student pharmacist

Veterinary Compounding Essentials

2024-07-09T16:29:22-05:00July 9th, 2024|Categories: compounding training, Continuing Education, Pharmaceutical Training, Pharmacists, Pharmacy Practice, Pharmacy Technicians, Student Pharmacist, Veterinary Compounding, Veterinary Medicine|Tags: , , , , , , |

ACA’s Veterinary Compounding Essentials specialized 2-day course is designed to provide comprehensive training on the principles and practices of veterinary compounding, ensuring that participants can effectively tailor medications to meet the unique needs of their animal patients. With a curriculum that covers both foundational knowledge and advanced techniques, attendees will gain hands-on experience and practical skills that can be immediately applied in their practice.

Don’t miss this chance to advance your skills and contribute to the well-being of animals through expert compounding practices. Click below to register!
Register Here

“The Veterinary Compounding Essentials program offers bite-size information that is easily digestible, especially for student pharmacists. The staff is open and friendly. This is an incredible opportunity that I am so very grateful for.”

—Dominique Castaneda, October 2023

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Nutrition & Wellness Faculty Meeting: A Guide to Recommending Quality Professional Supplements

2024-07-09T16:09:21-05:00July 9th, 2024|Categories: Fellows and Members, networking, Nutrition, nutrition & wellness, Pharmacy Practice|Tags: , , , , |

Join us for a 1 hour webinar on “A Guide to Recommending Quality Professional Supplements”. During Matt Luce’s talk about professional supplements, he will discuss the significance of integrity in the industry. He will highlight how evidence-based formulations play a crucial role in ensuring the effectiveness and safety of supplements. By focusing on Orthomolecular, Luce will offer insights into a respected company that places importance on quality and research in their products. Attendees can anticipate gaining a deeper insight into the professional supplement sector and the key elements that contribute to its reputation and achievements.

Topic: A Guide to Recommending Quality Professional Supplements
Speaker: Matt Luce (Orthomolecular)
Date: August 7, 2024
Time: 1:00 pm Eastern, 12:00 pm Central, 11:00 am Mountain, 10:00 am Pacific

This meeting will be recorded

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2024 COMPOUNDING TRAINING COURSES ARE OPEN FOR REGISTRATION!

2024-06-19T07:57:04-05:00June 19th, 2024|Categories: compounding, compounding training, Continuing Education, Member Benefits, networking, News Release, Pharmaceutical Training, Veterinary Compounding|Tags: , , , , , |

In the field of pharmacy, compounding plays a crucial role in providing personalized medications tailored to individual patient needs. Whether you’re a seasoned pharmacist or a pharmacy student eager to expand your skills, attending a compounding course can be very beneficial.

Investing in a compounding course is not just about acquiring technical skills—it’s about elevating the standard of care and advancing pharmacy practice. Whether you’re driven by a passion for patient-centered care, professional growth, or entrepreneurial opportunities, attending a compounding course equips you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to excel in the art and science of pharmaceutical compounding.

Take the initiative to expand your expertise and make a difference in patient health outcomes by enrolling in a compounding course today!

*Apply the code SPRING to enjoy a $70 discount on any pharmaceutical compounding course. Remember—ACA and ACVP members save an additional $200 off non-member prices.  Also, members sending 2 or more staff to the same class save even more!

Click below to view ACA’s pharmaceutical compounding home page:

COMPOUNDING TRAINING COURSES
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ACA Foundation Awards Pharmacists Mutual Scholarship to ACA Student Pharmacist Members

2024-01-03T11:04:01-06:00January 3rd, 2024|Categories: Member Benefits, Members In The News, News Release, scholarship, Student Pharmacist|Tags: , , , |

Bartlett, TN., December 15, 2023: The American College of Apothecaries Research and Education Foundation announced that student pharmacists Camila Caban, Rachel Blanchard, Holly Seyler, and Alexandria Arnett have been awarded the Pharmacists Mutual | ACA Foundation Community Pharmacy Scholarship.

Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company (www.phmic.com) donated funds to the American College of Apothecaries Research and Education Foundation to create the Pharmacists Mutual | ACA Foundation Community Pharmacy Scholarship. These scholarships are awarded to student pharmacists who have demonstrated academic excellence and a commitment to advancing the future of community pharmacy in the United States.

