As my term as President of GKCSHP has come to an end, I have found myself reflecting not only on what our organization accomplished over the past year, but also on how much this experience has meant to me personally.  It has been an incredible privilege to serve as President and to work alongside so many talented pharmacists, technicians, residents, students, and volunteers across the Greater Kansas City area.

When I began my term, one of the things I hoped we could accomplish was to continue expanding the opportunities GKCSHP provides to its members.  Looking back, I am especially proud of the ways we strengthened some of our longstanding programs while also creating something entirely new.

Expanding Opportunities for Our Members

One of my primary goals this year was to continue expanding the opportunities GKCSHP provides to pharmacists, residents, students, technicians, and other members of our pharmacy community.  I am incredibly proud of the progress we made.

• Our membership remains strong at 234 members, representing a diverse and engaged group of pharmacy professionals throughout the Greater Kansas City area.

• We successfully launched the GKCSHP Research Certificate Program, which reached more than 100 participants from across the state of Missouri during its inaugural year.  The response to the program has been extremely encouraging, and it continues to grow.  Looking ahead, the program is expanding with additional sessions, including a new session focused on the use of artificial intelligence in research.

• To help support the continued growth and sustainability of this program, we established a new Research Governance Council, creating a dedicated committee to provide oversight and direction for the Research Certificate.

• Our annual Resident Research Day continued to grow as one of GKCSHP’s signature programs supporting pharmacy residents throughout the region. This year, we welcomed approximately 50 residents and 59 non-resident attendees, while also expanding participation from exhibitors and sponsors. I am especially proud that we continue to build upon this event each year and strengthen its value for residents, preceptors, and programs across Kansas City.

• We continued our engagement with future pharmacists through participation in the KU and UMKC Schools of Pharmacy showcases, while once again partnering with the UMKC School of Pharmacy to host Resident Research Day.

Gratitude and Reflection

None of these accomplishments would have been possible without the many people who volunteer their time and talents to GKCSHP.  I am incredibly grateful to our Board members, committee members, Research Certificate instructors and leaders, volunteers, and every member who attended an event, shared an idea, or helped move an initiative forward.

Serving as President has reinforced for me how valuable organizations like GKCSHP are, not only for professional development, but also for building relationships across institutions and bringing together people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to connect.  I leave this role with many new professional relationships and an even greater appreciation for the pharmacy community we have in Kansas City.

Looking Forward

I also want to recognize our incoming President, Price Edmiston.  Throughout the past year, Price has been an essential part of GKCSHP’s work and an incredible source of support to me personally as President.  Whether helping ensure an event came together, stepping in when something needed to be done, or simply being someone I could rely on throughout the year, his contributions have been invaluable.

Because I have had the opportunity to work so closely with Price, I am particularly excited to see where he and the incoming Board take GKCSHP next.  I am confident that the organization is in very capable hands and that the momentum we have built will continue.

As members, I hope we all continue to play a role in that future.  Attend an event.  Volunteer for a committee.  Share an idea.  And if you have ever considered becoming more involved in GKCSHP leadership, I strongly encourage you to take that opportunity and reach out to any of us on the board.  Serving in this organization has been one of the most rewarding ways I have found to build relationships, grow professionally, and give back to the pharmacy community.

When I think about what I hope remains from my year as President, I am especially proud that we launched the Research Certificate Program and continued building Resident Research Day into an even stronger resource for pharmacy residents across our region.  Both represent what I believe GKCSHP does best: bringing people together and creating meaningful opportunities for pharmacists at every stage of their careers.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this year and to every member who placed their trust in me to serve as President.  It has been a genuine honor, and I am excited to continue supporting GKCSHP and watching the organization grow in the years ahead.

With Gratitude,

Tyler Whitehead, PharmD