All roads for NP LIFE lead to Washington, DC
FEATURES
By Jordan Scott, PharmD
Professional meetings are considered by some to be a cornerstone of the pharmacy profession. Between advocacy, networking opportunities, continuing education, and simply connecting with old friends, pharmacy prides itself on utilizing annual meetings to continue reignite the fire to continue to represent the profession and provide patients with the very best.
As a new practitioner, these meetings can initially be more intimidating than they are motivating. Large conference centers, unfamiliar faces, and a lack of experience navigating these meetings can lead to being overwhelmed. APhA offers one of the only professional meetings in the country for new practitioners, by new practitioners: the Day of NP LIFE. Prioritizing leadership, innovation, friendship, and education, new practitioners from around the country have gathered at APhA headquarters in Washington, DC, to share in celebrating what it means to be a new practitioner in the pharmacy profession.
A pharmily reunion
As a member of the APhA New Practitioner Advisory Committee, I have been privileged to attend the last two Day of NP LIFE meetings in person. Held in the fall, the weekend meeting has moved in the direction of providing dedicated programming geared toward young professionals exiting pharmacy school, including financial management, imposter syndrome, understanding emotional intelligence, leading through change, and advocacy, to name a few. This meeting almost serves as a reunion, getting to reconnect with familiar faces from across the organization, while welcoming newcomers looking to foster connections with other young professionals facing similar challenges.
The energy from new practitioners, excited to learn and grow throughout the weekend was infectious. Taking over the halls of the APhA headquarters—many for the first time—standing in awe of the pharmacy history that lay before them. It truly never gets old to enter the APhA board room and see the walls lined with past APhA presidents’ photos, those who blazed the trail for new practitioners to follow in.
Take advantage of this unique experience
As a more intimate meeting put on for new practitioner members only, Day of NP LIFE remains one of the most unique meeting experiences young pharmacists can enjoy. Many new and lasting friendships have formed as a result APhA, with opportunities like this to gather in person with like-minded pharmacists being a major catalyst. The clock will run out on a pharmacist’s time as a new practitioner, as we have only 7 years to take advantage of Day of NP LIFE.
I can say with full confidence that this is one of my favorite meetings every year, and I look forward to continuing to attend, watching other new practitioners continue to find ways to connect, and work together to move pharmacy forward.
I look forward to seeing you at Day of NP LIFE 2025!
Jordan Scott, PharmD, is a clinical pharmacist specialist in hematology at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer center in Buffalo, NY, and the 2024–2025 chair of the APhA New Practitioner Advisory Committee. He is an avid fan of the Buffalo Bills, and enjoys playing cornhole, tennis, and spending time outdoors.