Today, The Pharmacy Technician Society℠ (TPTS) announced the appointment of its inaugural board of directors.
TPTS is a national membership organization dedicated to further elevating pharmacy technician roles in patient care and recognizing their significant contributions to healthcare. Created by ASHP, TPTS supports the career advancement and professionalization of the pharmacy technician workforce through education, networking, policy development, and advocacy.
“The inaugural TPTS Board of Directors represents an exceptional and respected group of pharmacy technician leaders who showcase the diversity of the pharmacy profession across all practice settings," said ASHP CEO Paul W. Abramowitz, PharmD, ScD (Hon), FASHP. "The board brings with them incredible depth of knowledge and expertise that will build an excellent foundation for the success of TPTS as it empowers current and aspiring pharmacy technicians and elevates their critical roles as part of the healthcare team.”
The Board of Directors, comprised of six pharmacy technician members recognized as leaders with broad and diverse practice expertise, will guide the development of education, resources, strategic initiatives, professional policies, and advocacy to support pharmacy technicians.
The inaugural Board of Directors for the 2024-2025 term are as follows:
- President: Daniel N. Nyakundi, RPhT, DP, is a system pharmacy business analyst at Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston, Texas, one of the largest not-for-profit health systems in southeast Texas. He oversees automation management and supports aspects of regulatory compliance for the health system. Nyakundi has over 22 years of experience in the healthcare industry spanning two continents.
- Director at Large: Kimberly M. Boler, MBA, BS, CPhT-Adv, CSPT, DPLA, is a pharmacy compliance manager at Legacy Health in the Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, metro area, where she leads a team of medication safety and compliance technicians responsible for maintaining the sterile competency and controlled substance surveillance programs. Boler received her bachelor’s in biology from Idaho State University in 2006, completed the ASHP Pharmacy Leadership Academy in 2019, and received her master’s in business administration from New England College in 2021.
- Director at Large: Sarina Clinton, MPH, MBA, BS, is the senior manager of pharmacy affairs enablement at Walgreens Co., where she oversees board of pharmacy regulatory reporting, partners with business units on policy development and implementation for new pharmacy laws and regulations, operationalizes pharmacy compliance functions, and monitors licensure and certification requirements for all pharmacy team members. Clinton received her bachelor’s in healthcare administration in 2017, master’s in public health in 2018, and master’s in business administration in 2020 from Columbia Southern University.
- Director at Large: Troy A. Cox, BS, CPhT, is senior pharmacy instructor for the United States Army at the Medical Education and Training Campus at Fort Sam Houston in Texas. He joined the U.S. Army in 2001 as a pharmacy technician. Cox has led several strategic initiatives to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of military technicians and has been an advocate for education, clinical experience, and upward mobility of technicians.
- Director at Large: Stephanie N. Rice-Erlenbusch, CPhT, is a health and wellness operations specialist and certified pharmacy technician at Fred Meyer Pharmacy, where she oversees training for pharmacy associates and manages daily operations across 21 pharmacies in east Portland and southwest Washington. Rice-Erlenbusch holds active pharmacy licensure in four states (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington) and has worked as a pharmacy technician for over 20 years.
- Director at Large: Merissa L. Waldron, BS, CPhT, is the national supervisor for pharmacy technicians at Ascension, where she provides operational support and communication to pharmacy technicians in roles that include buyers, sterile compounding, medication history, unit-based technicians, narcotic and diversion prevention, 340B Drug Pricing Program, and many others. Waldron earned her bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University in 2008 and has worked as a pharmacy technician for over 24 years in various practice settings, including community, long-term care, and inpatient hospital pharmacy.
The board will begin its term in June 2024 and will hold its first in-person meeting later this year at ASHP headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland. Volunteer engagement opportunities in the new society will be available to all TPTS members in the coming months.
For more information about TPTS, visit www.pharmtechsociety.org.
About The Pharmacy Technician Society
The Pharmacy Technician Society (TPTS) is the collective voice of pharmacy technicians who practice in hospital systems, community pharmacies, clinics, and all other settings. TPTS supports the career advancement and professionalization of the pharmacy technician workforce through education, networking, policy development, and advocacy.
About ASHP
ASHP is the largest association of pharmacy professionals in the United States, representing 60,000 pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians in all patient care settings, including hospitals, ambulatory clinics, and health-system community pharmacies. For over 80 years, ASHP has championed innovation in pharmacy practice, advanced education and professional development, and served as a steadfast advocate for members and patients. In addition, ASHP is the accrediting body for pharmacy residency and technician training programs and provides comprehensive resources to support pharmacy professionals through every stage of their careers. For more information, visit ashp.org and ASHP’s consumer website, SafeMedication.com.
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