The pharmacy profession has a long history of supporting the public’s health, but the connection and involvement of pharmacists within the greater public health community has evolved more recently. APHA has supported the pharmacists’ role in public health through their development of policy statements (see APHA Policy 8024, 1981), with the most recent comprehensive addition in 2006 (Policy Number 200614) on “The Role of the Pharmacist in Public Health.” The 2006 policy statement presents a detailed analysis of the current roles of pharmacists in the public health practice and provides recommendations for future training and activities.
The Pharmacy Section focuses on areas that include advancing the pharmacists' role in public health, safe medication use, and improving patient outcomes. Current areas of interest include:
- Interprofessional public health practice
- Medication adherence
- Pharmaceutical economics: reimbursements, drug pricing, Medicare, Medicaid
- Pharmacy policy and services utilization: Evaluation of outcomes of pharmacy services
- Prescription drug misuse and abuse
- Safe medication use and reduction of medication errors
Mission:The Pharmacy Section advances public health through the application of pharmacy knowledge and practice to promote health equity, access to care, and optimal health.
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Current Leadership:
Chair: Jing Wu, PharmD, MPH
Chair-Elect: Alina Cernasev, PhD, PharmD, MSc
Immediate Past Chair: Hoai-An Truong, PharmD, MPH, FAPhA, FNAP
Secretary: Meghana Aruru, PhD, MBA, BPharm
Treasurer: Audrey Kostrzewa, PharmD, MPH
Governing Councilors: Debbie Pestka; PharmD, PhD (2022); and Nancy JW Lewis, PharmD, MPH (2021)
Section Councilors: Oluwatoyin Fadeyibi, PharmD, MPH (2023), Candace Haugtvedt, PhD, BSPharm (2023); Justin Gatwood, PharmD (2022); Lindsey Weis, PharmD, MPH (2022); Neveen Abdelghani, PharmD, MPH, MS (2021); Vibhuti Arya, PharmD, MPH (2021)
Membership Chair: Katie Leslie, PharmD
Policy Chair: Lisa C. Flaherty PharmD, MPH
Program Chair/Planner: Barry Bleidt, PharmD, PhD
Student Liaison: Megan Sensmeier
Past Chairs:
2019-2020: Hoai-An Truong, PharmD, MPH, FAPhA, FNAP
2018-2019: Natalie DiPietro Mager, PharmD, MPH
2017-2018: Donna Hubbard McCree, PhD, MPH, RPh
2016-2017: Suzanne Clark, RPh, PhD
2014-2016: Stuart Feldman, PhD
For leadership contact information, log into APHA Connect using your member credentials.