The American College of Apothecaries is proud to recognize their Student Pharmacist members Holly Seyler, Alexandria Arnett & Camila Caban with the Pharmacists Mutual | ACA Foundation Community Pharmacy Scholarship 2023!

Pharmacists Mutual | ACA Foundation Community Pharmacy Scholarship Award Winners Holly Seyler,  Alexandria Arnett & Camila Caban.

Holly Seyler (PharmD Candidate 2025) from the University of Washington, a student member of the American College of Apothecaries (ACA) and the National Community Pharmacist Association (NCPA), Holly focuses on the importance of political advocacy for patient choice and access. Holly willingly advocates for the compounding pharmacy profession and volunteered her time as a teaching assistant for the UW Pharmaceutics Compounding Lab Course in Seattle, WA. Her leadership and commitment have contributed positively to the future of compounding pharmacy.

Holly is currently a Pharmacist Intern at Clark’s Compounding Pharmacy in Bellevue, WA where she continues to distinguish herself as a leader in the pharmacy community and devotes her life to patient-centered healthcare.

Alexandria Arnett (PharmD Candidate 2025) from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, a student pharmacist member of the American College of Veterinary Pharmacists (ACVP) and the American College of Apothecaries (ACA), Alexandria focuses on advancing community pharmacy patient care, compounding specific practicing, veterinary care, and the laws and regulations surrounding each of these aspects. Alexandria would like to see a growth in specialized compounding practices like cancer, diabetes, or pediatric compounding to allow for an increase in awareness for a patient care aspect that exists but is not as focused on, which would allow a variety of community pharmacies to provide increased patient-focused care. She is also interested in encouraging pharmacists to open more specialty independent pharmacies so patients can have access to specific medical therapies anywhere, including the veterinary world. Alexandria would like to push for at least one veterinary course to be taught at each pharmacy school to allow growth in compounding, which can drive more focus and funding to the specialty.

Alexandria is currently a Student Board Member of the American College of Veterinary Pharmacists (ACVP), President of Kappa Psi, and President of NCPA. In these roles, she has been responsible for organizing events, managing budgets, and coordinating educational opportunities. Her strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to communicate effectively with others have made her a valuable member of these organizations.

Camila Hernandez Caban (PharmD Candidate 2025) from the University of Puerto Rico Medical Science Campus, a student member of the American College of Apothecaries (ACA), Academy of Student Pharmacist, and President of the American Pharmacist Association UPR Chapter, Camila’s goal is to introduce a psychosocial approach to community pharmacy. She collaborates with Professors in the Ethics and Culture course at the University of Puerto Rico where she impacts first and second-year students on public health and bioethical principles in providing quality care.

Camila is currently taking a pharmacogenomics elective and working on a business plan that uses this technology to optimize opioid therapy while incorporating harm-reduction strategies. She is involved in a research project on the physical stability of extemporaneous suspensions in the pediatric population of Puerto Rico, contributing to the literature on compounding and the applicability of U.S. quality standards.

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Scholarship Winner Attends ACA’s Veterinary Compounding Essentials Program

2024-01-03T11:34:56-06:00November 1st, 2023|Categories: compounding training, Continuing Education, Members In The News, Pharmaceutical Training, Pharmacists, Pharmacy Practice, Pharmacy Technicians, Student Pharmacist, Veterinary Compounding, Veterinary Medicine|Tags: , , , , , , |

ACA’s Veterinary Compounding Essentials program provides fundamental techniques for effectively growing the veterinary compounding practice, including calculations, proper safety practices, hands-on compounding, and marketing.

ACA would like to proudly announce, Dominique Castaneda, an American College of Veterinary Pharmacists student pharmacist member and winner of the ACA Research & Education Foundation George Malmberg Student Scholarship for Compounding Excellence, for attending our Veterinary Compounding Essentials course and giving her positive thoughts about the program.

Click Here to View 2024 Course Prices & Dates

“The Veterinary Compounding Essentials program offers bite-size information that is easily digestible, especially for student pharmacists. The staff is open and friendly. This is an incredible opportunity that I am so very grateful for.”

