Women Pharmacist Day Focuses on Achievements in the Profession

Woman Pharmacist Day will bring together women in the profession to celebrate their achievements, past and present.

The fifth Women Pharmacist Day will be observed on October 12, 2022. October is also National Pharmacist Month. October 12 was chosen to honor Elizabeth Gooking Greenleaf, an apothecary during Colonial times who is regarded as the nation’s first female pharmacist; she had 12 children. As recently as the 1960s, only 8% of all US pharmacists were women; they now represent almost 70% of the pharmacy workforce.

In addition, 4 pharmacists will be chosen as Woman Pharmacist of the Year in the categories of community, health system, independent, and nontraditional pharmacy, based on their impact in the profession. The winners will be announced live during a program held by the Pharmacist Moms Group on Facebook and broadcast on its Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn pages. There also will be nearly 500 giveaway items for event participants, from such brands as CeraVe, La Roche-Posay, and Vichy.

The organization wishes to thank those sponsors, as well as L’Oréal. Gratitude also is extended to Dynavax Technologies, as immunizing is a key role for pharmacists and hepatitis B is a key area of focus.

Previous Award Winners

•2021, Community Pharmacy: Bled Tanoe, PharmD, vice president of pharmacy advocacy for RPhAlly and inpatient pharmacist and founder of #PizzaIsNotWorking

•2021, Health System Pharmacy: Nicole Bookstaver, PharmD, BCACP, ambulatory care pharmacist at Prisma Health, University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy,

•2021, Independent Pharmacy: DeAnna “Dixie” Leikach, MBA, RPh, PRS, FACA, vice president at YOUR Community Pharmacy; president and CEO at Pharmacy Ethics, Education and Resources; and managing network facilitator at CPESN MD

•2021, Nontraditional Pharmacy: Seena Haines, PharmD, professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacy Practice and director of professional well-being and belonging, University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy, Jackson

•2020: Jennifer Shannon, PharmD, BCPS, clinical pharmacist at and owner of Lily’s Pharmacy and Wellness Center, Johns Creek, Georgia

•2020: Krista Capehart, PharmD, BCACP, clinical associate professor and director of the Wigner Institute for Advanced Pharmacy Practice, Education, and Research, West Virginia University School of Pharmacy, Morgantown

•2019: Jesica Mills, PharmD, MBA, RPh, owner of Owensboro Family Pharmacy, Owensboro, Kentucky

What is Next?

The Pharmacist Moms Group recently relaunched its website with a new overall look and feel. In addition, Coffee With Suzy launched this year and is held every Friday at 9:30 am eastern time. The group will host networking and professional development events across the country. Those interested in getting involved by joining the community, sponsoring an event, or writing should feel free to reach out.

About the Author

Suzanne Soliman, PharmD, BCMAS, is chief academic officer at the Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs and founder of Pharmacist Moms Group, the largest group of female pharmacists in the United States with more than 45,000 members.