NABP 108th Annual Meeting Welcomes Attendees to Historic Philly

A city of liberty and innovation, Philadelphia provides an ideal setting for this year’s National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) 108th Annual Meeting, “State Boards of Pharmacy and NABP – Empowering Liberty with Knowledge and Responsibility.” Held May 19-22, 2012, at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel in Philadelphia, PA, the meeting will offer attendees the opportunity to explore the modern landscape of historic Philly while shaping the future of pharmacy through involvement in important NABP Business Sessions, during which delegates will elect new Executive Committee officers and members and proposed resolutions will be discussed and voted upon. In addition, participants may earn up to nine hours (0.9 CEUs) of Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education-accredited continuing pharmacy education (CPE) credit while networking with peers.

Continuing Pharmacy Education

Timely and informative CPE sessions designed to address current issues affecting the regulation of pharmacy practice will be available to attendees of the 108th Annual Meeting. These sessions, led by educators, regulators, and others who will share their knowledge, experience, and insight to the regulation of pharmacy practice, will provide attendees the opportunity to earn up to nine hours (0.9 CEUs) of CPE credit. Four joint CPE sessions are available to attendees, including the annual Educational Poster Session, sponsored by Pearson VUE; “Where Have All the Drugs Gone? – Who’s Responsible for Drug Shortages and Quotas?” and “Advancing Online Drug Safety: How Public-Private Partnerships Thwart Illicit Online Drug Sales,” both sponsored by Walgreen Co; and the session “Freedom for Consumers or Freedom from Meth – Point-Counterpoint.” One of two concurrent sessions are also available, including the session “OIG, NPDB, and HIPDB – What Everyone Should Know,” geared for state board of pharmacy executive officers and members, and “CSI Philadelphia – How to Conduct a Pharmacy Investigation,” geared toward compliance officers, inspectors, and investigators. In addition, there will be one pre-meeting CPE session, “ONDCP – National Drug Plan to Combat Prescription Drug Abuse,” sponsored by CVS Caremark, on Saturday, May 19, from 2 to 4 PM.

The Educational Poster Session, which is themed “Embracing Knowledge for Public Protection,” will take place on Sunday, May 20, from 8 to 11:30 AM, and offers attendees a unique opportunity to earn one contact hour (0.1 CEU) of CPE credit. This highly interactive joint CPE session allows boards of pharmacy members and staff, as well as schools and colleges of pharmacy, the opportunity to display posters that share information about their organization’s latest legislative issues, technology, policy development, and/or patient or public safety initiatives as they relate to embracing knowledge for public protection. The deadline to reserve a spot as a poster presenter is March 9, 2012. Those interested in participating should contact NABP Professional Affairs Manager Eileen Lewalski via e-mail at prof-affairs@nabp.net.

More information about the CPE sessions offered at the Annual Meeting can be found in the schedule on the NABP Web site at www.nabp.net/meetings.

Keynote Address

It was the morning of September 11, 2001, and New York City Fire Department (FDNY) Battalion Commander Richard Picciotto answered the call heard around the world. In minutes, he was at Ground Zero of the worst terrorist attack to ever hit American soil, acting boldly to save innocent lives as the Twin Towers began to burn and, a short time later, buckle. Rushing into the North Tower to rescue those inside, Picciotto soon found himself trapped in the smoldering rubble on the stairwell between the sixth and seventh floors after its collapse. Buried for more than four hours, he emerged almost unscathed. In a keynote address modeled after his New York Times best-selling book, Last Man Down, Picciotto will offer Annual Meeting attendees an eye witness account of one of the nation’s darkest hours. Providing a firefighter’s view of the 9/11 attacks, his book chronicles the harrowing experience, providing a tribute to the 343 firefighters and 2,400 civilians who lay dead in the rubble that surrounded him on that day. Picciotto will share his heartfelt remembrance of that day of infamy and profound humanity. He will also share how 9/11 renewed his sense of personal values and his perspective on what is important and how hope and positivity can emerge out of tragedy and adversity. Through his experiences with FDNY, Picciotto will share how others can lead effectively and achieve optimal teamwork and goals as well as the training, preparedness, risk management, and decision-making skills needed to tackle any problem. Picciotto was the highest-ranking firefighter to survive the World Trade Center collapse and the last firefighter to escape the devastation. He played a vital role in the massive operation, testified in front of the 9/11 Commission, and has additionally appeared on many major networks including CNN, the History Channel, and National Geographic Channel. Sponsored by Humana Pharmacy Solutions, the Keynote Address will take place Sunday, May 20, at 12:30 PM, during the First Business Session.

Special Events

Board members who have recently been appointed to a board of pharmacy, or those attending their first NABP Annual Meeting, will want to attend the Annual Meeting and District Meeting Orientation on Saturday, May 19, from 5 to 6 PM. The program offers a look at the events taking place and the procedures followed during the Annual Meeting.

Honoring NABP President Malcolm J. Broussard, RPh, the President’s Welcome Reception, sponsored by Medco Health Solutions, Inc, will offer attendees the opportunity to catch up with old friends and acquaintances on Saturday, May 19, from 7 to 10 PM.

The Hospitality Brunch, which is sponsored by Omnicare, Inc, and takes place on Sunday, May 20, from 8 to 11:30 AM, will offer attendees a chance to network with their colleagues while enjoying a buffet brunch. The brunch will be held in the same area as Educational Table Top Displays, during which attendees can speak with representatives from federal regulatory agencies, NABP, and other associations, about important issues and programs.

In addition the NABP/USP Breakfast, sponsored by the United States Pharmacopeial Convention will be held Monday, May 21, from 7 to 8:15 AM. Meeting participants are invited to attend the breakfast, which will provide an opportunity for both organizations to discuss timely and relevant topics in the practice of pharmacy.

Closing the NABP 108th Annual Meeting is the Association’s Awards Dinner Reception andAnnual Awards Dinner, held on Tuesday, May 22. The Awards Dinner Reception will take place from 5:45 to 6:45 PM and the Annual Awards Dinner will follow at 7 PM. The Annual Awards Dinner honors those individuals who have contributed their time and talents to advancing the principles of NABP and the practice of pharmacy. This special evening recognizes the efforts of the 2011-2012 NABP president and 2012 honorary president, and the recipients of various NABP awards.

For more information on the 108th Annual Meeting, please contact the NABP Meeting Services Department at 847/391-4406 or via e-mail at custserv@nabp.net. Online registration and additional information may also be found in the Meetings section of the NABP Web site at www.nabp.net/meetings.