Wait, what? Clinicians as our future leaders?

Extract

Editor’s note: The following was adapted from remarks delivered by Dr. Sheaffer in acceptance of the 2022 John W. Webb Lecture Award at the ASHP Conference for Pharmacy Leaders, held in October 2022 in Chicago, IL.

Wait, what? That was my reaction when [ASHP Chief Executive Officer] Paul Abramowitz called to inform me that I was selected as the recipient of this year’s John W. Webb Lecture Award. I was both surprised and honored. I am most appreciative of my Pennsylvania Society of Health-System Pharmacists and ASHP colleagues and friends who nominated me. And my sincere gratitude to the past Webb Lecture Award recipients on the selection committee. It is the honor of my career to join such a group of distinguished colleagues whose leadership has had a pronounced impact on health-system pharmacy practice and beyond.

Then the second “Wait, what?”: “I must deliver a lecture?” I hope my comments today provide a level of insight and vision similar to the level past Webb Award recipients have delivered in their lectures. And I trust my comments will reflect the professional values and attributes of John Webb, especially the foundational value of his that all we do as pharmacists is based on our benefit to the patient. My sincere thanks to Northeastern University and ASHP for sustaining and presenting this award to recognize the leadership of John Webb.