Honored to Keynote the Northland Association of Pharmacy Technicians Fall Conference

A few years after launching the Emily Jerry Foundation’s National Pharmacy Technician Initiative and Interactive Scorecard, introduced in partnership with ASHP in 2013, I had the honor of speaking at the Northland Association of Pharmacy Technicians Annual Fall Conference in Fargo, ND. Back in 2015, I was thrilled to present at this important event, knowing that North Dakota was the only state to receive a perfect score from ASHP ’s team of experts. That’s why it was such a privilege to be invited back ten years later to deliver two CE presentations the week before last, including the keynote, at this year’s 32nd Annual Fall Conference, appropriately themed “Medication Safety: Fitting the Pharmaceutical Care Team Together Piece by Piece.”

From the very start of the conference, I was touched and pleasantly surprised to see that every attendee received a crocheted “positive pill” holding a small banner that read: “Every medication you touch: Makes a difference,” alongside a picture of my beautiful daughter, Emily. It was such a meaningful reminder of exactly why the pharmacy team does this important work, and of Emily’s lasting legacy, which continues to inspire so many around the globe…ultimately saving countless lives!

Pharmacy technicians play such a vital role in ensuring safe medication use. My longtime mentor, Mike Cohen from the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), once told me: “Chris, there’s not a pharmacy on the planet that can operate safely without well-educated, career-oriented pharmacy technicians.” I couldn’t agree more.

My friend Diane Halvorson, RPhTech, CPhT-Adv, CSPT, embodies exactly that standard of excellence. From serving two consecutive terms as President of the North Dakota State Board of Pharmacy, to becoming the first pharmacy technician elected to the NABP Executive Committee, to being nationally recognized as the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)’s Certified Pharmacy Technician of the Year—throughout her career, Diane has led by example, elevating the profession while always keeping medication safety the absolute top priority.

I extend my deep appreciation to Diane and her team for the warm welcome and for their unwavering commitment to advancing the pharmacy technician profession and protecting patients.