One of the most significant lessons I have learned as a student pharmacist is the relationship between state and federal policies and their effect on our patients. States determine our scope of practice, while federal policy determines whether those services can be reimbursed for our Medicare patients, creating a disconnect that affects patient care in very real ways.

This is especially true in El Paso, a medically underserved region surrounded by rural communities. Federal legislation like the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act (ECAPS, HR 3164/S 2426) has the potential to significantly improve access to care for our community in combination with state-level reform. ECAPS would allow pharmacists to be reimbursed for test-to-treat services under Medicare Part B, but state reform is also needed to allow pharmacists to perform these services in Texas.

Recognizing the impact of this legislation motivated me to reach out to Congresswoman Veronica Escobar’s (D-El Paso) district office to begin a conversation about how federal policy shapes the services patients in our community can receive.

Overcoming Geographic Barriers

That motivation was strengthened by another challenge we face as a region and a school. When students participate in Texas Pharmacy Day at the Capitol, the distance between El Paso and Austin poses a significant barrier, and travelling to Washington, DC, poses an even bigger challenge. The travel is costly, time consuming, and not feasible for many students.

I wanted to show that advocacy does not have to be limited to meetings at the Capitol. There are meaningful opportunities for advocacy right here within our own communities, and we can invite our policymakers into the spaces where our patients actually receive care.

Developing Relationships

To begin that process, I first submitted a meeting request through the contact form on the Congresswoman’s website and followed up with a phone call to her local office two weeks later. I stated that I was a constituent and referenced ECAPS when requesting the meeting, but emphasized that our focus was on addressing patient access.

I invited the district staff to visit a local pharmacy so they could observe these issues in real time, but due to scheduling conflicts our first meeting took place in the district office in El Paso. We discussed the connection between scope of practice and federal reimbursement, pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform, and how federal legislation plays a significant role in sustaining access to care in Texas.

At the end of that meeting, I re-invited the district staff to visit a local pharmacy to tie our conversations back to patient care. They agreed, and with TPA’s support I connected with Walgreens and scheduled the tour. Observing real workflow, staffing demands, and patient interactions offered the district representatives a clearer picture on why these policies are essential for advancing patient care.

By the end of the tour, the district representatives expressed interest in visiting The University of Texas at El Paso School of Pharmacy to continue learning from students about our priorities. It was encouraging to see how quickly a local relationship could develop once the office understood the needs of our patients and the importance of the student voice.

As student pharmacists, we represent the next generation of the profession, and the decisions being made today will shape the health care system in which we practice for the rest of our careers. Our representatives want to hear from us for that exact reason: we represent the future of the workforce.

Take Small Steps and Get Involved

For students who feel unsure about getting involved, I encourage you to begin with a small step. The most important thing you can do is stay informed about the issues shaping our profession and take time to understand how the policy process works. From there, everything else feels much more approachable.

Advocacy does not require you to be an expert, it only requires passion and a willingness to learn. When we take advantage of the constituent connection and bring advocacy into our own communities, we help shape policy that directly impacts our patients and strengthens the future of pharmacy in Texas.

As a first-year student, I was actively searching for ways to immerse myself in the pharmacy community. I discovered the Texas Pharmacy Association Academy of Student Pharmacists (TPA-ASP) through an email message seeking student committee applications. After researching TPA-ASP’s activities—including numerous scholarship opportunities, patient counseling competitions, poster showcases, and most importantly, the chance to grow into a strong advocate for the pharmacy profession—I applied and quickly became involved.

Throughout pharmacy school, I have served as a member of TPA-ASP’s Membership Committee, twice as Membership Chair and as Scholarship Chair. This involvement has allowed me to flourish as a student pharmacist by developing advocacy skills and expanding my professional network through events such as the TPA Conference and Expo, Pharmacy Day at the Capitol, and the Bexar County Pharmacy Association’s recent PharmPAC fundraising dinner.
TPA provides future and current pharmacists with the tools and knowledge to stay informed about advocacy topics and policies affecting the pharmacy profession. It offers the unique opportunity to speak directly with legislators, advocate for the future of pharmacy, and experience the process that shapes TPA policies. Additionally, it reinforced the importance of building a strong network. Through TPA, I have connected with student pharmacists across Texas and developed great friendships.

