Advocacy Leader in Pharmacy Ryan Forrey: ‘…storytelling is key to successful advocacy.’

SnapshotEducation: Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), University of ArizonaMaster of Science in Health-System Pharmacy Administration, The Ohio State University. Combined PGY1/PGY2 Residency in Health System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership (HSPAL) residency, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.Role/Title: Current role: Global Clinical Solutions Director, Surgery at Becton Dickinson and Company (BD). This is a clinical marketing role where I am able to use my background in pharmacy to shape commercial and marketing activities for clinically differentiated products to help healthcare workers in the operating room achieve their patient care and business goals. Previous roles: Director of Pharmacy, Emory University Hospital Midtown; Associate Director of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical CenterDescribe your journey into the field of pharmacy and what inspired you to take on a leadership role in advocacy.I decided early in life (around 16 years old) that I wanted to go into pharmacy for my career, and moreover, I knew that I wanted to have a leadership role in the profession. This early direction allowed me to focus my education on pharmacy and complete my studies quickly, including my post graduate studies and residency. It was in residency that I was able to see the impact of advocacy on elevating pharmacy practice and patient care. The MS degree with HSPAL residency is designed to produce leaders for the profession who will embrace the responsibility to be advocates for patients and the profession. This led me to become involved with the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), specifically through serving on the Compounding Expert Committee, the group tasked with setting compounding standards for pharmacy practice.What are some of the most significant challenges you have faced in your advocacy efforts, and how have you overcome them?In my experience with advocacy, I have found that often policy makers have a limited understanding of how the intended and unintended consequences will impact patient care. Concepts, rules, policies, and procedures developed in a theoretical sense, without practical input, can be ineffective at best and more often detrimental. The challenge is to get policy makers to recognize the implications and understand how to mitigate them to achieve the desired outcome. In my opinion, the best way to do this is by telling stories, patient cases, and other examples to humanize the issue and connect with others who are not subject matter experts in the field. Can you share a success story where your advocacy efforts led to a tangible improvement in pharmacy practice?I think back to my time on the USP Compounding Committee, when I was working on the development of the updated sterile compounding standards. Many times, I was able to provide practical input from a hospital pharmacist’s perspective on the proposed language for the chapter, in direct opposition to the views of the governmental participants on the committee. Through striving to personalize the impact of the potential revisions, I was able to help the group come to consensus on practical language within the standard that also ensures high levels of patient safety and compounded product integrity if followed.What strategies do you find most effective in engaging government and policy makers in discussions about pharmacy-related issues?As mentioned before, storytelling is key to successful advocacy. We all connect with other human experiences, regardless of background, training or expertise. Reframing pharmacy-related issue to human issues is powerful tool. What advice would you give to young pharmacy professionals who are passionate about advocacy and want to make a difference in the field?For pharmacy professionals early in their careers, I would recommend they take advantage of the opportunities that come their way, raise their hand, let people know what they want to and how they can help advance the practice. I encourage them to be proactive; if they see a problem they should work to fix it!Can you highlight any current or upcoming initiatives that you are particularly excited about in your advocacy work?In my current role with BD, I have been expanding my advocacy beyond pharmacy as I am now working in surgical practice areas. It is exciting for me to learn a new space within healthcare and lean in on my pharmacy background to improve healthcare practice for other disciplines. Looking back on your career, is there anything you would do differently, or any key lessons you have learned along the way?There are plenty of things I would do differently now, with the experience and wisdom my mistakes have given me. But I would not go back and do things differently, because those experiences have made me who I am today. One key lesson I have learned, however, is to be patient (though some would still disagree with this). Patience with persistence is an effective technique in leadership, especially with advocacy. Also, make sure you enjoy what you do: life is too short to be miserable. What advice would you give to colleagues who want to participate in advocacy efforts or initiatives?Just do it, don't just complain and wait for someone else to make the change! Raise your hand, share your voice, get involved. You won’t always be successful, but you will always learn and will be setting the building blocks for future advocacy efforts.Sherif Guorgui - FIP-Community Pharmacy Section | LinkedIn

Advocacy Leader in Pharmacy Ryan Forrey: ‘…storytelling is key to successful advocacy.’

Register for free access or login.

Related Topics