I joined the Texas Pharmacy Association (TPA) during my first year of pharmacy school but failed to recognize the value of my membership at that time. As a fourth-year pharmacy student, I was able to better appreciate the value of being involved in TPA during my advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPE) rotations.

Although I have been a TPA member for many years, I was not sure what to expect in my rotation as I had a limited background regarding legislation and advocacy. With the help of my preceptor, Debbie Garza, and the TPA staff, it turned out to be an extraordinary learning experience.

Sadly, it was not until this rotation that I got a glimpse at some of the important issues at hand: low reimbursement rates, lack of federal recognition as providers, difficulty joining provider networks in Texas, and concerns regarding job outlook. Throughout my rotation, I was able to participate in meetings with the TPA Board of Directors and other groups, such as Texas Medicaid, that helped me better understand the issues in pharmacy.

Unfortunately, these issues only become apparent to students once they begin practicing, making it difficult to navigate solutions. There is no doubt that clinical knowledge is important, but it is just as vital to learn and educate ourselves about issues that are affecting Texas pharmacists in real time.

TPA provides a unified platform for all pharmacists, pharmacy students, and pharmacy technicians. They actively support and advocate for issues their members are facing, regardless of their practice area. Joining TPA is free for students, but the wealth of information that comes with the membership is immeasurable. It was only at the beginning of this rotation that I realized all the information that I had at my fingertips, as I began to dive further into the weekly newsletters and quarterly magazines.

As students it is easy to get caught in the whirlwind of pharmacy school, but it only takes a couple seconds to sign up and support TPA. Although many issues may not affect students just yet, that does not mean students cannot play a role in advocacy. During the last legislative session in 2019, more than 400 students from all pharmacy schools showed that their voices mattered, resulting in notable legislative wins for pharmacy.

A unified voice in the profession can have a far greater influence than multiple individual voices. TPA has always provided the support, but the organization can only be as strong as its members. Everything is at our fingertips; it’s what we choose to do with the information that can make a difference for our profession and our future.

Momin completed a six-week rotation with the Texas Pharmacy Association during October and November of 2020.