ACCP officially welcomes its newest PRN – the Health Equity Practice and Research Network – formally approved by the ACCP Board of Regents on April 15, 2021. Health inequities are reflected in differences in length of life; quality of life; rates of disease, disability, and death; severity of disease; and access to treatment. The new PRN will focus on meeting the practice, education, networking, and research needs of clinical pharmacists, trainees, and students engaged in addressing health inequities.

More than 200 ACCP members responded to a survey to gauge interest in forming a practice and research network in the area of Health Equity. The survey was initiated by John M. Allen, Pharm.D., FCCP, FCCM, BCPS, BCCCP, who subsequently submitted the application for the new PRN on behalf of the ACCP members responding to the survey.

In announcing the Board’s approval of the formation of the Health Equity PRN, ACCP President Jimmi Hatton Kolpek stressed the importance of the new PRN to ACCP, its members, and their patients:

The vision and leadership of Dr. John Allen and members participating in this PRN initiative show ACCP’s shared commitment to becoming inclusive leaders, embracing diversity, and building health equity for all patients. Once again, our member-driven values are transforming clinical pharmacy.

Allen is a clinical assistant professor and associate dean for Diversity, Inclusion and Health Equity, Department of Pharmacotherapy and Translational Research, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida. Allen, who serves as the PRN’s founding chair, talked about potential activities and near-term goals for the new PRN:

I am honored and humbled to help bring the new Health Equity PRN to fruition. The vision of the Health Equity PRN is to connect clinical pharmacists with a shared vision of promoting health equity in all practice settings. One driver of health disparities is differences seen in medication use, which can be driven by several factors. Clinical pharmacists play a vital role in eliminating medication use disparities and their negative impact on patient outcomes. The Health Equity PRN will strive to collaborate with our colleagues in other PRNs to explore ways to mitigate medication use disparities across specialties. We envision the Health Equity PRN will position itself as the premier destination for professional support and collaboration among students, postgraduate trainees, and clinical pharmacists interested in advancing the role of pharmacists in reducing health disparities.

The Health Equity PRN becomes ACCP’s 27th Practice and Research Network and is now recruiting members. To join the new PRN, click here.