—Dominique Castaneda, October 2023

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ABC’s of Nutritional Pharmacy Bundle

2023-09-20T14:46:11-05:00September 19th, 2023|Categories: Continuing Education, Nutrition, Pharmacy Practice, Vitamins, Webinar, Womens Health|Tags: , , , , |

The ABC’s of Nutritional Pharmacy Bundle is accredited for 3.5 contact hours (0.35 CEUs) of continuing education credit for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

Click Here to Register

Included Webinars: 

Vitamins Fact or Fiction: Functionally Using Nutrients to Impact Positive Patient Outcomes, Jeff Robins, RPh, FACA
Many of our patients eat the standard American diet (SAD). Along with poor daily diet, most of our patients are taking medications that cause drug-induced nutritional deficiencies. Our patients are at risk for further health degradation due to their nutritional status. Jeff will help you understand how to pick nutritional products that are efficacious in your patients. You will learn how to meet your patient’s nutritional needs generally, and for specific common ailments and disease states. Not only does this type of practice offer a sustainable profit model, but your practice will also set itself apart from the competition by giving in-depth nutritional care to your patients.

The Role of Dysbiosis in Women’s Health, Suzanne Keyes, PharmD, FACA, IFMCP
An estimated 28 million women have known energy and metabolism problems due to hypothyroidism. 1.3 million women enter menopause annually. Approximately 2/3rds of the population is currently dealing with symptoms of adrenal exhaustion.

Attend this session on Women’s Health and you will:

  1. leave with the ability to distinguish the overlapping symptoms of these 3 conditions
  2. be familiar with the biological pathways and drug-induced nutrient depletions occurring from common prescriptions
  3. be comfortable recommending nutritional supplements to support the pathways, foods to avoid, and food plans to recommend as well as multiple lifestyle modifications that support the triad of conditions
Implementing Personalized Nutrition into Pharmacy Practice, Lara Zakaria, PharmD, MS, CNS, IFMCP
Nutrition intervention is considered first line in the treatment of most chronic diseases. However, most pharmacists don’t have extensive training in nutrition or don’t feel confident making nutritional recommendations in the practice. In this workshop-style session, we will learn simple, turn-key assessment solutions that will turn any pharmacist into a community expert allowing you to integrate foundational nutrition support for your patients.

If you do not have an NABP number, select “International Pharmacist” or “International Pharmacy Technician” when registering.

Our Speakers: 

Jeff Robins RPh, FAAFRM, ABAAHP, FACA is the owner of Summit Functional Consulting. As a highly sought-after consultant, he co-creates new and profitable business models for independent pharmacies nationwide. Jeff works as a consultant for Ortho Molecular Products. He is passionate about using clinical nutrition to improve patient outcomes and increase the economic viability of independent pharmacies nationwide. He has been a functional and compounding pharmacist for 25 years and likes to speak of himself as the pharmacist who “dislikes drugs”. Mr. Robins is the founder of Essential Wellness Pharmacy and the former owner of Optimum Health Solutions (a company bringing wellness to the corporate workplace). He is an Advanced Fellow with the American College of Anti-aging and Functional Medicine through the University of Southern Florida. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Apothecaries and was nominated and served as the first Compounding Section Chair, for the Board of Directors, for the Illinois Pharmacist Association. Mr. Robins is a national speaker and is passionate about educating people about profound health, allowing them to co-create their healthiest, most vibrant lives.

Suzanne Keyes PharmD, FACA, IFMCP graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University College of Pharmacy in 1996 and returned to academia in 1999 enrolling in the non-traditional Doctor of Pharmacy pathway offered through the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy.  In 2004, she graduated with her Doctor of Pharmacy, the highest degree offered to pharmacists. Dr. Keyes has had 20 years of experience in varied pharmacy settings; retail management for a chain drugstore, nursing home consultant, hospital pharmacist, and her current position as the lead functional medicine pharmacist in her compounding pharmacy in Western Oklahoma.  Suzanne’s passion to get to the underlying cause of the disease is what drove her to pursue advanced education and become the seventh pharmacist in the world to become a certified practitioner through the Institute for Functional Medicine. As a Fellow of the American College of Apothecaries, Dr. Keyes spends her time outside of the lab designing, speaking for, and teaching several courses at the home office in Bartlett, Tennessee as well as traveling to individual pharmacies for ACPE-accredited onsite training.

