Suzie Harris, AAPP President
Progress in psychiatric pharmacy rarely happens in isolation—it happens through connection. Connection to colleagues who share our passion, to partners across the broader health care system, and to conversations that shape the policies and practices affecting our patients. As we head into fall, I am energized by the many ways AAPP is building and strengthening those connections, and I want to make sure you are plugged in.
This month, I had the privilege of attending the Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners (JCPP) meeting, themed "Megatrends in Healthcare Which Will Impact Pharmacy." The discussions were wide-ranging and thought-provoking, with key topics directly relevant to our work in psychiatric pharmacy:
- Team-Based Primary Care: Focused on how advanced, integrated care models can position pharmacists—including psychiatric pharmacists—as essential members of the primary care workforce, addressing workforce shortages, care fragmentation, and medication complexity.
- Artificial Intelligence: Replacement or Enhancement? A timely and nuanced conversation about AI's real-world role in pharmacy practice, emphasizing the irreplaceable value of clinical judgment, regulatory oversight, and responsible implementation.
- Age-Friendly Pharmacy: An engaging conversation on how pharmacists play an essential role in medication optimization and safer prescribing for older adults—a population frequently seen in psychiatric pharmacy practice.
- The Future of Drug Approval and Regulatory Processes: Providing an inside look at FDA policy changes affecting medication access and approval pathways.
Psychiatric pharmacists have a stake in every one of these conversations, and AAPP is working on many of these issues in conjunction with the Board, committees, and task forces. While we work on issues related to our membership, it is critical for us to ensure our voice is at the table through coalitions such as JCPP.
Closer to home, AAPP Communities Week is a wonderful reminder of the strength of our membership from within. Our Communities bring together members with shared clinical interests and practice areas, whether that's SUD, child and adolescent psychiatry, teaching, or beyond. Engaging around issues we are all living and breathing daily provides a wonderful opportunity to solve issues together. I encourage you to engage with your Communities year-round but especially during this week to benefit from the collaboration, idea exchange, and the opportunity to build the kind of peer connections that sustain us professionally.
Finally, AAPP's annual Committee Volunteer recruitment is underway, and we need you. Whether you are early in your career or a seasoned leader, there is a place for your energy, expertise, and perspective on one of our many committees and task forces. Volunteering is one of the most direct ways to shape the future of psychiatric pharmacy—and to connect with colleagues who are equally passionate about advancing our specialty.
The strength of AAPP has always been its people, and I am honored to lead alongside each of you as we turn these connections into meaningful, lasting change for our patients and our profession. The work ahead is meaningful, and it is always better together.