Searching for Solutions

Building Connections through Virtual Precepting

Though the introduction of telehealth into modern medicine was inevitable given recent technological advancements, the COVID-19 pandemic forced a health care system-wide change to prioritize telehealth care modalities to minimize health and safety risks for patients and providers alike. This dramatic shift led to lasting changes in patient care delivery models and, as a result, impacted trainee/learner rotations. Telehealth, along with hybrid or fully virtual rotation models, are here to stay. This new reality comes with its own hurdles for preceptors to navigate in order to ensure successful rotation experiences.

Meet the Newly Elected Members of the AAPP Board

The AAPP membership has elected three members to serve on the 2025-2027 Board of Directors. Assuming their positions effective July 1, 2025, will be Drs. Kelly Gable, Suzanne Harris and Danielle Stutzman. These 3 new members will join Drs. Jolene Bostwick, Julie Cunningham, Jennifer Dress, Michelle Geier, and Kristina Reinstatler on the Board for 2025-2026.

AAPP Perspective: October 2024

As a growing specialty working in a profession where there are exponentially more and more patient care needs, the importance of attracting and training pharmacy students to the field has never been greater. AAPP members are critical in supporting this growth through precepting and educating students and/or by advising an AAPP Collegiate Chapter. This special edition of the AAPP Perspective demonstrates the impact of Collegiate Chapters and the numerous ways members are incorporating students into their practice, not only by educating them in psychiatric pharmacy but also in enhancing their understanding of those living with mental illness.

Member News: August 2024

Congratulations to Elayne Ansara, Dana L Chiulli, Tera Moore, Mark Schneiderhan, Megan Ehret, Christ Herndon and all the other members making an impact in psychiatric pharmacy!

Navigating Loss by Suicide as a Clinician-Survivor a Focus at AAPP 2024

Almost 1 out of 5 mental health providers will experience patient loss to suicide in their career, and, although many providers will note this as a career-defining moment, those clinicians may not receive support in navigating patient suicide loss. The AAPP Foundation sponsored the presentation “Living Through Loss- Navigating Loss by Suicide as a Clinician-Survivor” by Dr. Julie Cerel, Professor of the College of Social Work at the University of Kentucky, and Director of the Suicide Prevention and Exposure Lab (SPEL), to educate the AAPP membership on what it means to be a “clinician-survivor”, to identify appropriate postvention strategies for suicide loss, and to describe the impact that suicide loss may have on professional practice.

Membership Guides Event Site Selection Policy

Over the past 9 months, the AAPP Board has completed a thorough review of the association’s site selection processes and the event landscape. Through this process, the Board gained valuable input, learned how significantly event site selection is heavily influenced by market forces, and realized the delicate balancing act involved in weighing available/bidding venues with overall value, convenience, and member experience to find the best option available.

Prioritizing Wellbeing and Impact at AAPP 2024

AAPP hosted psychiatric pharmacists, psychiatric pharmacy residents, and pharmacy students of diverse races, ethnicities, religions, genders, and sexual orientations at AAPP 2024. Aligning with our core values, AAPP partnered with Social Offset to make a positive impact in Orlando by supporting local nonprofit organizations.

Psychotropic Stewardship Implementation Furthers the Conversation at AAPP 2024

At the AAPP 2024 Annual Meeting, Dr. Chelsea Di Polito, PharmD, BCPP presented “The Good, the Bad, and the Unknown of Psychotropic Stewardship Implementation: A Focus on Antipsychotics”. Dr. Di Polito is the Assistant Director of the Peer Review for Mental Health Drugs Program through the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy and works in the Peer-to-Peer program with Medicaid to reduce unnecessary antipsychotic prescribing to children and adolescents. She was a member of the Psychotropic Stewardship Taskforce and a co-author of AAPP’s paper on psychotropic stewardship.

Insomnia Session Delivers on Clinical Relevance at AAPP 2024

As experts in psychiatric pharmacy, few disorders keep us up at night wondering how to tackle treatment for our patients quite like insomnia does. There are so many factors to consider when choosing non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic treatments for these patients. We also have those tough cases where first and second-line options have been exhausted and we just don’t know how best to manage this patient. Insomnia can be one of those unsuspecting difficult disorders to treat, especially for those who are treatment-resistant or are part of a population that has even more considerations to think about. Because of this, the Program Committee invited our resident expert on the matter, Dr. Megan Maroney, to untangle the intricacies of treating insomnia.

Member News: June 2024

Congratulations to Michelle Geier and all the other members making an impact in psychiatric pharmacy!

AAPP Perspective: June 2024

We thoroughly enjoyed hosting many of you at AAPP 2024 in Orlando. The only downside is that we won't see many of you for another full year! In this edition of AAPP Perspectives, join us in reliving a successful AAPP 2024 while also looking forward to AAPP 2025, to be held April 25-28 in Salt Lake City, UT.

