North Carolina is proud to be leading the way in pharmacy practice advancement. We are home to the Asheville Project, started in 1997 where community pharmacists provided direct patient care services to their patients to help manage their diabetes.1 The results of this study helped provide the groundwork for ambulatory care pharmacy. In North Carolina, we have a unique opportunity for pharmacists to become licensed as a clinical pharmacist practitioner (CPP). Clinical pharmacist practitioners enter into a collaborative practice agreement with physicians to manage drug therapy, usually in the ambulatory care setting. They have the authority to implement drug therapy (after diagnosis by a physician), modify drug therapy, and order diagnostic and/or laboratory tests to monitor drug therapy.2
The Eshelman School of Pharmacy attracts many students because of the strong ambulatory care base in North Carolina. However, just as many students first learn about ambulatory care once they begin pharmacy school. Our local SCCP chapter focuses about 50% of our events on inpatient clinical pharmacy and 50% on ambulatory care pharmacy. We have 3 student-led local PRNs, with 1 focused on ambulatory care. One of our signature events is our annual CPP Roundtable Dinner. Our SCCP chapter partners with our student North Carolina Association of Pharmacists (NCAP) chapter to host this formal networking opportunity. The event consists of a keynote speaker, followed by three 20-minute roundtable group discussions with a CPP. This past year, we had CPPs in the following specialties: mental health at the VA, primary care, cardiology, stem cell transplant and cellular therapy, solid organ transplant, family medicine, and cardiorenal metabolic risk reduction.
Our 2024 CPP attendees (Christie Kahlon, Pharm.D.; Michelle Gardiner, Pharm.D.; Shelby Tungate Lopez, Pharm.D.; Mary Moss Chandran, Pharm.D.; Erin Eberwein, Pharm.D.; Sarah Weddle, Pharm.D.; Anita Yang, Pharm.D.)
This year’s keynote speaker was Shelby Tungate Lopez, Pharm.D., MPA, BCACP, CPP. In his speech, he shared how as a CPP, he gets the opportunity to form deep, lasting connections with patients. Tungate Lopez told of one of his most memorable patient encounters, where a patient brought him a superhero cape because they felt that he was their hero. He still has the cape to this day and brought it on stage with him as he gave his speech. It was an impactful message to all attendees about what a privilege and responsibility it is to walk with patients through some of their most challenging moments.
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Shelby Tungate Lopez, Pharm.D., delivering his keynote address
Trey Lytle (Pharm.D. Candidate Class of 2027) said about the CPP dinner:
The CPP dinner was a fantastic opportunity to explore various opportunities within the ambulatory care field. This event allowed me to ask in-depth questions about their careers and personal experiences, most of which I might not typically have the chance to ask during immersion.
Another student, Gabrielle Boukaia (Pharm.D. Candidate Class of 2027), reflected on her experience:
The CPP dinner provided a platform to network with pharmacists that are elevating the scope of pharmacy practice on a daily basis. Something I learned about being a CPP while in attendance was that CPPs can practice in a variety of practice models such as a multidisciplinary clinic or fully independent clinic.
The student attendees have a wide variety of pharmacy experience and interests, which makes the small group time very valuable so that they can get answers to their individual questions. Dr Erin Eberwein shared some of her thoughts about the event with us:
I greatly enjoyed the CPP dinner! I remember attending this event as an ESOP student, so it was great to have a full circle moment and be on the other side as a CPP. It was awesome to share a bit about my job and hear how enthusiastic students were about the CPP position.
It was a very proud moment for our chapter to have a previous student member now attend the event as a practicing CPP, showing the impact of the dinner on the career trajectories of attendees.
Erin Eberwein, Pharm.D., speaking to a group of pharmacy students
This year was the 18th annual CPP dinner. Our SCCP chapter looks forward to the next 18 years of one of our favorite events. It is amazing to get to see students spark their passion for a field of pharmacy they may not have considered previously. All we need to do is provide the people, the food, and the space—but the connections that students form at this dinner can be lifelong and help shape their future pharmacy career!
Our student leadership team (Clarissa Ove, Pharm.D. Candidate Class of 2027; Mckenna Good, Pharm.D. Candidate Class of 2027 (NCAP student chapter); Talia Carlson, Pharm.D. Candidate Class of 2027 (NCAP student chapter); Noah Jordan, Pharm.D. Candidate Class of 2026)
References
1. American Pharmacists Association Foundation. The Asheville Project. https://www.aphafoundation.org/the-ashville-project#:~:text=Through%20The%20Asheville%20Project%2C%20pharmacists,satisfaction%20with%20their%20pharmacist's%20services
2. North Carolina Board of Pharmacy. Clinical pharmacist practitioner. https://www.ncbop.org/clinical-pharmacist-practitioner.html#:~:text=A%20CPP%20must%20earn%2035,to%20practice%20pharmacy%20each