Dr. Lara Zakaria PharmD, MS, CNS, CDN, IFMCP is a Pharmacist, Nutritionist, and adjunct professor specializing in Functional Medicine and Personalized nutrition. After spending 10 years in pharmacy community practice, she noticed that her patients were all getting worse, not better. She realized that the pharmaceutical-based guidelines she was trained in were intended only to manage chronic disease not prevent progression. That led her to FxMed and the power of nutrition. Dr. Zakaria is passionate about gut health and preventing and reversing metabolic, kidney, and autoimmune diseases. She splits her time between clinical practice, teaching, and mentorship in service of expanding awareness and access to FxMed and Personalized Nutrition.

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Compounding Pharmacy: Properly Display Current Licenses, Permits

2023-08-16T08:51:22-05:00August 8th, 2023|Categories: Administration/Management, Blog, Community Pharmacy, Compliance|Tags: , , , , |

Compounding Pharmacy

PCAB Accreditation Standards require compounding pharmacies to be compliant with all federal, state, local, and nonresident licensure/permit requirements, as applicable.

Copies of current licenses and/or permits, if applicable, must be displayed within public view in a prominent location of the pharmacy and any additional locations or branches.

PCAB Standards

Standard TCRX1-A: The organization is an established entity with legal authority to operate and has a physical location with the appropriate licensure, Articles of Incorporation, or other documentation of legal authority.

The standard applies to an established entity with legal authority to operate that has the appropriate Articles of Incorporation, or other documentation, of legal authority.

Legal authority is granted to one individual, members of a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC), a Board of Directors (usually referred to as the governing body), and as allowed in state statutes for the appropriate type and structure of the organization. The entity, individual, or organization has a copy of the appropriate documentation or authorization to conduct business.

If state or applicable local law requires a license or permit, the organization posts the current copy in a prominent location in all locations/branches and/or in accordance with appropriate regulations or laws. The organization will display all licenses and/or permits required in the pharmacy operation in an area of public view:

  • Resident state board of pharmacy permit/license.
  • Nonresident board of pharmacy permit/license as required, if applicable.
  • Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration.
  • State controlled substance license, if applicable.
  • Pharmacist licenses.
  • Pharmacy Technician licenses/certificates, if applicable.
  • Biohazard generator permit or appropriate contract, as required.

Tips for Compliance

  • In addition to appropriate documentation or authorization to conduct business, compounding pharmacies must post copies of all current federal, state, and local licenses and permits in a prominent location of the pharmacy and ensure they can be viewed by customers.
    • Copies of nonresident licenses/permits must also be posted by compounding pharmacies that ship medications into other states.

Megan Reed, LPhT, CPhT, HDDP, Program Lead, ACHC

Megan is a Certified Pharmacy Technician (2007), who started out her career working at an internship at the CHASS Center, in Detroit, MI.  This experience solidified what she wanted to do in life, which was to help people.  She has worked in two different PCAB Accredited compounding pharmacies.   One designated a 503B Outsourcing Facility.  During that time she was in Quality Assurance, and Lead Technician roles.  Reed diversified during her 14 year career, by also working in hospital outpatient pharmacy.  She is currently the first pharmacy technician hired to work for PCAB (Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board).  Reed is also a member of the Pharmacy Clinical Team, at ACHC (Accreditation Commission for Health Care) in Cary, NC.  The main focus of her expertise is in non-sterile, sterile, and hazardous compounding.

Here for You

ACHC is your partner in accreditation. For more information, contact your Account Advisor, email customerservice@achc.org, or call (855) 937-2242, ext. 458.

 

Accreditation Commission for Health Care:  ACHC is excited to give ACA Fellows and Members access to special pricing options and educational resources for their nationally recognized accreditation services. Members can use their unique code to receive a $250 discount off accreditation when submitting an application online at cc.achc.org. They can also use their discount code to receive $50 off when purchasing a workbook or registering for a workshop through www.AccreditationUniversity.com.

