alana Hippensteele: Any closing thoughts?

Heidi Finnes: I appreciate you talking to me this morning Alana, and I hope that you will attend and anyone listening. I think it's an exciting time, and I think it feels so much better to be in person, particularly after these long 2 years of COVID-19. But I hope people will come to learn and to advance their skills, and I would love to say hello to anyone that is at the conference. So, thank you very much.