Gracie Manis is a final-year PharmD candidate at South College School of Pharmacy.
As my final year of pharmacy school approached, I was excited and nervous about what the next year would look like. After preferencing and submitting a few applications, I received my schedule and was surprised to see back-to-back association management rotations.
I found my love for associations and all the incredible opportunities one could have when I joined APhA–ASP as a first-year student pharmacist. My passion for professional involvement continued to flourish, and I was elected to represent my chapter as its president. The more I became involved and the more I grew to love the association space, I started wondering if it could be a career path for me.
When I embarked on my association management rotations with the Tennessee Pharmacists Association (TPA) and then APhA, I was excited to learn about the groups representing pharmacists and student pharmacists like you and me. While both rotations had many similarities, some unique experiences also stuck out.
Working with my fellow Volunteers
My first association management rotation was with TPA. This organization holds a special place in my heart as a Tennessee native, and I have been involved with them for many years. I had the opportunity to participate in various activities, with some of my favorites including meeting with nontraditional pharmacists all across Tennessee, attending meetings with multiple foundations and sponsors who support TPA and its goals, and working with the Tennessee Pharmacy Recovery Network to help those in recovery.
Another unique opportunity I was able to participate in because of the month I was there was meeting with lobbyists and those on the legislative and regulatory team to discuss ways to support bills and laws that benefit the people and pharmacists of Tennessee.
On to the national level
I left TPA feeling energized and ready to take on my next association management rotation at APhA as part of the Student and New Practitioner Development team. There were a lot of similarities in both rotations. For example, I participated in planning for major conferences and attended internal meetings that allowed me to see the inner workings of a professional association.
While on rotation with APhA, I was able to help with and even moderate the preliminary round of the National Patient Counseling Competition. Another unique opportunity I had was contributing to the future of APhA and aiding in the development of its new membership structure.
Potential career path
Overall, I am so grateful I had these opportunities to learn about association management. Although, I am still unsure of what my career plans entail, one of my goals is to take a role in association management one day. As I briefly described, a career in association management can look many different ways, but I feel a role in member engagement or practice affairs would suit me best.
If you are interested in learning more about association management and its benefits for pharmacists and student pharmacists, I highly recommend exploring experiential education opportunities.