Inaugural Address of the Incoming President: On Our Way

The world is brighter because of our presence and because of our compassion for patients and for one another. Editor’s note: The following is adapted from comments delivered by Dr. Benner during the ASHP Pharmacy Futures 2026 meeting, held in June in St. Louis, MO. In this moment, it’s electric. Can you see it? Can you feel it? This dream inside is still alive. We are on our way! These words are from a song1 that was written as an uplifting reflection on the journey of life and faith, stating that when faced with challenges, we maintain hope and resilience. We continue moving forward. What a perfect analogy for our profession and for ASHP. We are moving forward together. As an organization and as a profession, we are on our way! I am proud to stand here as your 83rd President, a longtime member who found my way into this profession over 30 years ago. As a young girl, most Saturday mornings, my father and I had our own version of “bring your daughter to work day” at his textile mill. A stop at Jack’s restaurant and rearranging the supply closet were highlights of my childhood! I later watched my father serve as president of his state professional organization. That experience modeled for me, at a young age, the importance of being active and engaged in your profession. Little did I know how much that would shape my future. My interest in medicine was born with my niece’s premature arrival and her lengthy hospital stay. For those of you of a certain age, you will appreciate that I was a candy striper at our local children’s hospital. For those of you under 30 years of age, candy stripers were teenage hospital volunteers who wore red- and white-striped uniforms. Nevertheless, from those experiences, I knew my calling was in healthcare, with a specific interest in pharmacy. When I entered pharmacy school, my father’s leadership example led me to start an ASHP-SSHP chapter at Samford University, the same chapter I now advise. While in school, I worked as a pharmacy technician at our large academic medical center under Herman Lazarus, who you might remember as ASHP’s President from 1985 to 1986. I will never forget how upset Herman was when I chose to be the first resident in a brand-new residency program at Children’s of Alabama right next door, where I had once been that candy striper. He even told the Children’s RPD they had “stolen me.” Yes, that really happened! Despite that, Herman supported me throughout my career, even swearing me in as a state affiliate president, and I am forever grateful for his mentorship. After completing my residency, I accepted a position in academia with a joint appointment at Children’s of Alabama, where I still practice today. The leadership modeled by my father, Herman, and many others led me to years of professional organization involvement, beginning within my Alabama state affiliate and later expanding to an ASHP council, the Section of Clinical Specialists and Scientists, and the Pharmacy Student Forum, fueled by my love of mentoring students. At the time, I had no idea where that involvement would lead. In hindsight, it was the beginning of my ASHP leadership path. I was already on my way! What I have learned from that journey, and what I share with those I mentor, is that everyone has to start somewhere. While pediatrics may seem like the most appropriate place to “start small,” I can assure you, none of this happened overnight. There were many steps along the way: navigating how to get involved, dealing with not being asked, trying again, and staying committed. Everyone and everything starts somewhere, often with small steps. It has been said that “even the smallest person can change the course of the future.” You may recognize that as the butterfly effect, the idea that our small actions can create enormous impact—on others and on our profession. And speaking of impact, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge my family and friends who have supported my professional aspirations, many of whom are here today. This includes my husband Jamie, my biggest fan and our “about-to-be first dude”; my sons Mason and Carson, who have also chosen to enter healthcare (Boys, you are my greatest achievement and proudest blessing.); my loving mother, Mary; and both of my big brothers and sister-in-law. I would also like to thank and recognize my supportive Alabama tribe, including colleagues at Samford University, Children’s of Alabama, the Alabama Society of Health-System Pharmacists, and the Alabama Pharmacy Association. Thank you all for your love and support over the years. I am forever grateful to the ASHP staff, who continually opened doors and encouraged me, helping to focus my energy and passion as to what was next. I thank the entire staff of ASHP for all you do for our members, organization, and profession. All of this has led me to where I stand today, honored that you selected me to serve as your President, to lead our members as we continue on our way to advancing our mission and improving patient outcomes. As we reflect on where we are and where we need to go, let’s pause and recognize how far we have come. We have more advanced-trained pharmacists than ever before, more pharmacists practicing in specialized and expanded roles, and access to automation and technology prior generations may have never imagined. We are building on a strong foundation, with caring people and expanding opportunities. And that is something to be excited about! But what