Virginia Society of Health-System Pharmacists

We are reaching out today to invite you to participate in the Virginia Society of Health-System Pharmacists’ (VSHP) Mentoring Program for the 2021-2022 year. The Mentoring Program is an opportunity for pharmacists and current students to interact, so that students can learn more about health-system pharmacy and develop professionally. The program was created with the hope that students would be given a stress-free experience to establish a professional relationship with a health-system pharmacist who shares similar interests.

Thank you to those who have served as mentors in the past. We hope that you have had a positive experience and are looking forward to another year of mentorship. As a reminder, to remain an active mentor in the program and receive new mentees, mentors must reapply each year.

 

New this year, we are also piloting a New Practitioner Mentoring program. Mentors who are less than 5 years into practice (including residents and fellows) will be paired with a mentor who is >5 years into practice, pending interest. Our hope would be to pair you with someone outside of your current health-system, thus further building your network. This pilot is tentatively planned to start in January 2022. There is a place in the application to express your interest in this new part of the program. More details to come!

 

We are firm believers that students and New Practitioners are the future of our practice, regardless of their professional field of choice. It is up to more seasoned pharmacists to help these newly practicing pharmacists develop professionally to move our profession forward through leadership and practice change.

 

Please visit our website at vshp.org/mentorship to learn more. You can fill out the application here: https://forms.gle/VQM8SxFhTK2sUDxW6 by October 1st, 2021.

 

Should you have any questions, concerns, or comments, please feel free to contact any member of the VSHP Mentorship Program Committee (contact information below).

 

We look forward to your mentorship! Thank you for your time and consideration.

 

Sincerely,

 

Mentorship Program Pharmacist Co-Chairs                     Mentorship Program Student Vice Co-Chairs

 

Lauren Pamulapati, PharmD, BCACP                             Alissa Clayton, PharmD Candidate 2022

E: lgpamulapati@vcu.edu                                              E: claytonav@vcu.edu

 

Serena Barden, PharmD, BCPS                                     Kelly Pratt, PharmD Candidate 2022

E: Serena.Barden@conduent.com                                  E: prattkf@vcu.edu

 

The mission of the Virginia Society of Health-System Pharmacists is to inspire innovative pharmacy practice by promoting education, advocacy and collaboration to help people achieve optimal health outcomes. We work towards fulfilling our mission every year through education of our members via region meetings, statewide meetings, newsletters, and our website; fostering professional standards; educating the public about the role of health system pharmacists; monitoring legislative issues that affect pharmacy; and by promoting health system pharmacy as a career path for future pharmacists. The majority of our Society's work is done by member volunteers working through our committees. You can play a vital role by serving on one of our committees.

What will you get out of it? You will meet and get to know many of the current and future pharmacy leaders in Virginia. You will have the professional satisfaction of helping shape and advance health system pharmacy in Virginia. You will make new friends. You will build your resume.

If you are interested in serving on a committee for VSHP, please fill out the form below.  Committee involvement typically takes less than 1 hour per month and is facilitated through conference calls.

The Committee Chair will contact you regarding upcoming meetings or other opportunities to participate. 

 

COMMITTEE FUNCTIONS AND CHARGES:

COMMUNICATIONS: The Communications Committee is responsible for the direction, development, and quality control of all VSHP publications, including the VSHP web site.

EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS: The Educational Affairs Committee is responsible for planning, coordinating, and evaluating educational content of the 2 statewide VSHP meetings.

GRANTS: The Grants Committee will review requests from individuals and groups in need of grant funding for specific programs or program elements which match the mission of VSHP.

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS: The Legislative Affairs Committee is responsible for informing the VSHP membership and Board of Directors of important legislation and regulations and how they will impact pharmacy practice in organized health care settings in Virginia.

MEMBERSHIP ENGAGEMENT: The Membership Engagement Committee reviews and suggests ways for the membership of VSHP to become more engaged in VSHP.  

