PQA Diverse Quality Leaders Program Receives ASAE Power of Associations Gold Award

he Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA) has received a 2024 Power of Associations Gold Award from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) for the PQA Diverse Quality Leaders Program.

The PQA Diverse Quality Leaders Program helps individuals at various career stages become leaders in health care quality that is focused on safe, effective and appropriate medication use. Through education, training and mentorship, the program has components for students, early career professionals and emerging leaders that support long-term professional development and advancement towards leadership positions.

“Quality improvement is not a focus of most health degree programs, so most experience is gained on the job,” Richard Schmitz, PQA Chief Engagement Officer, said. “The PQA Diverse Quality Leaders Program helps individuals gain experience, advance their careers and participate in PQA’s high-impact work to evaluate the quality of medication use.”

Launched in 2023, the program provides scholarships or appointments to attend the PQA Annual Meeting, participate in in-person training workshops, complete online continuing education modules and shadow expert panels. Participants have mentors, including PQA staff, to enhance their experience. Additionally, the program includes a Diverse Voices in Quality education and communications series that showcases the successful career paths and experiences of diverse medication use quality professionals.

“As an alliance of quality-focused organizations, PQA remains committed to championing health equity and diversity, equity and inclusion as one of four goals in our strategic plan, Blueprint PQA 2025,” PQA CEO Micah Cost, PharmD, MS, CAE, said. “Our unique position within the industry enables our success in engaging individuals and organizations to develop a more diverse quality workforce, and we are grateful for ASAE’s recognition of this very important and impactful program.”

Opportunities to participate in the program are announced on a periodic basis each year. Program opportunities for professionals are limited to those at PQA member organizations, but the student components are open to all students in an accredited pharmacy or related health care degree program. To learn more about the program, visit PQA’s website.

“Congratulations to PQA for exemplifying the impact associations have on the industries and professions they represent, and on society at large,” ASAE President and CEO Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE, said. “It’s always so incredibly satisfying to see associations going above and beyond their everyday mission to change the world. We’re very proud to spotlight this award-winning initiative.”

Associations like PQA are involved in activities every day that make a substantial, positive impact on people’s lives. The ASAE Power of Associations Awards showcase how associations leverage their unique resources to solve problems, advance industry or professional performance, kick-start innovation and improve conditions around the world. ASAE will celebrate the Power of Associations Award recipients during its annual Summit Awards Dinner on September 24 at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.