ASHP President Melanie Dodd delivered the following remarks Dec. 8 during the Opening Session of the 2025 Midyear Clinical Meeting & Exhibition in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Melanie Dodd:
Good morning!
It’s a new dawn. It’s a new day. It’s a new life — and we’re sparking brilliance.
I am thrilled to welcome you to Las Vegas for ASHP’s 60th Midyear Clinical Meeting & Exhibition.
Our theme this year is spark brilliance. That energy — pharmacy’s drive to innovate, connect, and lead — infuses every aspect of the Midyear, from unparalleled educational programming to networking to career advancement opportunities.
During my inaugural address in June, I talked about jazz music and how pharmacists can drive the beat of healthcare one note at a time. Just as the jazz band leader sets the tempo and encourages each musician to find their voice, ASHP provides the leadership and guidance for the pharmacy profession.
Strong leadership, like a well-conducted ensemble, ensures that every pharmacy professional’s contribution provides the best care to patients.
This morning, I would like to reflect on one such leader, Dr. Paul Abramowitz, who has led ASHP as CEO with great distinction and purpose for more than 14 years.
As many of you know, Paul announced his plans to retire as ASHP’s CEO this past April. While it’s bittersweet to acknowledge that this will be Paul’s final Midyear meeting in that role, it is also an opportunity to thank him for his visionary leadership, unwavering dedication, and profound impact on our organization and the profession.
During Paul’s tenure, ASHP experienced remarkable growth and transformation. Under his leadership, membership expanded from 35,000 to more than 60,000, making ASHP the largest association of pharmacy professionals in the United States. ASHP dramatically increased its revenues and the Midyear Clinical Meeting now attracts more than 20,000 attendees. The number of accredited residency programs and number of residents have more than doubled since 2010.
Paul spearheaded the creation of four new membership sections — community pharmacy, digital health and telehealth, pharmacy educators, and specialty pharmacy — broadening ASHP’s reach and relevance. He also led a major expansion of ASHP’s advocacy efforts at the state and national levels.
That same spirit of inclusion and innovation shaped Paul’s commitment to advancing all segments of the pharmacy workforce. In 2023, he oversaw the launch of The Pharmacy Technician Society, or TPTS, now more than 15,000 members strong. He also strengthened executive leadership pathways through the Certified Pharmacy Executive Leader credential, the Pharmacy Executive Leadership Alliance, the Pharmacists in C-Suites initiative, and the revitalized Executive Fellowship in Association Leadership and Management.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Paul led ASHP through one of our country’s and the world’s most challenging periods. Under his direction, ASHP transitioned overnight to remote operations without disrupting service to our members. ASHP became a trusted national resource by providing real-time clinical guidance, advocating for frontline pharmacists, and offering more than $60 million in free education and drug information, along with developing instructional materials for health systems to aid in setting up mass vaccination centers quickly. All of this to support the public health response.
As ASHP responded to the complexities of the pandemic, Paul continued positioning pharmacy as vital to patient care by amplifying pharmacist voices and elevating public recognition.
Paul led the development of 50 certificate programs to provide existing practitioners with education and training in new therapeutic and practice areas. ASHP also greatly expanded the board certification preparation and recertification materials.
His long-held vision inspired our We’re Your Pharmacist public awareness campaign — a bold national initiative bringing visibility to pharmacists’ essential role in patient care. This multimedia campaign will remain a cornerstone of ASHP’s public outreach for many years to come.
Just as important, Paul has also nurtured a purpose-driven, award-winning culture within ASHP. During his tenure, the organization has been recognized in multiple years as a top workplace by the Washington Post, USA Today, and Modern Healthcare, a testament to his leadership and efforts to foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and service that attracts and retains the best employees from around the country.
These highlights reflect a career that has profoundly shaped ASHP and advanced the profession. Paul’s legacy as CEO is growth, innovation, and service. He has transformed ASHP and strengthened the entire pharmacy profession for generations to come.
Let’s take a moment to hear more about Paul’s remarkable legacy [video plays].
Please join me in welcoming ASHP CEO Paul Abramowitz to the stage and expressing our deep appreciation for his accomplishments and lasting impact on ASHP and the pharmacy community.
