Let’s Hear It for Pharmacists

October marks American Pharmacists Month, and on October 12, we celebrate Women Pharmacist Day.

This year has certainly been a challenging one for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. But 2020 also has allowed pharmacy professionals to demonstrate their value, showing once again that they are not just medication experts but advocates, educators, immunizers, and trusted and valuable members of their communities.

Pharmacy Times® continues to beat the drum on the value of the pharmacist and the essential role that pharmacy professionals play on health care teams. It is our mission to keep our readers up to date on the latest insights and news in the profession.

In this month’s issue, for instance, we have a special section on Women Pharmacist Day. The articles honor the profession’s female trailblazers and also acknowledge the continuing challenges that women face in the profession, particularly in terms of achieving success in leadership positions.

One woman who has made a difference in the pharmacy profession is Allison Burns, PharmD, RPh, president and CEO of EMO Health, who is featured in this issue and on the cover and a winner of a Parata Systems and Pharmacy Times® Next-Generation Pharmacist® Award.

Burns started EMO Health, which is a nonprofit organization, when she was in pharmacy school. The organization provides continuing education and professional development for people, programs, and providers who interact with, treat, or work with individuals who suffer from mental health or substance abuse disorders.

Since 2010, the Next-Generation Pharmacist® program has honored pharmacists, technicians, students, and industry advocates who are defining the future of pharmacy in 10 categories. The winners, all featured in this issue, are a group of exceptional pharmacists, pharmacy students, and pharmacy technicians who have gone above and beyond in caring for their patients and advancing their profession. Please join me in congratulating them for their extraordinary efforts to improve patient care.

In addition, the October issue features articles on myriad topics, including several on digestive health. Our cover feature, by Kathleen Kenny, PharmD, RPh, called “Probiotics: What’s the Scoop?” notes that these OTC supplements can be helpful but that they are ideally obtained through a person’s diet. Other articles include helping patients manage gastroesophageal reflux disease and the latest treatments for constipation.

Also, check out our new Cognitive Health Focus column. This month’s topic is how pharmacists can provide cognitive screenings.

Thank you for reading!