OPA New Practitioner eXperience (NPX) Launchpad

Fall 2015

The New Practitioner eXperience (NPX) is designed to be the launchpad for all new practitioners to achieve personal and professional growth and success. It is an automatic (and free!) Ohio Pharmacists Association (OPA) member benefit for pharmacists who have been in practice for 7 years or less. As a benefit to all of you, we will be sending out this quarterly newsletter, NPX Launchpad, which will include several feature articles, including financial tips in Money Matters, new recipes in A Taste of Our Kitchen, a profile of a new practitioner in Practitioner Profile and highlighting a place to visit in Ohio in Ohio Days. Additionally, the NPX Launchpad has information updates on committee actions, thanks to our NPX Committee Liaisons and more information to keep you up-to-date and involved in OPA.

We hope you enjoy NPX Launchpad and we invite each you to take the next step in your professional growth by getting involved with NPX today!

Sincerely, your NPX Advisory Team,

Brigid Long, Chair

Alexa Sevin, Vice-Chair

Logan Yoho, Member-at-Large

Eric Gillepsie, Member-at-Large

Justin Brown, Member-at Large

Brigid Long

Clinical Coordinator, The Kroger Company

The Ohio State University, 2012

Best OPA Experience So Far: 

I love going to the Annual Conference and seeing so many passionate pharmacists in one place at one time! 

What would you be if you weren't a pharmacist?

An event planner. I love all the little details and making it all come together! 

Alexa Sevin

Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacy, The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy

Duquesne University, 2012

Best OPA Experience So Far: 

It is hard to pick just one!  I really enjoy meetings at the OPA office.  The staff make it such a welcoming environment and it is exciting to get together with pharmacists from across the state to share ideas and advance the profession.

What what you be if you weren't a pharmacist?

A Disney Princess.

Logan Yoho

Pharmacy Manager, Fruth Pharmacy Pomeroy, OH

Ohio Northern University, 2010

Best OPA Experience So Far:

I have been a member of OPA for about 10 years.  I have always loved attending the annual meeting.  It is a great way to catch up with friends from school.  We normally attend a baseball game one evening of the conference.

What would you be if you weren't a pharmacist? 

A Chef. I have always loved to cook and the pace inside a professional kitchen has always intrigued me.

Eric Gillespie

Pharmacist, Hart Pharmacy

University of Cincinnati, 2012

 Best OPA Experience So Far: 

Without a doubt, the OPA
rotation.  It was by far my best rotation.  I loved seeing "behind the scenes" and learned how pharmacy isn't just what happens behind the counter.

What would you be if you weren't a pharmacist? 

A high school french teacher and wrestling coach or a
bartender in the south of France.

Justin Brown

Pharmacist, Walmart Pharmacy

University of Toledo, 2012

Best OPA Experience So Far: 

I have been an OPA member since 2007.  Being able to observe first-hand the
growth of the New Practitioner eXperience has been very rewarding.  However,
my favorite OPA memory will always be winning the OTC/Self-Care Challenge
with the University of Toledo in 2011!

What would you be if you weren't a pharmacist? 

I would have studied broadcast journalism and hopefully be working in the
sports world!

7 Tips For Managing Your Debt

These days, it’s nearly impossible to live debt-free. Most of us don’t have ready cash to pay for our cars, homes or college costs. For this reason, holding some amount of debt isn’t necessarily a bad thing. A mortgage, for example, can provide you with certain tax advantages and may replace the rent you would otherwise have to pay; a student loan can help you earn a college degree that may lead to rewarding career.

But what about taking on debt for things you don’t need and can’t afford (like that Louis Vuitton handbag, Mediterranean cruise or a new sports car)? Americans have $882.6 billion in credit card debt alone. That’s $15,611 per household with at least one credit card, according to NerdWallet.com, a web site that analyzes financial products and data. That kind of debt can put a real drain on your wallet, damage relationships, and limit your ability to reach more important goals like saving for retirement.

Here are seven suggestions to help you think through what’s best for you and your money. Read more

As an OPA member you have had the chance to experience many of the great benefits OPA provides. We hope you will share your OPA experiences with friends and colleagues to encourage them to join our Association through our Member-Get-a-Member (MGM) program. 

