This Week in Pharmacy

Pharmacists leading in Pharmacovigilance & Hormone Therapies | TWIRx

In this powerful episode of This Week in Pharmacy, TWIRx we're spotlighting the critical leadership roles pharmacists are taking in two vital areas of patient care: pharmacovigilance and hormone treatment therapies.
🧬 Featured Guest #1: Dr. Sara Rogers, PharmD A trailblazing researcher and healthcare leader, Dr. Sara Rogers is the founder of the American Society of Pharmacovigilance, a national biomedical and healthcare network committed to improving drug safety. She shares her passion for translating genomics into improved patient care and dives deep into the growing importance of pharmacovigilance in modern healthcare. With adverse drug events contributing to over $136 billion in annual healthcare costs and millions of emergency and hospital visits, this discussion shines a light on the pharmacist's role in detecting, monitoring, and preventing these events before they happen.
💊 Key Topics with Dr. Rogers:
What is pharmacovigilance and why it matters now more than ever
The connection between genomics and adverse drug event prevention
How pharmacists are uniquely positioned to lead in this critical area
The mission and membership of the American Society of Pharmacovigilance
🌸 Featured Guest #2: Dr. Tiffany Ruder, PharmDPharmacist, hormone health advocate, and founder of Better Health & Hormone Balance, LLC, Dr. Tiffany Ruder brings a wealth of experience and compassion to the conversation around hormone replacement therapy. With over a decade of pharmacy practice and specialized certification, Dr. Ruder is empowering midlife women to reclaim their vitality and live "radiantly restored."
🧘‍♀️ Key Topics with Dr. Ruder:
The science behind hormone balance and its impact on women’s health
Personalized, evidence-based approaches to hormone therapy
Breaking the stigma and misconceptions around HRT
How pharmacists can support patients in their hormone health journey
🎧 Don’t miss this insightful episode that showcases how pharmacists are redefining healthcare leadership through safety science and specialized care.
💥 This Week in Pharmacy is powered by Yaral Pharma and Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC) — supporting innovation, independence, and the future of pharmacy.
👉 Subscribe now and follow us @PharmacyPodcast on all platforms.

Pittsburgh Pharmacy Network 4th Year Anniversary | TWIRx

Join us for a special episode of This Week in Pharmacy (TWIRx) as we celebrate the 4th Anniversary of the Pittsburgh Pharmacy Network (PPN)—a thriving community dedicated to connecting pharmacy professionals and students in the Greater Pittsburgh area. Hosted at Shorty's at the Waterfront, this milestone event brought together pharmacy leaders, entrepreneurs, and advocates for an evening of networking, collaboration, and celebration.
Vadim Gazarov, founder of Pittsburgh Pharmacy Network, kicks off this exclusive Pharmacy Podcast Network coverage, highlighting the impact PPN has had over the past four years.
Special Guest Interviews
🎙️ Shawn Nairn – Founder, ACORx🎙️ John DeJames – Value Drug🎙️ And many more influential voices in Pittsburgh's pharmacy community!
Tune in for engaging discussions on pharmacy innovation, independent pharmacy success, and the power of professional networking in shaping the future of pharmacy.
Key Topics in This Episode:
✅ The growth and impact of the Pittsburgh Pharmacy Network over four years ✅ Independent pharmacy insights from industry leaders ✅ How networking drives success in pharmacy ✅ Exclusive interviews with Pittsburgh's pharmacy professionals
🔗 Listen now on: PharmacyPodcast.com | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Your favorite podcast platform!

APhA 2025 Preview & the Expanding Roles of Pharmacists | TWIRx

On This Week in Pharmacy, we talk with Stephen Beckman, CEO of Yaral Pharma LLC. We're headed to APhA 2025 in Nashville.Next up, We're focused on the Expanding Role of the Pharmacist with Stephanie Smith, PharmD, Thea Blystone, PharmD, and Jamie Wilkey, PharmD.

