At the 2025 APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition in Nashville this past March, the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy’s APhA–ASP Chapter was honored to receive the 2023–2024 national OTC Medicine Safety Award. This recognition reflected our chapter’s creativity and dedication in promoting safe use of OTC medications.

As we celebrate this success, we also reflect on the journey that brought us here.

By optimizing the role of community pharmacists and fostering better communication, we can continue to provide high-quality, accessible care to patients in the community.

In a world where health care access continues to be a pressing challenge, creative solutions are vital for ensuring that communities obtain the necessary services.