By participating, you will be strengthening our voice and our profession; AND, as an added bonus, for each NEW * member you recruit, you will receive a $20 discount on your 2016 Annual Conference registration fee! Sign up 14 members and you are in for free!¤ You will also receive recognition as an exclusive member of our OPA All-Star Recruiter Club. 

MGM programs are a powerful way to for us to spread the value of OPA to our friends, classmates and colleagues who do not understand the positive impact OPA has on our profession. We hope you will become an All-Star Recruiter and use this Member Get a Member Program Information or the coupons featured in the November issue of Ohio Pharmacist, and share all that OPA does, and means to you. An online application is also available at ohiopharmacists.org/4OPA16; a printable version is available online in the Membership dropdown, or contact opa@ohiopharmacists.org for additional membership materials.

Here are a few tips to successfully engage prospective members:

1. Don’t be afraid to ask! If you don’t ask, you won’t know.
2. Be prepared for them to join right then. Have an application or membership coupon on hand.
3. Ask for contact information. You can reach out to them later to see if they have questions and encourage them to join.
4. Don’t worry about difficult questions. A vast amount of information is available on our website, or if you need help, contact the OPA office.

Hurry and share – the chance to get a $20 credit toward your Annual Conference registration ends on March 1, 2016!

* New = 2015 OPA members are not eligible to be recruited for the MGM program. If you wish to verify your recruit’s OPA member status, log in to the Members Only Directory on the OPA website.

¤No additional reimbursements or cash credit are available.

OPA has given me an opportunity to remain actively involved in promoting and developing our profession after pharmacy school. It’s easy to be involved in school; OPA makes it easy to stay involved after school. •Brigid Long, 3-year OPA Member From left: OPA members Alexa Sevin, Chet Kaczor, Justin Brown and Brigid Long at the New Practitioners Event during the 2015 OPA Annual Conference in Columbus.

Upcoming OPA Events

Join us at one of the upcoming OPA events! NPX Advisory Team members will be there and would love to get to know you and tell you more about OPA. 

OPA Midyear

Join us November 8, 2015 at the Makoy Center in Hilliard, OH for the OPA Midyear meeting! Pharmacists from all practice settings will be energized with the CPE programming. In addition, the program offers one hour of Ohio Board of Pharmacy-approved jurisprudence credit! Register today!

Pharmacy Legislative Day

Join us November 10, 2015 at the Sheraton Columbus Hotel at Capitol Square and the Ohio Statehouse for Pharmacy Legislative Day. There are big pharmacy issues this year: consult agreement expansion, medication synchronization, PBM regulations, access to care, and more! We need your help to stand up for pharmacists!

Pharmacy Legislative Day is designed to develop open dialogue between pharmacists and lawmakers. Be a part of the important process that will shape our profession. Register Today!

Pork Chops with Spiced Applesauce

Serves 2

Ingredients:
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
2 bone-in pork chops (about 1 lb total)
3 tablespoons light olive oil
1 onion, sliced
2 apples, peeled, cored and diced
½ apple cider
½ tsp ground ginger
½ tsp allspice
1 pinch nutmeg
2 generous handfuls spinach

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Season both sides of the pork chops with the salt and pepper.  Melt 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  When the fat is hot, add the pork chops and sear until you see light golden brown crust, 2 to 3 minutes.  Turn and sear the other side for 2 minutes.  Transfer pork chops to baking dish and roast in oven until the internal temperature reaches 140 degrees F, 10 to 15 minutes depending on thickness.

While the pork is roasting, combine the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and onion and the same skillet.  Cook over medium heat until the onion is translucent, 2 to 3 minutes.  Add the apple, apple cider, ginger, allspice, and nutmeg.  Cook (while scraping the bottom with a wooden spoon), until the apple softens, about 5 minutes.  Transfer the applesauce to a food processor or  blender and blend until smooth.
Place spinach on plates.  Top with pork and serve with applesauce.

From:  The Whole 30 by Melissa Hartwig and Dallas Hartwig.

NPX has asked members to get more involved and join a committee. Thanks to all those who have volunteered to serve as an NPX committee liaison! Here's a brief update of what each committee is working on. If you're interested in joining an OPA committee you can JOIN HERE. 