Workforce & Wellness – Staffing Solutions & Smarter Medications | TWIRx

This week on TWIRx – This Week in Pharmacy, we dive into two critical business topics impacting the pharmacy industry: staffing solutions and access to better medication options.
Our first guest, Doniyor Sattarov, Vice President of PharmaStaff (pharmastaff.com), joins us to discuss staffing challenges in pharmacy and how outsourcing workforce solutions can boost efficiency and profitability. PharmaStaff, the official sponsor of PPN’s Press & Media coverage at APhA 2025, specializes in building remote pharmacy workforces, helping operations scale without sacrificing quality.
Next, we talk with  (fh2pharma.net) about their upcoming presence at the Pharmacy Profit Summit 2025 in Dallas. FH2 Pharma is committed to providing pharmacies with better access to medications with optimized dosing options, helping independent and specialty pharmacies improve patient care while enhancing profitability.
💡 Don’t miss this episode filled with valuable insights on improving workforce strategies and expanding pharmacy access to essential medications!
📍 Follow TWIRx & Subscribe for More Industry Updates!#PharmacyPodcast #PharmacyStaffing #PharmaStaff #FH2Pharma #PharmacyProfitSummit
 

New Partnership Empowering Independent Pharmacy & GLP-1 Marketing | TWIRx

New Partnership Empowering Independent Pharmacy & GLP-1 Marketing | TWIRx
 
Our first feature on "This Week in Pharmacy" is the announcement about IPC and LPG:The Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC) and Legacy Pharmacy Group (LPG) are partnering to improve patient care and strengthen community pharmacies. 
How will the partnership help pharmacies and patients?
Streamlined supply chain
The partnership will improve the supply chain for essential medications and healthcare products. 
Competitive pricing
The partnership will help pharmacies get better pricing and discounts. 
Digital health services
IPC's iCare+ platform will give LPG members access to digital health services like telehealth, patient transport, and discount prescriptions. 
Legislative advocacy
IPC and LPG will work together to advocate for PBM reform, pharmacist provider status, and patient access to cost-effective medications. 
What are IPC and LPG?
IPC - A member-owned Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) that supports independent pharmacies across the United States. 
LPG - A pharmacy group that offers programs and systems to help members promote and expand their business. 
What does this partnership mean?
The partnership will create new opportunities for growth and improve patient care. Press Release: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/independent-pharmacy-cooperative-ipc-and-legacy-pharmacy-group-lpg-announce-strategic-cooperation-agreement-302377435.html Our second part features a fun conversation with Dr. Joey Mattingly, Associate Professor & Vice Chair of Research at the University of Utah College of Pharmacy and Darshan Kulkarni PharmD Esq.  Linkedin Top Voice| Life Science Lawyer | Emily Whitehead Foundation Board Member talking about the state of GLP-1 Advertising. A venture-funded startup is partnering with compounding pharmacies to market and distribute compounded GLP-1s across state lines. (Whoa!) https://www.linkedin.com/posts/joeymattingly_congrats-to-fella-health-for-getting-its-activity-7301247943108440067-UCWB?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAABrTvQB0dlEVm5vGSXYR3MCaqeEzqaBQ8M 
New boost

The GLP-1 Debate | TWIRx Special Episode

In this special episode of This Week in Pharmacy, we dive into one of the most debated topics in healthcare today: GLP-1 receptor agonists. Joining the discussion are Josh Pirestani, Editor-in-Chief of Dispense Times; Dr. Darshan Kulkarni, PharmD, of Kulkarni Law Firm; and Dr. Masoud Rashidi, PharmD, FAPC, CEO of Innovative Compounding Pharmacy.
Whether you see the latest weight loss drugs as a miracle or a menace, the hype around GLP-1s is impossible to ignore. What started with Ozempic, a diabetes treatment, quickly shifted into a global weight-loss trend. Soon after, Wegovy, a high-dose version officially marketed for obesity, took center stage. The popularity of these medications skyrocketed, catapulting their manufacturer’s market value beyond the entire economy of Denmark. And now, Eli Lilly's Zepbound has entered the competitive landscape.
Our expert panel explores the current state of GLP-1s, discussing:✅ The clinical impact and efficacy of these drugs✅ Safety concerns and side effects✅ Ethical considerations surrounding off-label use✅ The skyrocketing demand and supply shortages✅ How compounding pharmacies are navigating the GLP-1 surge
With soaring demand and increasing controversy, the conversation around these medications is far from over. Tune in for an insightful discussion on what’s next for GLP-1 receptor agonists and the future of weight loss treatments.
🎧 Listen now and stay informed on the latest pharmacy trends!