does being “on our way” actually look like? Let’s take a look at a few examples of ASHP’s leadership and innovation. ASHP’s new member-driven strategic plan reflects strong leadership by outlining a forward-looking path to advance pharmacy practice across five key pillars. Pharmacy Forecast 2026 complements this work by providing insights and recommendations to help leaders navigate emerging challenges and opportunities. The Pharmacy Technician Society was launched in 2023 and has already grown to more than 18,000 members. Pharmacy technicians are clearly on their way to making an even greater impact on our profession. We are so proud of our technician partners! Here are more examples that we’re on our way: The Practice Advancement Initiative 2030, known as PAI 2030, demonstrates how intentionally the future of pharmacy is being mapped. There are around 1,500 completed assessments already helping pharmacy teams across hospitals and health systems set goals and identify priorities. As an educator, I believe education is a key to professional growth. ASHP continues to expand continuing education, certificates, and professional development for all members. And I have proudly witnessed the launch of the We’re Your Pharmacist campaign, which brings our profession into public view. Since its launch, the campaign has reached millions of people by sharing compelling stories that highlight OUR value! In advocacy, our organization continues to be on our way to collecting more “wins” such as: Progress toward provider status at the state level; Model legislation addressing payer-mandated white bagging; and Expanded 340B protections. As we reflect on these examples showing that we’re on our way, I am reminded of the lyrics of that song: “We’re on our way to chase our dreams, because we were made for greater things.”1 So often, members ask, “But what can I do?” There are several ways we can all be involved, including: Prioritizing well-being in the pharmacy workplace; Sharing our value through the We’re Your Pharmacist campaign; Advocating at the state level for provider status, 340B protections, and pharmacist practice authority; and Supporting sustainability. Healthcare contributes nearly 10% of the global carbon footprint, and our profession has a real opportunity to be part of the solution! ASHP recently launched a new Sustainability Task Force that brings members together to advance environmentally responsible pharmacy practice by reducing waste, lowering carbon emissions, and promoting resource efficiency. Another way you can get involved is to continue to encourage the next generation of pharmacists by sharing the value we add every day to patient care, interdisciplinary teams, and health-system practice. We can do this by connecting with students at career fairs, through mentoring, or by hosting a future pharmacist in your practice! Back when I was in high school, I participated in HOSA, an organization for students interested in learning about health professions. It feels fitting to now give back and participate in local HOSA chapters, high school health science academies, and pharmacy camps. I want students to know how great our profession is! People know us as the medication experts, and we are. But we are so much more than that. And our patients know that! The ways ASHP members choose to engage today—with students, by advocating in your communities, and by promoting sustainability—shape how our profession evolves for the future. Patients are looking for someone to trust—not an entity, but a person. Pharmacists are that person! Access builds trust, and pharmacists are uniquely positioned to provide both. I have seen our profession evolve from when I was the first resident at my institution and one of only three clinical pharmacists to now practicing alongside more than 20 pharmacists across a variety of pediatric subspecialties. As our profession continues to evolve alongside technology, pharmacists are leaning into artificial intelligence, even right here at Pharmacy Futures, where we have educational programming about the latest technologies. We are leading the way in adopting processes for cutting-edge therapies. ASHP’s Center for Next Generation Therapeutics provides pharmacists with resources to support gene and cellular therapies that are truly life-changing. If you want to see hope alive, set foot into a pediatric hospital. As a pediatric pharmacist, I have seen firsthand how one dose of a gene therapy can transform a child’s life. Those moments remind me why this work really matters. The song further highlights: “As long as we have hope, we have everything we need.”1 Our work is rooted in healing, caring, and service. The world is brighter because of our presence and because of our compassion for patients and for one another. For all we have accomplished, my friends, we are still on our way. In pharmacy—as in life—we are always on a journey toward what is next. You’ve probably heard the expression “It’s a marathon, not a sprint.” As a marathon runner, I can tell you—it’s about endurance, persistence, and not giving up! And we must not give up! In our work, there is no finish line, only continued growth, leadership, and impact. I follow many great leaders who have paved the way. Many more of you will follow me and lead and continue to drive change in ways we have yet to imagine. Thank you for the opportunity to serve and to give back to the profession and the organization that we all love! We were made for greater things. We are truly on our way!