ORGANIZATIONAL AFFAIRS: The Organizational Affairs Committee reviews and analyzes the VSHP organization and make recommendations to increase its effectiveness. 

PAC: The Political Action Committee works to raise monies for the VSHP PAC and determines the best uses for the funds raised.

STUDENT and RESIDENTS COMMITTEE: The Student and Residents Committee provides input to VSHP on how to get students interested in health-system pharmacy practice and how to get them interested and involved in VSHP.

Make a commitment to get involved in VSHP.

To join a committee: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2021vshp-committee-signup

Please respond by 9/21/2021

 

Submissions for November 5-6, 2021, Kingsmill Resort, Williamsburg VA

VSHP is accepting speaker proposals that will provide quality continuing education to our members. Please submit your completed proposal form to contact@vshp.org by Tuesday, September 7.

Thank you for supporting the educational mission of VSHP!

The 2021 Fall Seminar Hot Topics list is attached.  The VSHP Education Committee will consider all topics for presentation, with additional consideration for all presentations related to subjects on the Hot Topics list.   Presentations with interactive activities are encouraged. 

Please complete the attached Proposal Form

call for presentation fall 2021 vshp.docx

VSHP Mentorship Committee Book Club: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer who worked the same land as her slave ancestors, yet her cells—taken without her knowledge—became one of the most important tools in medicine: The first “immortal” human cells grown in culture, which are still alive today, though she has been dead for more than sixty years. HeLa cells were vital for developing the polio vaccine; uncovered secrets of cancer, viruses, and the atom bomb’s effects; helped lead to important advances like in vitro fertilization, cloning, and gene mapping; and have been bought and sold by the billions. 

Yet Henrietta Lacks remains virtually unknown, buried in an unmarked grave.

As author Rebecca Skloot brilliantly shows, the story of the Lacks family—past and present—is inextricably connected to the dark history of experimentation on African Americans, the birth of bioethics, and the legal battles over whether we control the stuff we are made of. 

Join us for a discussion of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot (now a major motion picture!) via Zoom October 13, 2021 at 19:00. 

The book club entails a 1-hour online call, where members will be able to get to know each other and discuss the selected book. All members (students, technicians, etc.) welcome! VSHP Book Club will be held at 19:00 on the 2^nd Wednesday of every 3^rd month (January, April, July, October)

RSVP: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwof-yvqDIsGNQ4ZjZ7d5NxNN4e3sAKyrsN

Submit your suggestions for future book club reads!: https://forms.gle/J6xugvSUgStEGBVH9

Craig Kirkwood has been installed as VSHP President for 2021-2022

Current position: Assistant Director for Pharmacotherapy Services at VCU Health, and Associate Professor, School of Pharmacy

Past VSHP Roles:  Initially a member of the Professional Practice Committee; a moderator and presenter for New Drugs updates at Spring and Fall Seminars; and the Regional President Elect and Regional President representing Region IV.  In June 2018, completed second two-year term as the VSHP Secretary and member of the Executive Committee. Served as a VSHP delegate at the House of Delegates during the meetings of 2011, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020.

 

Congratulations to the following members who have been elected to various VSHP offices

 

Kathy Koehl has been elected President-elect

Lisa Hammond has been elected Treasurer

 James Fiebert was elected Board member at large

 

Leah West was elected as the Technician Representative to the VSHP Board

Tyler Goins was elected Region 1 President-elect

 

Jonathan Puhl was elected Region 2 President-elect

 

Bridgette Smiegel was elected Region 3 President-elect

 

Denise Reilly was elected Region 4 President-elect

 

Sara Ladd was re-elected as Region 5 President

 

Amber Wesner was re-elected as Region 7 President

 

Mary Swisher was elected as Region 8 President-elect

 

Congratulations to all and we look forward to working with you.

 

Residents from around the state gathered on July 23 for the Annual VSHP Residency Forum.

