I want to take a moment to recognize an extraordinary group of PharmD students from the University of Utah and Roseman University of Health Sciences Colleges of Pharmacy who made a lasting impact at Utah’s Legislative Day on February 12 at their state Capitol. These future pharmacy leaders took the initiative to advocate for improved medication safety, presenting a compelling poster to state legislators that underscored the importance of pharmacy technician certification and training.
Their advocacy aimed to help Utah achieve an A-rating on the Emily Jerry Foundation’s National Pharmacy Technician Initiative Scorecard by pushing for stronger pharmacy technician certification standards. They highlighted the critical role that well-educated, career-oriented pharmacy technicians play in preventing errors and ensuring patient safety.
Last November, I had the honor of speaking to P1-P4 students at the University of Utah College of Pharmacy. As I do in nearly all my lectures to future healthcare leaders, I reminded them that the guardian angel logo of the Emily Jerry Foundation…featuring the likeness of my beautiful daughter, Emily…isn’t there just because I believe she’s my guardian angel (though I know she is!). She is their guardian angel too, representing the human side of their future careers in healthcare. We are all patients at some point in our lives, as are our loved ones. Keeping that perspective at the center of their work will make all the difference.
That’s why it was truly humbling to see Emily’s story included in their advocacy efforts. I am deeply grateful for their passion and dedication. Engaging directly with legislators and healthcare leaders is how real change happens, and I have no doubt that their efforts will shape the future of medication safety in Utah and beyond.
A special thank you to Senator Evan Vickers, a pharmacist himself, Dr. Krystal Moorman-Bishir, PharmD, BCPS, FASHP for her mentorship, the Utah Pharmacy Association (UPhA) and the Utah Society of Health-System Pharmacists (USHP) for supporting these remarkable students in their mission to advance patient care.
To all the students involved, your commitment to improving medication safety and saving lives from preventable errors is truly inspiring. I can’t wait to see the incredible impact you will continue to make in pharmacy and healthcare!
Posted: March 9, 2025 by Nick Pietravoia
Empowering Future Pharmacists: Advocating for Medication Safety in Utah
I want to take a moment to recognize an extraordinary group of PharmD students from the University of Utah and Roseman University of Health Sciences Colleges of Pharmacy who made a lasting impact at Utah’s Legislative Day on February 12 at their state Capitol. These future pharmacy leaders took the initiative to advocate for improved medication safety, presenting a compelling poster to state legislators that underscored the importance of pharmacy technician certification and training.
Their advocacy aimed to help Utah achieve an A-rating on the Emily Jerry Foundation’s National Pharmacy Technician Initiative Scorecard by pushing for stronger pharmacy technician certification standards. They highlighted the critical role that well-educated, career-oriented pharmacy technicians play in preventing errors and ensuring patient safety.
Last November, I had the honor of speaking to P1-P4 students at the University of Utah College of Pharmacy. As I do in nearly all my lectures to future healthcare leaders, I reminded them that the guardian angel logo of the Emily Jerry Foundation…featuring the likeness of my beautiful daughter, Emily…isn’t there just because I believe she’s my guardian angel (though I know she is!). She is their guardian angel too, representing the human side of their future careers in healthcare. We are all patients at some point in our lives, as are our loved ones. Keeping that perspective at the center of their work will make all the difference.
That’s why it was truly humbling to see Emily’s story included in their advocacy efforts. I am deeply grateful for their passion and dedication. Engaging directly with legislators and healthcare leaders is how real change happens, and I have no doubt that their efforts will shape the future of medication safety in Utah and beyond.
A special thank you to Senator Evan Vickers, a pharmacist himself, Dr. Krystal Moorman-Bishir, PharmD, BCPS, FASHP for her mentorship, the Utah Pharmacy Association (UPhA) and the Utah Society of Health-System Pharmacists (USHP) for supporting these remarkable students in their mission to advance patient care.
To all the students involved, your commitment to improving medication safety and saving lives from preventable errors is truly inspiring. I can’t wait to see the incredible impact you will continue to make in pharmacy and healthcare!
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Our Mission
The Emily Jerry Foundation is determined to help make our nation’s, world renowned, medical facilities safer for everyone, beginning with our babies and children. We are accomplishing this very important objective by focusing on increasing public awareness of key patient safety related issues and identifying technology and best practices that are proven to minimize the “human error” component of medicine. Through our ongoing efforts The Emily Jerry Foundation is working hard to save lives every day.
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