What Is a Pharmacist?

To their patients, pharmacists are many things: medication experts, immunizers, educators, and perhaps even friends. Within their communities, they may also be public health servants and emergency respondents. The results of a recently published study indicated that pharmacists could be instrumental in preparing for public health emergencies and addressing problems, such as the opioid abuse epidemic.¹

Another key role that pharmacists can play is that of a heart health advocate. One study concluded that pharmacists who contribute to multidisciplinary-based interventions in heart failure management can improve patient outcomes.² To help pharmacists in this endevour, this Heart Health issue of Pharmacy Times^® contains practical information on dyslipidemia, hypertension, transitions of care, and more.

Beyond health advocacy, it is crucial that we also recognize the human element of the pharmacy profession. In addition to being essential members of the health care team, pharmacists are also parents and pet owners, artists and athletes, leaders and volunteers. Beneath every white coat is an individual with unique passions and talents, qualities that allow pharmacists to better treat their patients.

To celebrate all that pharmacists do both in and out of the pharmacy, Pharmacy Times^® and Specialty Pharmacy Times^® have launched the #APharamcistIs campaign across social media. The campaign encourages pharmacists to show a side of themselves that their patients may not see behind the counter by sharing pictures and videos of them doing something they love, along with a few words about about what being a pharmacist means to them. At the end of the campaign, all content submitted through the #APharmacistIs hashtag will be compiled to create a video highlighting the many differenct dimensions of what it means to be a pharmacist. As the holiday season approaches, now is the perfect time to submit some of your photographs using #APharmacistIs and share with us some of your life outside the pharmacy.

As we publish our final issue of the year and look ahead to 2018, we wish to thank you for your support and for all that you do to improve patient health. From our family to yours, have a happy holiday season and a healthy new year!

Thank you for reading!

Mike Hennessy, Sr

Chairman and CEO

REFERENCES

• Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; Center for Health Security. Serving the greater good. Public health and community pharmacy partnerships. Center for Health Security website. centerforhealthsecurity.org/our-work/pubs_ archive/pubs-pdfs/2017/public-health-and-community-pharmacy-partnerships-report. pdf. Accessed November 20, 2017.
• Parajuli DR, Franzon J, McKinnon RA, Shakib S, Clark RA. Role of the pharmacist for improving self-care and outcomes in heart failure. Curr Heart Fail Rep. 2017;14(2):78-86.