As I write, I’m in awe of the sun as it rises over the U.S. Capitol building. APhA headquarters is a great location to watch both sunrises and sunsets, and today’s sunrise is particularly gorgeous with gentle wind-swept cloud wisps combing the sky over the Washington Monument. I’m reminded that today is a new day with a new start, and an opportunity to do good in the world. It’s a chance to work hard to make a difference in people’s lives and to tell the story of our profession to folks who have the power to make change happen.

As a child, I learned early the golden rule: do unto others as you’d have them do unto you. For me, it’s simple; kindness, empathy, and respect. Those are the attributes I have worked to put into practice in my career. Like everyone, I have occasionally fallen short, but I know that my efforts have served me and my patients and students very well.

Everybody knows that bullies don’t care about what’s in the best interest of anyone else around them, they are simply focused on their own insecurities and self-interests.

By now, many of you have read this story about Ashleigh Anderson, published this morning by USAToday.

This story is as heartbreaking now as it was in 2021. No pharmacist at anytime, anywhere, should feel they need to put their work duties over any health concerns they are experiencing, under any circumstances.

APhA is the oldest national professional association in pharmacy. Founded in 1852, much of what we know as quality in the profession can be directly attributed to APhA’s efforts—for example, establishment and publishing of a National Formulary, the writing and revising over the years of the Code of Ethics for Pharmacists, collaboration in creating and publishing the Oath of a Pharmacist, and the driver of quality health care, products, services, and standards related to medication use.