No day is the same here at APhA

Olunife Akinmolayan, PharmD, is a 2023–2024 APhA executive resident in Washington, DC.

I heard the phrase “No day is the same here at APhA” for the first time and I couldn’t agree more. It may be the ability to influence change that creates an excitement to serve within association management. As an executive resident, I—along with my fellow cohort members—get a front row seat to see what it takes to run a national organization. But it’s not just any organization. APhA is the sixth national professional association created in the United States and the only private entity on the National Mall.
As an executive resident serving in the Pharmacy Practice and Government Affairs Departments, opportunities to work with agencies such as FDA, CMS, HHS, and even the White House have provided immeasurable insights into our nation’s health care system.

An overabundance of possibilities

The view from the APhA Terrace never gets old. It is also one that can never be taken for granted since APhA has been given unique positioning to advocate for pharmacists from all settings in the nation’s capital. By working with other dedicated leaders, the channels to gain knowledge never seem to close. At times, it may seem like an overabundance of possibilities, making it difficult to determine what you want your legacy in the profession and the world to be. You will quickly learn how fast a year can go by.

Nonetheless, you find mentors who can guide you along the way and provide insight into what has helped them navigate different chapters in their careers, and they may join you at the occasional happy hour. A postgraduate experience with APhA grants you the opportunity to rotate with different departments within the enterprise, giving you exposure to the effort that goes into providing member benefits like Pharmacy Today, the APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition, and impacting the next generation of student pharmacists through student outreach.

My experience has afforded me the privilege to construct letters on behalf of the association to members of Congress and requests for information from FDA. It has also given me insights on what it takes to collaborate with other pharmacy organizations to advocate on initiatives that we find essential to advancing the profession. Hard to believe that we have made it through the first quarter, but the best is yet to come. Time flies when you’re having fun and impacting lives, but keep your eye on the clock and maintain your focus.

Interested in joining the cohort next year?
Learn more about the APhA Executive Postgraduate Training Program and reach out if you have any questions. If you’re ready to start your next chapter as a new practitioner with APhA, we look forward to receiving your application by December 31, 2023, and learning how you plan to influence change for every pharmacist, for all of pharmacy.