Pharmacy Focus Pharmacy Times

In this special Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention month episode, host Dr. Christina Madison interviews Emma White, the founder and president of the nonprofit organization Life Is Worth It, who shares her struggles with mental health as a teenager, and how she used her experience to educate others and give back to her community. White is also the Statewide Youth Suicide Prevention Coordinator at Nevada’s Department of Education and works under the Office of Suicide Prevention managing Project AWARE, a SAMHSA grant.

Key Takeaways:




Comprehensive Approach to Suicide Prevention: Emma White, founder of The Life Is Worth It Organization, emphasizes the importance of addressing all dimensions of wellness—physical, emotional, spiritual, and financial—in suicide prevention. Her organization focuses on upstream prevention education, aiming to provide youth with tools and resources to manage their overall well-being to reduce the risk of suicide.

Personal Journey and Advocacy: White shares her personal story of surviving a suicide attempt at 15 years of age, emphasizing the lack of mental health education and support that she experienced during her crisis. Her journey from a survivor to an advocate showcases the importance of therapy, community support, and the normalization of discussing mental health struggles. White’s work with the state of Nevada and her professional speaking engagements aim to break the stigma and provide vital education on mental health.
 Breaking Stereotypes and Encouraging Vulnerability: Both White and Dr. Madison discuss the societal misconceptions about who can struggle with mental health issues, and they challenge stereotypes by sharing their experiences of being high-achieving individuals who have also faced mental health challenges. This conversation stresses the need for open discussions about mental health across all communities and the importance of seeking help without shame or stigma.



Emma White can be found on LinkedIn, Instagram (@emmamwhite) and Facebook (Emma White). Her TED Talk can be viewed here.

More information on the nonprofit organization Life Is Worth It can be found on the website and on social media:




Website: www.lifeisworthit.org


Instagram: @lifeisworthitorg


Facebook: @LifeIsWorthItOrg

Email: lifeisworthitorg@gmail.com

Pharmacists from Mayo Clinic recap some of the latest treatment opportunities to advance patient care in the oncology space. 

In this episode, host Dr. Christina Madison interviews Kate Gainer, PharmD, CEO of the Iowa Pharmacy Association (IPA) to discuss the significance of state pharmacy associations in advocating for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, advancing public health initiatives, as well as shaping legislative priorities. Dr. Gainer also walks through her journey into pharmacy advocacy, emphasizes the importance of engagement in legislative advocacy.

Key Takeaways:






Importance of State Pharmacy Associations: The episode underscores the critical role of state pharmacy associations in advocating for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, supporting legislative initiatives, and facilitating collaborations with public health departments. State associations also serve as a bridge between pharmacists and policymakers, and have the ability to provide pharmacists opportunities for involvement and advocacy at the state level.

Advocacy and Legislative Initiatives: Dr. Kate Gainer highlights the ongoing advocacy efforts and legislative initiatives pursued by state pharmacy associations. These initiatives include updating pharmacy practice acts, advocating for payment reform to support pharmacists' expanded roles, and collaborating with legislators to advance policies that benefit the pharmacy profession and patient care.

Professional Development and Engagement: The conversation emphasizes the importance of professional development and engagement for pharmacists, encouraging them to get involved in their state pharmacy associations. Dr. Gainer shares her own journey into association leadership, emphasizing that it's never too late to get involved and make a difference, and that by engaging in advocacy, networking, and professional growth opportunities, pharmacists can contribute to positive change within the profession and the health care system.


Connect with Dr. Kate Gainer on LinkedIn.

On this episode, Amie Stephens, PharmD, director of adherence improvement and client services at Rite Aid, Emilee Kennelly, PharmD, manager of adherence improvement and clinical initiatives at Rite Aid, and Max Baire, PharmD, manager of clinical health plan solutions at Rite Aid, discuss social determinants of health (SDOH) and how they can impact patient outcomes and medication adherence. The guests explained how SDOH, like transportation barriers, food insecurity, and language barriers, can prevent patients from taking their medications properly if not addressed.

On this month's episode Laura Gillespie, PharmD, regional antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist in the Mishawaka and Plymouth Medical Centers at the Saint Joseph Health System, discussed her paper “Impact of Pharmacist-Led Initiatives on Health Care–Associated Clostridioides difficile Rates” published in the March issue of Pharmacy Practice in Focus: Health Systems. Gillespie discusses why the impact of pharmacist-led initiatives on health care–associated Clostridioides difficile (C diff) rates can be important for patient outcomes and combating C diff rates.
About The Article
1. This study shows a dramatic decrease (80% and 81%) in hospital and community-onset C. Diff rates following the implementation of pharmacist-led initiatives like antibiotic prescribing guidelines and allergy education.
2. The article highlights the connection between unnecessary antibiotic use and increased C. Diff infections, emphasizing the importance of proper antibiotic stewardship.
3. This study demonstrates the positive impact pharmacists can have on patient safety by reducing hospital-acquired infections through careful monitoring and optimization of antibiotic use.

In this episode, host Dr. Christina Madison interviews Pauline K. Long, PharmD, DCES, pharmacist and co-owner of MedsPLUS Consulting in Birmingham, Alabama. They discuss Dr. Pauline's journey into entrepreneurship, her motivations for opening her own pharmacy, the impact of her consulting business on patient outcomes, and innovative approaches to community health and wellness services, including vaccination clinics and employee wellness programs.

Key Takeaways: 





Dr. Pauline Long's journey into entrepreneurship highlights the opportunities for pharmacists to make a significant impact beyond traditional roles. By starting her own pharmacy and consulting business, she demonstrates how pharmacists can innovate and address unmet needs within their communities.
Dr. Pauline's approach emphasizes the importance of community-centered care and culturally competent services. Through strategic partnerships with health care providers and community organizations, she works to improve patient outcomes and address health disparities, particularly in marginalized communities.
Utilizing local resources, grants, and community support is essential for implementing innovative health initiatives. Dr. Pauline’s experience demonstrates the value of networking, seeking mentorship, and accessing resources such as the Small Business Administration to support pharmacy entrepreneurs in navigating obstacles and maximizing impact.Dr. Pauline K. Long can be found on LinkedIn.





To learn more about MedsPLUS Consulting, LLC, check out their website, call 205-650-4636, or reach out to Dr. Pauline via email at drpauline@medsplusconsulting.com. Check out MedsPLUS on their social media channels:




Facebook: @Medsplus Consulting


Instagram: @medsplus_consulting


TikTok: @medsplus


LinkedIn: MedsPLUS Consulting