Topics presented included:

VSHP Introduction

Keynote- Residency Updates

Time Management

GRIT

Financial Planning

VSHP 2021 Virtual Summer Strategic Officers Planning Retreat was held

July 12, 2021 2:00-4:00 PM  and July 13, 1:00-4:00P

 

Itinerary included

Introductions, Review of Agenda, & Deliverables for Retreat

Vital Signs - Initial Reflections    

Installation of Officers  

Information Review 

                                Strategic Plan 2020-2021

Accomplishments, Goals & Status of work from committees

What we did and did not accomplish

Projects to carryover and timelines

Update plans: how and when

What's Professionally Keeping You Up at Night [OR  If you could be anywhere else right now]       

Breakout Focus Groups

1. Organizational strategy for the future:
   1. Are we adequately cultivating our leadership?
   2. Elected officers as committee chairs - assisting or thwarting member development?
   3. How should the organizational structure be changed?
   4. Are we maximizing the relationships with students and residents?
2. Emerging from the pandemic:
   1. How can we quickly capitalize on the re-opening of society?
   2. What will the new normal look like relative to VSHP's role with its members?
   3. What considerations will carry over from the pandemic for meetings?
   4.  Are there Wellbeing & Resiliency Stage II considerations?
3. Legislative strategy: 
   1. What efforts should VSHP champion ("own") this year?
   2. What efforts should we support?
   3. How is our relationship with ASHP efforts?
   4. How is our relationship with VPhA efforts?

 

Moving Forward - Strategic Plan Development

 

On July 6, representatives of ASHP and VSHP met with staff from Senator Mark Warner’s office to discuss Senate Bill S.1362 – The Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act. Doug Huynh, the ASHP Federal Lobbyist, introduced the bi-partisan legislation that will amend the Social Security Act to include pharmacists on the list of recognized healthcare providers. Craig Kirkwood, Mark Hickman and Matt Jenkins, representing VSHP, provided more details about the legislation especially relative to the Commonwealth of Virginia. 

 

The bill would allow pharmacists to be reimbursed, similar to other non-physicians at 85% of the fee schedule, for certain healthcare services under Medicare Part B in medically underserved areas. While this bill does not change a pharmacist’s scope of practice, it will expand access to care for patients, especially elderly patients, given the availability and importance of pharmacists’ services as shown in the pandemic response. While the CBO has not scored this bill yet, ASHP has estimated that the bill will reduce healthcare expenditures $4 for every $1 spent on pharmacists’ clinical services.

 

The bill was introduced in the Senate by Senators Charles Grassley (R-IA), Robert Casey (D-PA) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH). A sister bill has been introduced in the House as H.R. 2759 by Representatives GK Butterfield (D-NC) and David McKinley (R-WV). The bill is not new – it was introduced in both the Senate and House in the 114^th and 115^th Congress. Each year the number of co-sponsors has increased.

 

You may support this bill by contacting your Senator and/or Representative and asking them to co-sponsor the legislation.  Assistance is available https://ashsp.ac360.aristotleactioncenter.com/#/alertId/7a08b943-77c9-4b09-b500-17f965bbf41c/

 

 

 

VSHP Members,

VSHP has set aside $10,000 for the grant program. This program allows VSHP members to apply for a grant in order to fund a project that will improve health-system pharmacy services and patient care in Virginia. Last year, VSHP awarded 6 grants to VSHP members. 

There are several conditions for a successful grant application:

• The application must be submitted by a current member of VSHP via this link: 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdAQFfNTTUbRQYhhocUG9o9x6ZAiJ4qgMik-dH6KKexX8pTeA/viewform

• All applications are due by August 3, 2021. 
• All grant funds must be used within 12 months of the grant's approval date. 
• Any unused funds must be returned to VSHP. 
• Updates to VSHP must be provided quarterly and a follow up report must be written to VSHP within one year of disbursement of funds, or when the project has been completed (whichever occurs first). 

Questions? Please contact Catherine Floroff at cfloroff@gmail.com or 757-404-6063.