I encourage other students to join TPA and participate in campus and statewide initiatives. The connections you can make, the skills you will develop, and the awareness you will gain about issues impacting the pharmacy profession are invaluable. Whether planning an event, advocating with legislators, or networking with practitioners and peers, each experience prepares you to become a more informed and effective future pharmacist.

One of the most meaningful moments I experienced through TPA-ASP occurred at the 2024 TPA Conference and Expo, where I met Larry and Kathy McClaugherty. They created a Texas Pharmacy Foundation scholarship in honor of their late son, Neal, who attended the Children’s Association for Maximum Potential (CAMP) Camp. I felt an immediate connection with the McClaughertys, as I have been volunteering at CAMP since 2023. Located in Center Point, Texas, CAMP serves children and adults with various disabilities and behavioral challenges. Their programs include summer camp programs, Family Weekend Retreats, Teen and Adult Day Adventures, and Parent’s Night Out events. As a student pharmacist, I gain invaluable hands-on experience at CAMP through aiding in the medication check-in process and dispensing medications to campers. I highly encourage student pharmacists to volunteer with CAMP during their academic journey or as licensed pharmacists.

My time with TPA-ASP has laid a strong foundation. The confidence and leadership skills I have gained will serve me well as a future pharmacist. TPA has enriched my pharmacy school experience and has helped to shape the pharmacist I aspire to become.

Haase will be honored as TPA’s 2025 Distinguished Student Pharmacist during the Awards Dinner on July 19 at the 2025 TPA Conference & Expo.

When selecting my APPE rotation schedule, I wanted an elective that wasn’t clinically focused. Although I had been a member of the Texas Pharmacy Association (TPA) since my first year of pharmacy school, I wasn’t exactly what you’d call “active.” Hence, I chose the TPA elective to explore other parts of pharmacy.

Before the rotation even began, my preceptor, Sarah Nguyen, hit me with an unexpected challenge: reflecting on where I see myself in five years. Honestly, I panicked. Five years? I hadn’t even planned beyond next year! Right now, my main goal is to survive APPE rotations, pass the NAPLEX/MPJE, and earn my license. While the thought initially overwhelmed me, it pushed me to take a step back and think more intentionally about my future and the bigger picture of my pharmacy career.

Going into the rotation, I didn’t know much about TPA. Over time, I realized the important role it plays in supporting the profession. I had always thought of pharmacy as being split between retail and hospital settings. I never considered how advocacy affects the profession.

An impactful moment of my rotation was attending the Texas State Board of Pharmacy quarterly meeting on my second day. Observing TPA advocate for community pharmacists during discussions on rules and policy changes for sterile compounding regulations highlighted the importance of ensuring our voice is represented in decision-making processes.

Another interesting meeting we attended focused on community health workers (CHWs). It inspired me to see TPA explore ways to integrate pharmacy technicians as CHWs for improved access to care in their communities. These experiences made me realize the behind-the-scenes work required to create meaningful changes in pharmacy practice.

My favorite project was creating a member summary about the new Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. I like to think of it as my legacy at TPA. My preceptor and I poured our sweat and tears into that document. It took dozens of rounds of writing, editing, and perfecting before it was sent out to the membership. One day, you might see it framed on my wall!

These activities also allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and improve my communication skills. Whether it was one-on-one meetings with staff or speaking with pharmacists at the TPA board meeting, I gained confidence in my ability to engage in discussions about pharmacy-related topics.

TPA expanded my knowledge of legislative advocacy and gave me a new perspective on pharmacy as a profession. I now understand that pharmacy is not limited to clinical or community settings but includes a variety of roles that contribute to shaping the profession. For example, my exposure to health plans, state agencies, and the collaborative work done by associations like TPA showed me how much opportunity exists for growth in pharmacy.

I learned that change requires time, effort, and collaboration. Advocacy can be a long and challenging process, but it is essential for advancing the pharmacy profession and improving patient care.

