New APhA president, Jenelle Sobotka, urges pharmacists 'to make a difference'
As pharmacy transforms into a patient-care model, everyone must "do what is needed to make a difference," Jenelle L. Sobotka, Ohio Northern University Raabe College of Pharmacy professor, said after she was sworn in as president of the American Pharmacists Association at its annual conference in New Orleans this month.
Photo courtesy of Ohio Northern University
As pharmacy transforms into a patient-care model, everyone must “do what is needed to make a difference,” Jenelle L. Sobotka, Ohio Northern University Raabe College of Pharmacy professor, said after she was sworn in as president of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) at its annual conference in New Orleans this month.
Sobotka, PharmD, FAPhA, who has an endowed chair at the university, had additional reasons to celebrate at the conference: Ohio Northern University (ONU) collected numerous individual and chapter accolades at the 4-day event.
The new president delivered a message of Transforming Patient Care by LEADing.
“Pharmacy’s transformation across the tipping point from a model of drug distribution to one of patient care will require everyone, not just individuals, to LEAD through a commitment to Leadership, Engagement, Action, and Determination to do what is needed to make a difference,” she said. “New healthcare delivery systems are still being tested, and patient care needs to be transformed. We must keep our focus to ensure pharmacists are recognized as the healthcare team member responsible for ensuring optimal medication therapy outcomes for patients.”
Among those receiving awards at the conference were:
David R. Bright, PharmD, BCACP, assistant professor of pharmacy at ONU, the 2012 APhA Distinguished New Practitioner Award.
Allen Nichol, pharmaceutical care consultant with Nichol & Associates, and adjunct professor at ONU, the 2012 APhA Academy of Pharmacy Practice and Management (APhA-APPM) Distinguished Achievement Award in Community and Ambulatory Practice.
ONU’s Raabe College of Pharmacy APhA Academy of Student Pharmacists (ASP) chapter, which was 1 of 5 chapters in the nation to be awarded the second annual Generation Rx National Award. In addition, the school’s APhA-ASP student chapter received the 2012 Region 4 Award for Operation Immunization, a promotional campaign designed to increase community awareness of immunization information and advise patients where they can obtain the proper immunizations.
