Dr. Ronda Chakolis

And, um, I would say pharmacy, much like any other profession, um, I would say one profession that does it really well and will shut things down are nurses. Nurses have re professionalized themselves several, several times. And so I would say it was, um, probably in the nineties where there was the shift from the bachelor of science degree to the PharmD, uh, the doctor of pharmacy degree.

And, um, I would say pharmacy, much like any other profession, um, I would say one profession that does it really well and will shut things down are nurses. Nurses have re professionalized themselves several, several times. And so I would say it was, um, probably in the nineties where there was the shift from the bachelor of science degree to the PharmD, uh, the doctor of pharmacy degree.

And then that became part of the requirements in order to be accredited program. So with that shift, um, things went from, you know, what you would traditionally have had a four year degree when people were bachelor of science pharmacists to now you had this, um, system that required four years of, um, of, you know, um, Pharmacy, in addition to some prerequisites.

And then that became part of the requirements in order to be accredited program. So with that shift, um, things went from, you know, what you would traditionally have had a four year degree when people were bachelor of science pharmacists to now you had this, um, system that required four years of, um, of, you know, um, Pharmacy, in addition to some prerequisites.

So myself personally, I have a bachelor's degree and a PharmD degree. Some people just take the pathway and jump directly to that PharmD degree after doing those prerequisites.

So myself personally, I have a bachelor's degree and a PharmD degree. Some people just take the pathway and jump directly to that PharmD degree after doing those prerequisites.

That's a huge question. It's a big question. I think a lot of that is related to what we, you know, the structure and financing of our healthcare system. And so, you know, Pharmacy, when you have a business, you have to be profitable, right? So obviously, if you're seeing the closing of businesses, that means they're no longer able to generate a profit.

That's a huge question. It's a big question. I think a lot of that is related to what we, you know, the structure and financing of our healthcare system. And so, you know, Pharmacy, when you have a business, you have to be profitable, right? So obviously, if you're seeing the closing of businesses, that means they're no longer able to generate a profit.

And so there are a lot of market variables that drive that. It could be reimbursement structure, a term that sometimes we call pharmacy benefit management companies. It could be the cost of medications. There's just a lot of variables that probably have contributed to that fact.

And so there are a lot of market variables that drive that. It could be reimbursement structure, a term that sometimes we call pharmacy benefit management companies. It could be the cost of medications. There's just a lot of variables that probably have contributed to that fact.

Yeah, absolutely. And I think we're seeing you know, even more of a shift. It used to be where, you know, you probably had a pharmacy in every corner and then now we have our, you know, our reduction in hours and all of these things that have happened. And so that is, that has certainly been a challenge, but it looks like, We did have our most distinguished guests join us.

Yeah, absolutely. And I think we're seeing you know, even more of a shift. It used to be where, you know, you probably had a pharmacy in every corner and then now we have our, you know, our reduction in hours and all of these things that have happened. And so that is, that has certainly been a challenge, but it looks like, We did have our most distinguished guests join us.

And so I wanted to take a moment to pause and introduce her.

And so I wanted to take a moment to pause and introduce her.

It is a pleasure and honor to have Dr. Lenora Newsome, who is the current president of the National Associations of the Board of Pharmacies. It is a national organization that's been around for about 120 years. She has certainly made history with her presence, and I'm excited to have her here, and I will let her say a few words about herself. Good morning, everyone.

It is a pleasure and honor to have Dr. Lenora Newsome, who is the current president of the National Associations of the Board of Pharmacies. It is a national organization that's been around for about 120 years. She has certainly made history with her presence, and I'm excited to have her here, and I will let her say a few words about herself. Good morning, everyone.

Yeah. And I will just kind of second that burnout is real. Both of us are still practicing. we're connected with community and, you know, you can't pour from an empty cup. And so like the demands and the expectations have significantly increased. So, you know, I would say pre-pandemic people were less reliant on medications.

Yeah. And I will just kind of second that burnout is real. Both of us are still practicing. we're connected with community and, you know, you can't pour from an empty cup. And so like the demands and the expectations have significantly increased. So, you know, I would say pre-pandemic people were less reliant on medications.

One thing about the pandemic is that it allowed people to check on their mental health. I saw a surge in mental health medications and ADHD medications and

One thing about the pandemic is that it allowed people to check on their mental health. I saw a surge in mental health medications and ADHD medications and