Investing in Change

AAPP’s Forum on our Future held during AAPP 2024 and available to members as a recording, reported on the major initiatives occurring within AAPP. With a very full agenda, reflections on AAPP’s financial health were not able to be included and, as such, are overviewed in this article.

AAPP Fellow Program Launching Third Quarter 2024

The lead off goal in AAPP’s strategic plan is a lofty and important one: Establish the BCPP credential as the practice standard in psychiatric pharmacy and expand professional opportunities for BCPPs. Since no one particular activity will achieve this, the Board and strategic planning committee crafted several objectives that flowed from this priority goal. The development of the AAPP Vision Paper and the Employer Resource Center (ERC) are examples of several of the objectives that have been realized to support this goal.

Environmental Scan a Cornerstone of Committee and Strategic Plan Work

Today’s rapidly changing health care environment requires flexibility, fluidity, and responsiveness. As the home of psychiatric pharmacy, AAPP strives to stay ahead of this ever-evolving landscape to serve members, the profession, and ultimately, the patients our members care for. Though AAPP has a thorough, member-driven strategic plan providing strong direction, it is monitored and tweaked as needed to adjust or pivot in this dynamic environment. One method recently employed by AAPP to identify and prepare for change was an environmental scanning session.

AAPP Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan Finalized

Just completing its second year, the AAPP DEI Committee is pleased to announce its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion plan. Though spearheaded through the DEI Committee, this strategic plan represents the contributions and efforts of many committees, the Board of Directors, and staff who are working on DEI initiatives across the organization. A significant number of the objectives are already assigned to the pertinent and committees and work is underway.

My People, My Community at AAPP 2024

Research has shown time and again that as social beings we are designed to be part of a community, a tribe, a group of humans that we can call “our people.” I have tribes of people in all aspects of my life, with AAPP being one of them and one of my most valued. Thanks to the work of dozens of volunteers, the AAPP staff, and the Board of Directors, the AAPP Annual Meeting offers the blended opportunity to expand our knowledge and horizons through education and research but also to connect and expand our community.

Significant AAPP Papers Published in Last 6 Months

With the formation of the Commission on Innovation and Advancement within AAPP, we have seen growth in the number of AAPP papers published in our very own Mental Health Clinician as well as other high-impact journals. The topics are tightly aligned with our strategic goals as outlined in our strategic plan. While some of our newest additions are highlighted below, check out all of the other important publications over the last few years under our AAPP papers web page.

Volunteers Make AAPP’s World Go Round

Every year, over 250 members contribute their time and talent to AAPP as members of committees, the Board of Directors, task forces, and editorial boards. This number doesn’t count the members who author, speak, represent AAPP at meetings, and much more. Though National Volunteer Week was in late April, we rely on and celebrate our member volunteers year-round and are excited to share just a few volunteer testimonials. Cheers to our AAPP volunteers!

AAPP Perspective: May 2024

The June Issue of AAPP Perspective will revisit a successful AAPP 2024 in early April in Florida with reflections on sessions and speakers. Annual Meetings are also all about updating members on all of the activities occurring throughout the organization from strategic priorities to new products to advocacy. This edition of the AAPP Perspective will overview all of the exciting things in the work as well as update you on the business of AAPP as your home association.

Member News: February 2024

Congratulations to Kelly Gable, Suzanne Harris, Kelly Lee, Rosana Steavenson, Jonathan Leung, Mary Accomando and all the other members making an impact in psychiatric pharmacy!

Integration of Pharmacists in Substance Use Disorder/Buprenorphine Clinics

As a substance use disorder (SUD) pharmacist, I am frequently asked why I do what I do. I commonly reply, “I do it for the goosebump moments.” If you have ever been given the privilege to be a part of another person’s recovery, you may know what I mean by this. I am honored to advocate for, learn from, and nurture one of the most vulnerable and stigmatized patient populations in our healthcare system. The truth is my job may be the best kept secret in pharmacy.

Celebrating AAPP Volunteers During National Volunteer Week

Every year, approximately 250 members contribute their time and talent to AAPP as members of committees, the Board of Directors, task forces, and editorial boards. This doesn’t include the countless other members who write, speak, represent AAPP at meetings, and much more. Though we celebrate our member volunteers year-round, we want to give extra recognition and a thank you to our volunteers during this week. Cheers to our AAPP volunteers!

Visit our Roster of 2024-2025 AAPP Volunteers

Advocate for Medicaid

Americans are deeply and overwhelmingly opposed to slashing funding for Medicaid, according to new polling data released today by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). AAPP is joining our NAMI partners in encouraging your advocacy to protect Medicaid.