Regardless of your title as a pharmacist, pharmacy technician, student pharmacist, or allied colleague, leadership is a key ingredient of our profession. Patients view us as subject matter experts. Our words and actions hold great weight, and it’s a beautiful privilege to be a leader for our patients and communities.

How TPA Crafted My Leadership Foundation

As a first-year student pharmacist, I thought leadership was placed on the individual. Appointments and elections seemed to be the only path to being a leader, so I focused heavily on getting titles, like serving as my campus’ Student Director (a liaison-type role within the TPA Academy of Student Pharmacists).

My time that year taught me that leadership was much deeper than a title and doing the bare minimum asked of the role. It was late-night planning sessions, making sure my people had the resources they needed, and consistently reflecting on how things could improve. It was a profound sense of caring for the Academy and for TPA at my campus—a deep pride that convinced me to continue serving throughout school.

As I now transition into new practitioner status, I fondly look back on my time as Chair of the Academy of Student Pharmacists and as a student representative on three Association councils and the TPA Board of Directors. By participating in these opportunities, I gained a better understanding of how the nuances of major pharmacy issues can impact each sector of the profession. My leadership foundation was strengthened under TPA’s influence.

How TPA Elevates Pharmacy Leadership

My leadership story with TPA is not unique. Many lifelong leaders within TPA inspire students to step up and serve. There are numerous opportunities to give back within our Association. These opportunities with TPA have taught me and many others the basics of leadership—things like calling meetings, developing agendas, and project management. It has also taught the more “executive-level” leadership skills like effective communication, delegation, and the emotional intelligence to meet your team where they need you.

One of the ways TPA did this was through the inaugural Student Leadership Institute event in April. This innovative day-long institute combined leadership with advocacy so that student participants could effectively elevate the profession once back at their campuses. More than 60 students learned high-level skills from TPA CEO Debbie Garza and Executive Coach Debbie Platts.

We walked away inspired and better equipped to communicate prominent pharmacy issues to our peers and legislators. Most importantly, we left feeling empowered to inspire others to positive action. This is the power that TPA offers to its members.

We are all leaders, and TPA embraces that fact for us all.

As a student pharmacist, it has always been very important to me to be actively involved in organizations that further expand our profession. I have been a Texas Pharmacy Association member since my third year of pharmacy school after learning about the integral role that students can have by being actively involved in advocating for our profession. It is important to be involved since TPA advocates for pharmacists so that we may be allowed to practice at the top of our profession and to the fullest extent of our education and training.

Last fall, I was able to complete a six-week elective rotation at TPA. My favorite part of this rotation was witnessing firsthand the hard work that the TPA staff does in the background, allowing the Association to continue to thrive. My experience during this rotation allowed me to learn more about the many benefits offered to members, such as access to a free continuing education course monthly.

During this unique experience, I was made aware of various issues pertinent to the pharmacy profession. One of the hot topics at the time was the RSV vaccine that had been released last summer. I learned that pharmacy technicians were not allowed to administer the newly released vaccine and that TPA was looking at ways to have this addressed legislatively at the state level.

During my time at TPA, I was able to attend a Texas Pharmacy Foundation Board meeting and learn how the Foundation is working to advance the profession of pharmacy through research and scholarships. I also had the opportunity to attend the Women in Government Leadership and Innovation Summit in San Antonio, at which my preceptor, TPA CEO Debbie Garza, spoke as a panelist. It was a great learning opportunity as I was able to engage with people not just from across the state but also with leaders from across the country. These events provided further insight into TPA’s efforts to advance the practice of pharmacy.

My rotation further reinforced the importance of being involved as a student. I have the pleasure of serving on the Capital Area Pharmacy Association Board of Directors. My involvement in our local association, in addition to being an active member of TPA, has allowed me to develop a valuable network of pharmacists working across a variety of disciplines. It has been a privilege to be active in both organizations, which have given me the chance to learn and to take on a leadership opportunity. I encourage my fellow Texas student pharmacists to get involved not only in TPA but also in your local association. Our future depends on your participation!

Aguirre completed a six-week rotation with the Texas Pharmacy Association during the fall of 2023.