Today, the ASHP Foundation announced the creation of the Paul W. Abramowitz Fund to Enhance Public Awareness of Pharmacy & Inspire the Next Generation of Practitioners. The fund was established to honor the extraordinary legacy of ASHP CEO Paul W. Abramowitz, PharmD, ScD (Hon), FASHP, who is retiring early next year after more than four decades of service as a visionary leader of the pharmacy profession.
The fund aims to raise $5 million to increase public awareness of hospital and health-system pharmacists’ essential roles, advance research and leadership opportunities for the profession, and inspire and prepare the next generation to join the pharmacy workforce. The ASHP Board of Directors has committed $3 million toward that goal.
“For more than 45 years, Paul W. Abramowitz has defined pharmacy leadership, advancing efforts to serve patients, mentor colleagues, and shape national health policy,” said Honorary Campaign Committee Co-Chairs Roger Anderson, BS, MS, DrPH, and Marvin Samson, MS, DSc (Hon), of the Paul W. Abramowitz Fund to Enhance Public Awareness of Pharmacy & Inspire the Next Generation of Practitioners. “This initiative ensures that his belief in educating the public about the essential role of the profession and the need for critical services of hospital and health-system pharmacists will carry forward for generations to come.”
The fund will support:
- A sustained national public awareness campaign to highlight hospital and health-system pharmacists’ essential roles in optimizing patient care.
- Programs that engage and support students, early-career pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians.
- Research and leadership development initiatives that prepare the next generation of pharmacy leaders.
- The continuation of Abramowitz’s legacy of service, mentorship, and innovation.
The launch comes at a pivotal moment for the profession. According to the 2024 National Survey of Pharmacy Practice in Hospital Settings, shortages of entry-level pharmacists have doubled between 2021 and 2024, and significant shortages of pharmacy technicians persist across all experience levels. Meanwhile, research shows that the public has limited awareness of pharmacists’ vital clinical and direct patient care roles in hospital and health-system settings.
In 2024, ASHP launched the We’re Your Pharmacist national public awareness campaign to spotlight hospital and health-system pharmacists and increase understanding of their critical role in patient care. The new fund will carry Abramowitz’s vision and commitment to that work forward, creating a sustained effort to educate the public, support future leaders, and strengthen the pharmacy workforce.
All donors are invited to become founding supporters of the Paul W. Abramowitz Fund to Enhance Public Awareness of Pharmacy & Inspire the Next Generation of Practitioners. Leadership gifts and multiyear pledges are welcome.
For more information and to contribute, visit https://www.ashpfoundation.org/donate-pwa.
About the ASHP Foundation
The ASHP Foundation was established in 1968 by ASHP as a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization. As the philanthropic arm of ASHP, the foundation shares ASHP’s vision that medication use will be optimal, safe, and effective for all people all of the time. Our mission is to support ASHP by advancing the professional practice of pharmacists and the pharmacy workforce by funding research and education that improve health outcomes through optimal, safe, and effective medication use. To learn more about the foundation’s programs, visit ashpfoundation.org.
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. Learn more about ASHP’s public awareness campaign at yourpharmacist.org.