Independent Special Interest Group (August 25)

Limited networks within Medicaid Managed Care programs and the potential for standards for network access including geographic access and service access were discussed. Upcoming state legislation relevant to independent pharmacies was reviewed. 

Compounding Special Interest Group (September 17)

New state board of pharmacy rules regarding compounding practice and USP 800 were reviewed. The reasons and options for certification of compounding practices were discussed. 

Resolutions and Bylaws (October 6)

Reviewed the process for soliciting resolutions which will be considered at the House of Delegates, April 16, 2016. Ideas for resolutions may be submitted to Aimee Wallace, awallace@ohiopharmacists.org, by February 10, 2016. 

Member Development & Services (October 8)

Developed the Member-Geta-Member Program for 2015-16. Approved the slate for officers of the Association for the 2016 election. Reviewed nominations for awards and selected award recipients for 2016.

Medication Therapy Management (October 15) - Erin Petersen, Committee Liaison

At the largest committee meeting in OPA history, the MTM committee set goals for 2016 including developing a sample collaborate practice agreements for various disease states. Reviewed the “Ohio’s MTM Story” project which is a compilation of MTM interventions from pharmacists around the state.

Pharmacy Economics (October 20) - Andrew Faiella, Committee Liaison 

Upcoming Meetings:

Public and Professional Relations, November 4 - JD Bickel, Committee Liaison
Legal and Regulatory, November 5 - Zach Henz, Committee Liaison
Legal and Regulatory, January 14 - Zach Henz, Committee Liaison
Preparedness Task Force, January 15 - Lisa Jacobs, Committee Liaison
Public and Professional Relations, January 20 - JD Bickel, Committee Liaison
Medication Therapy Management, February 4 - Erin Petersen, Committee Liaison
Pharmacy Economics, February 9 - Andrew Faiella, Committee Liaison
Resolutions & Bylaws, February 11
Compounding Special Interest Group, February 18
Independent Special Interest Group, February 25
Member Development & Services, March 10

All meetings are held at the OPA office, 2674 Federated Blvd, Columbus 43235 at 10:00 a.m. unless otherwise noted. Please visit the OPA website (www.ohiopharmacists.org) for more information.  

Any young practitioner looking for a travel destination in Ohio should not look any farther than beautiful Marietta.  Positioned on both the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers, it is a scenic escape and the perfect getaway from the stress of our profession.  It has something for everyone including history, food, music, and sports.

 Marietta, Ohio was the first permanent settlement in the Northwest Territory and thus has a rich history.  The city was an important location in the Underground Railroad.  History buffs may want to pay a visit to Campus Martius Museum, a local museum located on the site of one of Marietta's most important fortifications during the Northwest Indian War. 

 Spend your nights in the historic Lafayette Hotel.  Built in 1918, the Lafayette Hotel gets in namesake from Marquis de Lafayette, French hero of the American Revolution.  The hotel stands on the place where Lafayette came ashore and locals boast that he was the first tourist to Marietta.

 The area is also great for those seek a more active lifestyle.  Marietta Adventure Company rents mountain bikes and kayaks for guided or self-guided tours of the area.  River sports like jet skiing and tubing are a staple of every weekend in the summer.

 Marietta is known for its festivals and events.  The Annual Riverfront Roar powerboat races are held every July.  The Sternwheeler Festival brings dozens of sternwheelers to the the banks of Marietta each year the weekend after Labor Day.  During the spring, several rowing regattas are held on the Muskingum River. 

 Those who want to get some local faire are in the perfect place.  The Levee House offers romantic dining on the banks of the river.  You can get a great meal at the Galley restaurant or catch some live music at the attached Adelphia music hall.  The Marietta Brewing Company offers casual dining and 6 craft beers.  Before you leave, make sure you take home some fresh pasta from Rossi Pasta.

 There is always something going on in Marietta.  The Mid-Ohio River Valley is breath-takingly beautiful during any season.  Whether it is the history, the outdoors, or listening to the peaceful sounds of the Ohio River lapping against the bank, any young practitioner can find a respite in Marietta, OH.