The Future of Pharmacogenomics, State Rep Cook, & Super Culture | TWIRx

The Future of Pharmacogenomics, State Rep Cook, & Super Culture | TWIRx 
Howard McLeod, PharmD
Katrina Azer
About the ElevateRx Event - Pharmacogenomics Virtual SummitApril 12, 2025 12pm -6pm ETAbout the ElevateRx Event: This event is for you if you want to: bring innovation and fresh ideas to your practice elevate your career with new skills and expertise learn how precision prescribing reduces adverse events and improves patient outcomes learn step-by-step how top pharmacogenomics pharmacists are successfully implementing PGx across various settings This event is open to pharmacists worldwide, providing practical PGx implementation strategies applicable across diverse healthcare settings.Bud Cook50th Legislative DistrictPennsylvania House of RepresentativesGO BIG & COME HOME!!Representative Cook recently spoke at the Washington County commissioners monthly meeting about his newest initiative – “Come Home…GO BIG!” The initiative highlights Southwestern Pennsylvania, which consists of Washington, Fayette, Greene, Westmoreland and Allegheny counties, as the best place in the Commonwealth to live and work.“I stood before the commissioners and asked for a committed partnership from them in pursuing this idea,” said Cook. “I want to publicly thank them for the opportunity to present Come Home…GO BIG! I look forward to potentially working with them in the months to come.” - said Rep CookIn May 2021, Cook started to ask the public “Why Not Here?” As many people had the opportunity to work from anywhere during the pandemic, he questioned why people wouldn’t want to live and work in one of the tightest-knit communities in the Commonwealth. Thus, began his focus to make Southwestern Pennsylvania a home for many and a tourist destination for others.Chris Cornelison, RPhAuthor & CEO SolutionsRxCreator of Super Culture™ Framework
In Super Culture™, Chris Cornelison outlines five steps to transform workplaces into thriving environments where employees feel energized and appreciated. Drawing from his experience, he emphasizes the importance of building a Super Culture™, retaining talent, fostering collaboration, and improving results.

Fighting for the Patient’s Care and Rights | TWIRx

Fighting for the Patient’s Care and Rights
🗓 Episode Release Date: 02-07-2025🎧 Hosted by: Todd Eury🎙️ Special Guests: Claudia Holley and Julie Baak - TikTok stars = C_Money636
💊 Episode Overview:
In this powerful episode of This Week in Pharmacy (TWIRx), we’re diving deep into the critical role pharmacists and healthcare providers play in fighting for the patient—advocating for their care, navigating medical roadblocks, and ensuring they receive the treatment they deserve.
Pharmacists are more than medication experts—they are frontline patient advocates who challenge insurance denials, seek second opinions, and collaborate with healthcare teams to protect patient rights.
🔥 Key Topics Covered:
 
✅ Challenging Insurance Denials – How pharmacists and healthcare providers can push back against unfair insurance rejections and fight for necessary treatments.
✅ Empowering Patients & Families – The importance of clear communication with patients and their loved ones to ensure informed decision-making.
✅ Interdisciplinary Collaboration – How working with physicians, social workers, and specialists leads to more comprehensive and effective care.
 
💡 Why This Matters:
The healthcare system can be complex and overwhelming for patients. Pharmacists, alongside other healthcare professionals, have the unique ability to bridge gaps in care, ensuring patients don’t fall through the cracks. This episode is a call to action for providers to be proactive advocates, challenge the status quo, and put patients first—always.Next guest, Curtis Sparrer Principal of Bospar - Recognized by Business Insider, Inc., Forbes, Fortune, PRWeek & PRovoke! He's got a new book out, a children's book about public relations from their prospective, as children. Curtis consulted with his 10 year old niece on the book.GAME FACE! Buy the book for your middle schoolers now. This opens up a whole other way for our children to learn to communicate better. The mobile phone generations, they communicate differently, this book describes the importance of communicating an idea. This can help build confidence in our kids. Sign up to get this book: https://bospar.com/game-face/ 
📢 Share your thoughts! How have you fought for your patients? Tag us on social media using #TWIRx and #FightingForPatients.
Fighting for the Patient’s Care and Rights | TWIRx 
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ATRIUMX Pharmacy Conference and the Truth about GLP-1 Drugs | TWIRx

