Dear Colleagues:

The articles featured in this issue of the ACCP International Clinical Pharmacist touch on critical matters that are taking place in the transformation of the profession.

The article titled “Experience with Clinical Pharmacy Implementation: Bridging a Gap Between Academia and Practice in Lebanon” shares one country’s experience in fostering and building strategic collaborations between academic institutions and health systems. The need to develop innovative partnerships between education and practice was highlighted in a previous issue of the newsletter (ACCP International Clinical Pharmacist 2015;5(3):1-2). Such collaborations are central to advancing pharmacists’ contributions to health care and training the future workforce for clinical practice.

As the profession continues to advance and more pharmacy specialties are recognized, high-quality continuing education programs are needed that further develop and ensure the specialist’s maintenance of competence. The article titled “Clinical Reasoning Series Expands Offerings” provides examples of such new programs. Another example is the title featured in the Book Highlights department: GI/Fluids and Nutrition. In addition to updates on gastrointestinal fluids and nutrition topics, the book contains important content on point-of-care testing that is of relevance to all pharmacists who are using, or interested in using, such tests in their daily practice.

Finally, ACCP will be exhibiting at the upcoming FIP Congress in Buenos Aires. If you are attending the congress, I hope to see you there.

Sincerely,

Wafa Y. Dahdal, Pharm.D., BCPS