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Dozens of 91���� School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences alumni, students, faculty and staff made the trip to New Orleans, La. this week. But while the live music, gumbo, or fried catfish were nice bonuses, the real draw was the 2024 Midyear Clinical Meeting and Exhibition.

The annual event organized by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) is one of the largest gatherings of pharmacy professionals in the world, typically attracting thousands of attendees, including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, students and industry representatives.

“It was wonderful to see so many of our students, alumni, preceptors and faculty at this year’s reception,” Dean and SUNY Distinguished Professor Kanneboyina Nagaraju said “This event allowed our current students to interact with our alumni and preceptors and gain more experience that will help them on their journey in pharmacy.”

Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice Elizabeth Hageman, who presented at this year’s event, covered the topic of pharmacy technician training in academia.

“This opportunity allowed for technician trainers and healthcare systems across the country to see how they may be able to work with academia to build new opportunities,” Hageman said. “It allowed for constructive conversations and helped build new relationships.”

Instructional Support Associate Katie Sasina was a first-timer for the event but explained she was incredibly grateful she could go.

“It was a great experience, as I was able to earn continuing education credits and attend technician-specific networking sessions,” Sasina shared. “I gained insight from the techs I was able to meet, especially those who are passionate about advocating for our profession.

Sasina added this event strengthens the idea of being an advocate and helping raise awareness of what pharmacists and pharmacy technicians do.

“When people recognize the value we bring, it can lead to better pay, career growth and overall respect in the healthcare field,” she said. “Events like these help remind us that we’re an essential part of the healthcare team, and it’s time our contributions are acknowledged more.”

Professor of Pharmacy Practice Sarah Spinler had the opportunity to serve as a roundtable facilitator at two events: Section of Pharmacy Educators (SPE) Collaborations Between Health Systems and Academica (CHSA) Advisory Group “Challenges and Opportunities for Pharmacy Practice Faculty in Professional Practice Settings” and The ASHP Research Foundation’s Researcher Networking Roundtable.

“The ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting Personnel Placement Service and Residency Showcase are two large-scale opportunities for our students to learn about and interview for post-graduate training opportunities such as pharmaceutical industry fellowships and post-graduate residencies,” explained Spinler.

With such a large event, bringing together more than 20,000 pharmacy professionals from across the globe, Spinler shared how proud she was of her students and how they represented the University.

“Our student scientific poster presenters did a fantastic job showcasing the value of our capstone research projects and the work we’re doing,” Spinler added. “The meeting has also been a great place to connect with old friends and former students!”

Clinical Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice Wes Kufel also gave two continuing education presentations during the event:

• One in collaboration with titled “Therapeutic Debates 2024. Safety Showdown: Analyzing Vancomycin and Piperacillin-Tazobactam versus Vancomycin and Cefepime in Antibiotic Regimens.”
• The second was with titled “Management Case Study: Development and Implementation of a Clinical Research Microcredential Program for Pharmacy Residents.”