 

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Compounding Clarity: Decoding USP Standards in Pharmacy Practice Bundle

2023-07-28T09:22:49-05:00July 27th, 2023|Categories: compounding, Continuing Education, USP 795, USP 797, Veterinary Compounding|Tags: , , , , , |

The Compounding Clarity: Decoding USP Standards in Pharmacy Practice Bundle is accredited for 3.0 contact hours (0.3 CEUs) of continuing education credit for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

Click Here to Register

Included Webinars: 

GFI #256: How it affects compounding for veterinary patients – 2023 / 0.5 CE
This webinar will help veterinary compounders understand the requirements of GFI-256 and why such a document is necessary in the current federal landscape. Pharmacists and technicians will learn when FDA intends to use enforcement discretion regarding the compounding of animal drugs using bulk drug substances and how to comply with these requirements. They will also learn how they can nominate drugs to the list for compounding office stock drugs used for nonfood-producing animals.

Understanding the revision to USP <795> Pharmaceutical Compounding – Nonsterile Preparations – 2023 / 0.5 CE
This webinar will help pharmacists and technicians understand and prepare for changes to USP <795> Pharmaceutical Compounding – Nonsterile Preparations that will go into effect on November 1, 2023. The webinar will include differentiating dosage forms that may be compounded as nonsterile preparations and how to assign beyond-use dates as well as reviewing changes to facility, personnel, and documentation requirements.

Preparing for change: Key aspects of revised USP <797> Pharmaceutical Compounding – Sterile Preparations / 1 CE
This webinar will help pharmacists and technicians understand and prepare for changes to USP <797> Pharmaceutical Compounding – Sterile Preparations that will take effect on November 1, 2023. The webinar will include an overview of requirements including the transition to Category 1, Category 2, and Category 3 compounded sterile preparations and what each of these entails. Topics covered include requirements for facility and equipment, environmental monitoring, personnel training, and competency, documentation, and quality management.

Interpreting and Applying USP Compounded Preparation Monographs in Pharmacy Practice: Recipes for Quality / 1 CE
Since 1820, USP has published Compounded Preparation Monographs (CPMs) with the goal of standardizing quality-assured formulas for the most commonly used compounded preparations for humans and animals. While most pharmacy professionals are aware of these monographs, many do not understand the significance and utility of each of the sections of a monograph. Join this webinar to learn where to find and how to interpret the meaning and intent of these unique “recipes” and how to apply them to your veterinary pharmacy practice.

Thanks to our partnership with the American College of Veterinary Pharmacy

Our Speakers: 

Gigi Davidson, RPh, DICVP, FACVP, FSVHP is the former Director of Clinical Pharmacy at the NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine where she practiced veterinary pharmacy for 35 years.  Ms. Davidson received a pharmacy degree from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1983 and earned Diplomate status in the International College of Veterinary Pharmacy in 2001. She was inducted into the Phi Zeta Honor Society in 2006 as an honorary member for distinguished advancement of veterinary science. Gigi is a past President of the Society of Veterinary Hospital Pharmacists and of the American College of Veterinary Pharmacists. Ms. Davidson is the ACVP delegate to the American Pharmacists Association House of Delegates. Ms. Davidson was the Chair of the United States Pharmacopeia Compounding Expert Committee from 2010-2020 and continues to serve as a member. Gigi is the recipient of USP’s Beal Award when in 2015 she became the first female and first veterinary recipient of that award. She has many publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals, and her primary area of research interest is the stability, safety, and efficacy of compounded therapies in non-human species. Her research interests in retirement include drug disposition in honey bees and the pharmacological action of plant pollens and nectars on honey bee colonies.

Brenda Jensen CPhT, CNMT, MBA owns Compounding Consultants, LLC in Sioux Falls, SD. She has helped hundreds of compounding facilities across the country improve compounding quality and safety. Brenda is currently president-elect of the American College of Veterinary Pharmacists, serves on the Board of Directors for the American College of Apothecaries Research and Education Foundation, is a peer reviewer for Pharmacy Technician’s Letter, is a member of the APhA House of Delegates, and also teaches compounding courses for the American College of Apothecaries. She was previously the coordinator for the APhA Compounding Special Interest Group and served on the Board of Directors for the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists and the Pharmacy Compounding Foundation. Brenda began volunteering for USP in 2013 and is currently Chair of the 2020–2025 Compounding Expert Committee.

