President's Message

Happy Holidays everyone!  With the year winding down, time to reflect on your own accomplishments and note the challenges to be, the same holds true for UPhA.  We all have had a busy year. 

Coming up, we have Pharmacy Day on Capitol earlier this year.  It will be held on January 27^th this year in the capitol rotunda, which is the second day of the legislative session.  We invite you to come and join us for this most important event.  Students from Roseman University and The University of Utah will be on hand, checking blood pressure, cholesterol checks, diabetes screening, and on hand to present posters they have worked very hard on.  Most importantly, they will be on hand promoting the changes and the future of our profession and how the impact of pharmacists, positively impacts health care for our citizens.  What they need is our support in the form of preceptors on hand.  Do not feel as if you have to commit to the entire day, just an hour or so will make a difference.  While there, it can be arranged with advanced notice to meet your own representatives and senators, which brings me to the point. 

How many of you know who your respective state representative and state senator is?  Have you ever reached out to them and offered your name and for them to call upon you if they were to have a question regarding a pharmacy related issue from a constituent living in their area?  Please reach out to them.  They want to hear your opinion and input of how you feel as they are representing you and want to learn your concerns.  It is a simple process to learn your respective representatives and senators.   Search by entering http://le.utah.gov/house2/index.html, and then on the right side of the page you will find an area “find your representative”.  Simply enter your address and zip code and your representative and senator will appear.  Reach out to them, or better yet, come join us on capitol hill on January 20^th and meet them! 

In April, make plans to join us the UPhA’s Annual Convention and Expo in St. George.  The dates for this event in April 16-18^th.  One of the changes we made as an association this year is to go to two events (our Annual Convention, and a Fall CE event) along with developing webinar events during the year.  Planning for this education content of the annual meeting is nearly complete and promises to be the best yet.  Look for an announcement to be coming in January along with lodging information.   Just a reminder, this is a licensure year. 

May everyone have a safe and happy holiday season and we look forward to serving you in 2015.  Thanks to everyone for supporting UPhA!

Greg Myers, PharmD

President, 2014-2015