Letters from Rising Pharmacy Stars

Today’s new health-system pharmacists face challenges and opportunities unknown even a few years ago, from new areas of practice to changing roles in the hospital setting. Though their supervisors and other senior level practitioners can offer valuable guidance, they cannot provide the insights, perspective, and experiential wisdom that early to mid-career practitioners can provide. 

To fill this gap, ASHP has created a unique publication: Letters from Rising Pharmacy Stars: Advice on Creating and Advancing Your Career in a Changing Profession. Edited by Susan A. Cantrell, RPh, CAE, CEO of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, and Sara J. White, RPh, MS, FASHP, former Director of Pharmacy at Stanford University and Clinics, Letters from Rising Pharmacy Stars is a collection of compelling letters from 30 “up and comers” who have demonstrated significant achievement in their careers. 

A companion to ASHP’s Letters to a Young Pharmacist: Sage Advice on Life and Career from Extraordinary Pharmacists, published in 2014 by the same authors, this collection forms an inspiring guide to the choices and challenges that young pharmacists are grappling with, written by practitioners who share similar generational interests and concerns. 

Readers will find practical guidance and fresh ideas on a wide range of topics, including:

• Finding and landing the right opportunities
• Choosing roles and settings that best match personal interests
• Navigating life and career as a two-pharmacist couple
• Pursuing a career as a pharmacogenetics clinical scientist
• Dealing with the impact of significant life events like a serious auto accident 
• Coordinating postgraduate year 1 and 2 (PGY1 and 2) residencies
• And much more

Their down-to-earth advice can help readers navigate the changes in pharmacy practice, develop a long-term career strategy, and find the right work/life balance—and also offers valuable insights to residency directors and others who mentor them.

Susan A. Cantrell, RPh, CAE

Susan A. Cantrell currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy. Previously in her career, Susan was Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Americas for the Drug Information Association (DIA). Cantrell earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy from the University of Mississippi, and she has completed a residency in hospital pharmacy.

Prior to joining DIA, Ms. Cantrell was with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, for whom she worked for 19 years in a series of progressively responsible positions. She most recently served as Vice President of Resources Development, where she led the society’s efforts in domestic and international business development. Prior to this, she served as Managing Director, ASHP Advantage, a division of the society that developed and implemented accredited educational programs to assist pharmacists and health professionals. She brings significant experience in pharmacy practice, healthcare delivery and policy, and association management, including a substantial background in professional education, large meetings, business development, and volunteer engagement.

Cantrell is a member of the Alliance for Continuing Medical Education, the American Society of Association Executives, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, and the International Pharmaceutical Federation. Her numerous honors include the 2010 Alliance for Continuing Medical Education President’s Award.

Sara J. White, RPh, MS, FASHP

Sara J. White is (Ret.) Director of Pharmacy, Stanford University Hospital and Clinics, Palo Alto, CA. She previously served as Associate Director, Director of Clinical Education, and Professor at the University of Kansas Medical Center and School of Pharmacy for 20 years. She graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy. After graduation, White worked at the University of Oregon Medical Center and Emanuel Hospital in Portland for 2 years. She then earned her Master of Science degree at The Ohio State University and completed an ASHP-accredited residency at The Ohio State University Hospitals and Clinics.

White has served as President of the Greater Kansas City Society of Hospital Pharmacists, Kansas Society of Hospital Pharmacists, and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. She has also served ASHP as Chair of the House of Delegates, a board member, and a council member. She has received multiple awards for her contributions to pharmacy, including the Kansas Hospital Pharmacist of the Year Award, Kansas Pharmacist of the Year Award, Harold N. Godwin Lecture Award, Lambda Kappa Sigma Vanguard Leadership Award, Clifton J. Latiolais Award, John A. Webb Lecture Award, Ohio State Jack L. Beal Postbaccalaureate Award, ASHP Distinguished Leadership Award, and the Harvey A.K. Whitney Lecture Award.

Doody’s Review Services | April 7, 2017

[REVIEWER'S EXPERT OPINION]

Michael C. Barros, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP, BC-ADM (Temple University School of Pharmacy)

Description

This book consists of a series of letters from pharmacy professionals who share their experiences and advice for challenges and opportunities in the profession of pharmacy and how to best handle them.

Purpose

The authors have compiled a collection of letters from pharmacists working in many different areas of pharmacy. The book contains examples of young and mid-career pharmacy leaders who faced challenges and how they overcame and learned from their experiences. Pharmacy is continuing to evolve tremendously and these young professionals share their experiences and provide insights into how they are changing the profession for the better.

Audience

This book may be appreciated by both new and established pharmacists, but those who are just beginning their professional journey will take the most away from it. It seeks to encourage young professionals to always strive for the best and discusses how to overcome some of the obstacles that they may encounter.

Features

The book has a simple design and is a pleasant and quick read. The table of contents provides both the author's name and the type of letter he/she contributed. The letters cover a multitude of disciplines and range from advice on topics such as navigating life and career as a two-pharmacist couple to how to coordinate postgraduate year 1 and 2 (PGY1 and 2) residencies.

Assessment

This is a unique contribution to the field and it does a good job of exposing new pharmacists to the challenges and opportunities in pharmacy. The contributors have demonstrated significant achievement in their careers, and professionals looking for career motivation or advice on how to overcome obstacles will certainly appreciate what this book has to offer.

Weighted Numerical Score: 82 - 3 Stars