Virginia Society of Health-System Pharmacists

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.

More Than 130 Healthcare Groups Express Support for Legislation Expanding Medicare Patients’ Access to Pharmacist Services

Included in this list is VSHP.

See article in attached link https://conta.cc/3fnZwll

See the article: Specialty drugs are sparking the latest battle between Virginia hospitals and health insurers - Virginia Mercury

As National Volunteer Week 2021 comes to an end, we thank our members who continue to give of their time and talents any time they are called into service.  We want to acknowledge you and thank you for your service. 

As stated in President Biden’s proclamation, “The tremendous power of volunteers and volunteerism has been on dramatic display in our response to the COVID-19 pandemic”.  VSHP members have been at the fore front of many challenging responses in our communities and hospitals from natural disasters to pandemics to service to VSHP.

As National Volunteer Week ends, we acknowledge our fellow volunteers, and know you are the backbone of the VSHP.

Thank you for your service,

VSHP