Throughout my entire six weeks as a student pharmacist intern at the Texas Pharmacy Association, I felt nothing other than honor, value, passion, and togetherness working with the TPA team and being part of so many events. My experiences reminded me of the love I have for pharmacy.

From the privilege of accompanying the Professional Recovery Network and witnessing a long-term pharmacist have full licensure restored at an informal conference, to representing both TPA and Texas A&M University at the quarterly Texas Pharmacy Congress meeting, to being so involved at the 2019 TPA Conference and Expo, my time as TPA intern was irreplaceable, jampacked, and ultimately, the rotation of a lifetime. Although much of my time was focused on the conference, along the way I picked up priceless knowledge from my preceptor and CEO, Debbie Garza, and other indulging pharmacy professionals.

One takeaway from the short but brimful rotation, and the buzz from the positive legislative momentum, is that as pharmacists, technicians and students we can collectively advance the practice if we come together under one voice and one organization.

The 2019 TPA Conference & Expo from start to finish attested to this buzz. Pharmacists, associates, pharmacy technicians and students from all around Texas gathered to network, share and gain knowledge, and have fun with colleagues and peers.

Pre-conference board meetings for TPA, the Texas Pharmacy Foundation and PharmPAC spurred discussions about how to continue to elevate the profession through expanding membership, advancing fundraising efforts for the Foundation and how the vitality of PharmPAC depends on its contributors, especially when it comes to advancing our legislative efforts.

Over the next three days, watching the excitement and enthusiasm of all the members walking into the continuing education sessions kept my energy up and a smile on my face the entire weekend. It was also lovely to see all of these professionals let loose and have a fun time at the “giant” President’s Celebration after Mark Comfort passed the gavel to Raj Chaddua.

What especially reignited my passion for pharmacy was the House of Delegates. This meeting gave TPA members a physical platform to voice their opinions and concerns and to also be part of accepting and amending resolutions that affect their profession. Although it was a whirlwind being the one in charge of making those amendments to resolutions on the spot, I loved every minute of it—even the sweat I worked up! I truly felt the passion for pharmacy and our profession in that moment.

The room was full of pharmacists who care about the state of the Association and the profession and who want nothing but to elevate all things pharmacy. The student delegates were not afraid to charge up to the microphone and make their voice heard. It gave me such pride to see my peers represent their respective colleges of pharmacy as student pharmacists. It was a picturesque moment of how when we work together, we can and will advance the profession for the best.

Though the conference ended, one thing that will not end is the relationships that I have formed with pharmacists from all over Texas, my peers from different Texas pharmacy schools and especially my extended family at TPA.

This rotation changed how I view my profession. TPA is here for pharmacy and pharmacy only, and that is apparent within the organization, its leadership and its members. I believe that my first TPA conference was meant to be this year’s conference as a student intern, and the next TPA conference I will attend in 2020 in Austin will be outmatched as I will have the title of “new practitioner.” I will continue to support this organization as a pharmacist and hope to be just as involved at every future TPA conference!

Obilom completed a six-week rotation with the Texas Pharmacy Association during July and August of 2019.