Being a student in pharmacy school is a difficult path, but being in school during a pandemic has been quite an interesting journey for many of us in pursuit of our dreams. In early 2020, I can’t imagine any of us knew the changes that were in store for us. We thought the pandemic would be over quickly and life would resume as normal. Yet here we are, more than 18 months later, most of us experiencing a life that has changed drastically.

One thing that has not changed during the pandemic is the continued importance of the Texas Pharmacy Association to advance the profession of pharmacy.

Why is it so important? During my first year of pharmacy school I had the opportunity to attend Pharmacy Day at the Capitol, during which I realized the importance of advocating for changes in policy. There are so many different pharmacy practice areas you can choose from upon graduation. While that makes pharmacy a diverse field, it can often feel segmented as each branch of pharmacy tends to have its own organization.

Thankfully, TPA is here to close the gaps as we work to advance all aspects of pharmacy forward in Texas. Throughout the pandemic, TPA never stopped working to make sure pharmacists were updated with the rapidly changing information related to COVID-19. TPA advocated for allowing pharmacies across the state the ability to administer COVID-19 tests and vaccines when they became available. Pharmacy advocacy allowed for the expansion of vaccine administration to children ages 3 and above, marking an incredible win for pharmacists as it displays the skills and knowledge those in our profession gain as we progress through school and into our careers.

Not only did they jump into action during the pandemic, but TPA members have always looked out for the best interest of pharmacy. During this past legislative session, TPA worked with members of the Texas Legislature to pass legislation aimed at protecting pharmacies from pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) practices that cause pharmacies to lose money and patients. With the passage of such bills, we can continue to help protect our pharmacies, pharmacists, and most importantly, our patients across the state.

Now, as a fourth-year pharmacy student, if I could leave you with only one ounce of wisdom I have learned, it would be this: get involved in public policy and in organizations like TPA during and upon graduation from pharmacy school. Those decisions can have lasting impacts on your career and the lives of your patients. While we all may have different career paths, may we never forget that, in the end, we share a common goal to move the profession of pharmacy forward.