The Next Gen Pharmacy Conference, ATRIUMX February 27 – March 1, 2025 The conference that puts you in control— you create the content. Thank you Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC) for sponsoring this episode of TWIRx! Check out the iCare+ digital health platform: https://myicareplus.com/ 2-Part Special: FIRST -- Special guests: Atrium24 founder, Dr. Nicolette Mathey PharmD, ATRIUMX organizers Kelley Babcock, and Jen Diehl, and Pharmacy Busienss Consultant and owner Donnie Jordan Vice President Pharmacy Strategy at Health Growth Pharmacy Solutions. 
SIGN UP HERE: https://atrium24.io/atriumx-conference-attendees/ NEXT -- on the second half of TWIRx, we talk with Dr. Julie Schulz, MD, MPH and Dr. Michael Dovidio, PharmD from Avalon Health talk about the challenges of 'quick fix' treatments and weight management plans with the inclusion of GLP-1s. From the article titled: "How to Maximize the Value of GLP-1 Drugs While Improving Health Equity" --Julie and Mike talk about the real world needs of people who want to lose weight, doing it the right way for long term benefit. Due to the continued high cost, only patients with greater financial resources or those with generous employer-sponsored drug benefits will be able to afford the medications for obesity. This can exacerbate health inequities, likely driving significantly higher costs for public and commercial health plans, intensified by the new financial strain from weight loss medications.
Rather than denying coverage for GLP-1s for obesity, health plans could modify eligibility policies to require data from a standardized set of laboratory tests and other biometrics to identify patients in most need of GLP-1s and verify medical necessity. This approach would reduce inappropriate prescribing while ensuring that patients who are most likely to benefit from the drugs have access to them.

The Digital Health Home; a $62 Billion Market | TWIRx

Release Date: January 31, 2025
Episode Overview:
In this episode of This Week in Pharmacy (TWIRx), we dive into the $62 billion market of digital health, exploring its potential and the critical role pharmacies can play in this rapidly expanding space. Special guests Ashton S. Maaraba, J.D., President of Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC) Digital Health, and Debbie Marcello RN, CEO of Happier At Home Franchise, join us to discuss the growing intersection of digital health, home care, and pharmacy.
TWIRx News for January 31, 2025:
YARAL Pharma and Pharmacy Podcast Network Extend Collaboration Into 2025YARAL Pharma and the Pharmacy Podcast Network announce their continued collaboration into 2025. This partnership brings fresh insights and resources to the pharmacy industry and underscores the evolving role of pharmacies in healthcare.
Pharmacy Podcast Network is the Official Press Partner for the ATRIUMX Conference (Feb 27 - Mar 1, 2025, Orlando, FL)The Pharmacy Podcast Network will be the official press partner for the ATRIUMX conference, which is set to take place in Orlando, Florida, from February 27th to March 1st. This major event will focus on the latest in pharmacy innovation, digital health, and patient care strategies.
Pharmacy Times Q&A: Pharmacists Play Pivotal Role in Evolving Diabetes Care with New TreatmentsIn an insightful Q&A from Pharmacy Times, experts discuss the evolving role of pharmacists in managing diabetes care as new treatments emerge. Pharmacists are crucial in supporting patients through the transition to these advanced therapies.
Many Independent Pharmacists Will Not Stock Drugs in the Price Negotiation ProgramIn a concerning trend, many independent pharmacies are opting out of participating in the price negotiation programs for certain drugs, impacting the way patients access medications and the role of these pharmacies in the larger healthcare ecosystem.
Pharmacy Focus: GLP-1 Medications and Pharmacists' Role in Counseling PatientsThis segment discusses the growing importance of GLP-1 medications in treating obesity and diabetes, and how pharmacists can play an essential role in counseling patients, ensuring adherence, and managing side effects.
Main Segment:The Digital Health Home; a $62 Billion Market with Special Guests:
In this episode, we’re joined by two experts at the forefront of the digital health revolution:
Ashton S. Maaraba, J.D., President of the Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC), Digital Health, shares insights into the digital health landscape and the vast potential of a $62 billion market. Ashton explains how independent pharmacies are adapting to digital health tools and integrating these solutions into patient care.
Debbie Marcello RN, CEO of Happier At Home Franchise, provides an in-depth look at the home care franchise model and how technology is transforming home-based healthcare. Debbie discusses the role of pharmacies in supporting patients in their own homes, from medication management to virtual consultations.
Together, Ashton and Debbie explore the opportunities and challenges in the digital health home market, as well as the critical role of pharmacies in facilitating better outcomes through technology, patient engagement, and community-based care.
Listen and Subscribe:
For more insights into the future of pharmacy, healthcare innovation, and the digital health home, be sure to tune in to This Week in Pharmacy!
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