The Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) recently announced a special commendation to be bestowed on the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) at the upcoming ACCP Global Conference on Clinical Pharmacy in Seattle, Washington. Peter Koval, Pharm.D., BCPS, director of pharmacy education with the Greensboro Area Health Education Center at Cone Health and BPS chair-elect, and William Ellis, M.S., RPh, BPS executive director, will present this recognition to ACCP.

BPS Chair Andrea Iannucci, Pharm.D., BCOP, assistant chief pharmacist, Oncology and Investigational Drug Services at the University of California, Davis Medical Center, stated:

BPS is very pleased to formally acknowledge ACCP’s contributions to BPS and board certification of pharmacists. For nearly 40 years ACCP has advocated for the advancement of pharmacist practice and recognized its members who become board certified.

The special commendation will recognize ACCP’s outstanding and sustained contributions to advancing the BPS mission and the pharmacy profession. Beginning with the submission of its petition to recognize pharmacotherapy as a specialty in 1988, ACCP has consistently invested in the development, advancement, and positioning of board-certified clinical pharmacists within patient-centered care teams through education and training programs, research endeavors, and professional advocacy efforts.

ACCP President Jill Kolesar, Pharm.D., M.S., FCCP, BCPS, emphasized the organization’s commitment to board certification.

The College has promoted specialization and board certification since its inception, beginning with the advancement of the petition to recognize Pharmacotherapy as a specialty in the mid-1980s, while ACCP was still in the early stages of organizational development. Since that time, the College has emphasized both within and outside the profession the importance of board certification and its role in assuring competence. We have also advocated strongly for the expansion of specialties and have been gratified to see the growth in board-certified specialists. As we approach our 40th anniversary next year, ACCP and its members are honored to be recognized for these efforts and we congratulate BPS on its success.

Plan to attend the 2018 Global Conference Awards and Recognition Ceremony on Sunday, October 21, 2018, where BPS will present ACCP with the special commendation.