December 2008 News

President's Message

Dear Colleagues,

It is time for change at CPNP. Like any large organization, progress is sometimes laborious but an effective group makes sure the wheels continue to turn. Since CPNP had not revised its strategic plan since 2004, we felt that the time was right to do so.

The CPNP board held a successful strategic planning meeting last month in Dallas. The process was efficiently facilitated by a professional leader who helped us focus on issues key to our organization. Although we are a healthy organization, recent financial events have raised our awareness about ensuring continued success and survival. The board is very optimistic about translating the results of the strategic plan into noteworthy progress for our organization.

The plan is currently being reviewed to prioritize the goals for the next couple of years. The board will then evaluate and approve the plan and develop action steps to put committee volunteers to work on implementation. With limited staff, volunteer time, and other resources, we must carefully choose our path to the future. In the planning process we have made every effort to accurately represent you, the members, in your professional and organizational needs. The board will do its best to continue to develop an organization that lives up to your expectations.

We have maintained our core strengths - membership continues to grow, the annual meeting remains strong, and educational products have retained their high quality. We still want to do more to ensure that an adequate and skilled workforce is available to serve every patient that can benefit from our expertise. This strategic plan will help move us in that direction.

Carla Cobb, Pharm.D., BCPP

2009 Annual Meeting—April 19-22, 2009—Jacksonville, Florida
Comprehensive Approaches to Improving Minds and Lives

• Be looking in your mailbox for the CPNP Annual Meeting brochure by late January 2009. All meeting information is already available online as is online registration.
• Don’t forget to plan for your poster submission on or before Monday, January 21 via the online submission form.
• Remember that six research and practice awards are available each offering an attractive travel stipend.
• Check out the exciting line-up of speakers and sessions as you consider all that you want to take in at the CPNP Annual Meeting.
• Check out the exciting outside events including the CPNP Beach Party where we will enjoy food, music, and friends. There is also the second annual CPNP Walks for NAMI offering a 5K fun run/walk with all registration fees donated to NAMI.

Other News

• The CPNP Residency and Post-Graduate Training Committee chaired by Julie Dopheide, PharmD, BCPP, hosted a booth during the Residency Showcase at the 2008 ASHP Mid-Year Meeting. Traffic was reported to be brisk as CPNP members distributed information on psychiatric residency opportunities and careers in psychiatric pharmacy.
• CPNP’s Recertification Committee coordinated the 2008 ASHP-CPNP Symposium on Antidepressants and Suicide Risk in Children and Adults at the recent ASHP Mid-Year Meeting. Approximately 150 attendees participated in this 2-hour workshop which will be offered for Recertification credit at the 2009 CPNP Annual Meeting.
• Fifty individuals have successfully completed their BPS exam earning the BCPP credentials as of January 1, 2009. A BPS press release announcing new BCPPs is expected soon.
• The NAMI RMG has added and continues to expand a public page on the CPNP website for patient and caregivers. Please let CPNP know what additional items you suggest be added to these pages.

CPNP Holiday Schedule

The CPNP office will be closed December 24 through January 2, reopening on Monday, January 5. Happy and safe holidays to all!

New Appointments

Steven Burghart, DPh, MBA, BCPP recently began his new position as Director of Pharmacy for Rolling Hills Hospital in Franklin, TN. This is an 80-bed acute care psychiatric facility providing adolescent, adult, geriatric and substance abuse services.

The University of Washington School of Medicine recently appointed Rex S. Lott, Pharm.D., BCPP a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

Crystal Henderson, Pharm.D. also recently relocated to Fort Worth, TX to begin a new position with Medco Health Solutions as Knowledge Manager-Psychiatry/Neurology.

The New Hampshire Board of Pharmacy has appointed Robert Elder, BSPharm., R.Ph, as a compliance investigator. Mr. Elder’s new responsibilities include auditing all pharmacies, hospitals and every manner of clinical practice involved with the prescribing/dispensing of controlled substances in the state of New Hampshire.

Birth Announcements

Aaron Gibson and his wife Bethany are pleased to announce the arrival of their daughter Caroline Virginia Gibson on July 22, 2008.