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Compounding Faculty Meeting: “Focus of a DEA Inspection on a Compounding Pharmacy (503A)”

2023-08-24T16:48:37-05:00July 26th, 2023|Categories: Community Pharmacy, compounding, DEA, Pharmacy Practice|Tags: , , , , |

Date:  Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Time:  12:30 PM Eastern / 11:30 AM Central / 10:30 AM Mountain / 9:30 AM Pacific

Topic: What DEA Requires?

Host:  Ernie Gates  

Panelists: Carlos M. Aquino, an Associate with Gates Healthcare Associates, is an experienced consultant specializing in DEA compliance for pharmacies, hospitals, health clinics, medical practitioners, drug manufacturers and distributors.

Join us for a 1 hour webinar on ““Focus of a DEA Inspection on a Compounding Pharmacy (503A)”.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Pharmacist
– Describe role of DEA Diversion Control Division
– Review how to prepare for a DEA inspection
– Explain what are the DEA required records
– Discuss the security of controlled substances
– Identify the need for a Pharmacy Due Diligence Policy 

Pharmacy Technician
– Review the elements of a DEA inspection
– Explain what records are required to be readily available
– Recall the element of the evaluation of security for CS
– Identify what a pharmacist must know to prevent diversion of prescriptions for controlled substances

This meeting will not offer CE. 

This meeting is open to all Pharmacy Professionals, FREE for ACA Members, $10 for non-members, registration is required.

In addition, members of the Compounding Faculty will have exclusive access to an online community.

Did you miss the meeting!

Click Here for Video
Click Here for Audio

 

Our Speaker:

Carlos M. Aquino, is President and Founder of PharmaDiversion, LLC and an Associate with Gates Healthcare Associates.  A former DEA agent and supervisor, Carlos  is an experienced consultant specializing in DEA compliance for pharmacies, hospitals, health clinics, medical practitioners, drug manufacturers and distributors.

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Faculties: American College of Apothecaries

2023-07-27T15:14:20-05:00July 19th, 2023|Categories: compounding, Member Benefits, networking, Nutrition|Tags: , , , , |

Overview:
One of the American College of Apothecaries’ strengths is the open sharing of ideas — which historically has been accomplished through in-person meetings. ACA is augmenting these meetings by establishing expert faculties that will assemble using digital technology — including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, email, and online forums. Participation in faculty meetings is intended to increase member engagement, thus facilitating peer-to-peer networking and relationship building.

Member in all classes:
Faculty participation is optional and offered to ACA members at all individual membership levels, which include our Fellows, pharmacists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy marketers, and affiliates. Faculties will thus seasoned pharmacy professionals to interact and share their expertise and experiences with others who have high interest levels and are in the process of establishing their expertise. Each faculty will elect a Chair and Chair-Elect who will serve for one-year terms.

Initially two faculties:
1. Compounding Faculty
2. Nutrition & Wellness Faculty

Meetings of faculty:
Meetings of faculty will focus on topics about which members are passionate — and could include but not limited to discussions of specific products, techniques and methods, concepts, issues, and opportunities. Because meetings will not involve the awarding of continuing education credit, the discussions will not be restricted by ACPE guidelines. Hence, speakers at meetings of faculty could include representatives or organizations that provide proprietary items to our members.

Founding faculty sponsors:
ACA is seeking financial support of organizations that are aligned with the expertise and interests of one or more of our faculties — and that desire to be designated “Founding Faculty Sponsor”.

Compounding Faculty Information
Nutrition & Wellness Faculty Information

*For additional information please contact:
Linda Cathey, Faculty Membership Coordinator — linda@acainfo.org

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Corporate Members and Affiliates

ACA’s Corporate Members and Affiliates are businesses and organizations who share our dedication to advancing the profession of pharmacy.

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