We need active participation from every practice area or group. Strong leaders tend to have strong personalities. Strong personalities tend to speak out. Yes, we need that. Sometimes disagreements are caused by this speaking out process. But, it also causes us to think. Remember the larger organization, MPhA, is sometimes slower and more deliberate in its processes because it represents all pharmacy practice areas. I like to think of it this way: The human body is comprised of many parts (foot, hand, and head). From injury to any part (for example the foot) the reaction begins before the central brain is notified because there is an imminent threat to the foot. The message soon gets to the brain, then brain alerts other body members to conduct necessary coordinated reaction by other parts. All parts work together to handle the challenge. Yes, numbers count! With many parts working together for the benefit of the whole, every body part benefits.
In Mississippi we can be very proud of our pharmacy education program. Our pharmacy school is tied for #1 in the nation for students passing the NAPLEX. After my conversation with Dean Barbara Wells, I am convinced the school is well aware of problems some students are having in 5th year at Jackson. I am assured that problem areas are being addressed with more emphasis being placed on the overall well being of students. Young graduates, get involved! Contribute as much as you can. Help improve things that matter to you and others still yet to graduate. You may feel burnt out. But we need you. Remember older people are many times satisfied with the status quo. Young people embrace change and tend to head in that direction. You can contribute to your future by helping us strike a balance. During the last two years of my first job out of pharmacy school, my life was threatened by a male clerk almost every day. It actually made me sick (TSS). After I left, a young pharmacist, Speedy Rearden, was hired to take my place. I started to warn him about the problem. But, nobody had ever believed me about this threat—the sheriff, the chief of police, the mayor, no one. So, I did nothing. This fine young man was murdered by the man who had threatened me in the pharmacy where I had worked. What a shame. A young life was lost. I believed I had no voice. I gave up. We owe it to our fellow professionals as well as those who follow us to speak out. If you are aware of things that need to change, speak out. Join with us. Give it a voice. Use your influence. We all know other pharmacists; encourage them to join our organization.
In Mississippi we have much to be proud of: an unusually well informed, technologically advanced, and pharmacy-friendly State Board of Pharmacy. It is a great benefit to have the impaired pharmacy program available to us. This program is run with dignity and respect for all involved. It is fair to the impaired pharmacist and also to pharmacy at large. To paraphrase John Bradford: “There but for the grace of God, goes Robert Salmon”—or you or any pharmacists you know
. MPhA sponsors great continuing education courses such as the Consulting Pharmacy Seminar and the many courses that are offered at the MPhA meeting each year. In August of this year we are hosting, at the Beau Rivage in Biloxi, the Southeastern Pharmacy Officers Conference. It will take place right after the Mississippi Society of Hospital Pharmacist meeting. Take advantage of these and the many other meetings as much as possible.
One of the great hopes for many people in this country is the opportunity to own a “piece of the rock”: To participate with ownership in their chosen profession. It appears that that opportunity may be slipping away for pharmacy. Ownership is not for everyone—only a small portion—but it is an absolutely necessary portion of pharmacy. For some, ownership leads to involvement, excitement, compassion, and investment towards preserving and improving the practice. Capitalism is this country’s economic engine.
For pharmacy to serve the people in rural Mississippi, pharmacist ownership is indispensable. With little exception, the students who have rotated through my practice have impressed me with their knowledge and ability to practice pharmacy. The majority in recent years have been female. The number of male pharmacy graduates has declined. When I graduated in 1967 we had about 10% female graduates. Pharmacy is a great profession for women and women will continue to play a phenomenal role in the profession. Male pharmacists tend to work more hours and are more likely to want to own their own business in the rural environment. I would like to suggest that we take a closer look at encouraging more male participation in our profession.
Our profession faces many challenges in the coming year: Such as Medicare changes; accreditation requirements; bid process for DME, etc; state sales tax on DME sales not paid by Medicare & Medicaid; Medicaid reimbursement cuts;* and hospital reimbursement by Medicaid. Whatever your specialty area, we need your input. It is your obligation to speak out and allow the group to address your concerns. This is an organization for individuals who are pharmacists. This organization exists to support every aspect of the pharmacy profession.
Pharmacy is more than a business. Pharmacy is more than an art. Pharmacy is more than being a gate keeper. Pharmacy is more than patient education. Pharmacy is more than education of legislature. Pharmacy is more than promotion of better health. Pharmacy is more than education of future pharmacists. Pharmacy is more than being an overall expert on drugs. Pharmacy is more than being an expert in a specific area. It is all of these and many more. E Pluribus Unum FROM MANY, ONE OR FROM DIVERSITY, STRENGTH Numbers matter.
Join, support and be involved with an organization specific to your practice and the Mississippi Pharmacists Association. Be part of the grass roots efforts to make the profession of pharmacy better. Lets all work together so that we might maintain strength through our diversity. And as those who practiced before us have done: Leave our chosen profession better than we found it.
*Mississippi State Court Judge William Hole Singletary ordered the State Medical Agency to revoke a final rule that reduced payments to pharmacies for generic drugs. We can thank MIPA for starting the process and MPhA for joining hands, along with other organizations, to confront this challenge.