Embracing Change and Building Momentum
Dear College of Pharmacy Alumni,
I’m excited to reconnect with you through this long-awaited newsletter. It’s been many months since we last communicated, and during that time, we’ve experienced significant changes that have impacted both our College and the broader healthcare landscape. As Charles Dickens famously wrote in A Tale of Two Cities, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” and that sentiment perfectly captures the challenges and opportunities we’ve encountered in recent years.
First, we’ve seen several leadership and staff changes at the College. We said goodbye to Dean Fitzgerald and a number of long-standing faculty members who have been pillars of this institution. At the same time, we’ve welcomed new faculty and leadership with renewed determination and ideas. Dr. Kasidy McKay is now Chair of the PPRA Department, Cynthia Tillotson has stepped into the role of Associate Dean for Student Affairs, and I transitioned from Interim Dean to Dean (see below). These transitions mark the beginning of a new chapter for our College—one that brings both challenges and exciting opportunities.
One of the major challenges we’re facing is enrollment, with fewer students entering our program than ever before. This has led to difficult decisions regarding budget adjustments and program scaling. Additionally, faculty attrition has been a concern, driven not only by expanding opportunities for pharmacists in primary care and specialty clinics but also by stress, burnout, and issues within our organizational culture. While it’s encouraging to see our faculty members move into exciting new roles, we must continuously find innovative ways to support, retain, and grow our team. Addressing factors such as workload and organizational culture will be essential as we move forward.
The broader healthcare landscape also presents significant challenges, especially for community pharmacies. Despite progress with PBM regulation, many pharmacies continue to struggle with shrinking profit margins and rising operational costs. These pressures have severely impacted the working conditions of community pharmacists, making it difficult for them to provide the personalized care they are known for. While we’ve made strides, much work remains to hold PBMs accountable, develop sustainable business models, improve working conditions, and ensure continued access to vital pharmacy services in our communities.
Yet, despite these obstacles, we find ourselves on the cusp of exciting opportunities. The recognition of pharmacists as providers and the reimbursement for their services in community, primary, and specialty care settings is a milestone we’ve worked toward for decades. This achievement presents new challenges—such as defining best practices for ethical prescribing and adapting business models—but it also offers unprecedented opportunities to expand patient access to healthcare and improve its quality.
On the College front, we are thrilled to share that the Leonard Hall renovation is progressing, bringing us a modern, state-of-the-art facility that will elevate our teaching, research, and community outreach efforts. Additionally, we are reaffirming our commitment to community pharmacy with the expansion of Bengal Pharmacy into new locations. These sites are not intended to compete with our colleagues and alumni but to serve as hubs for collaboration and innovation, fostering partnerships that strengthen the profession as a whole.
In this newsletter, you’ll find updates on these leadership changes, faculty news, and the exciting progress we’ve made in uniting the profession. The Center for Advancing Pharmacy Practice and Research Excellence (CAPPRE) continues to make strides, and your support is needed as we engage stakeholders and shape the future of pharmacy practice. You’ll also read about the remarkable achievements of our faculty and alumni, as well as opportunities to stay involved and contribute to our ongoing efforts.
Moving forward, this newsletter will be published quarterly, giving you regular opportunities to stay informed, get involved, and support the College as we advance pharmacy practice. Together, we can navigate the challenges ahead and capitalize on the incredible opportunities in front of us, improving healthcare for the people of Idaho, Alaska, and beyond.
Sincerely,
Tom Wadsworth, PharmD, BCPS
Dean, College of Pharmacy
