Chief Pharmacy Leaders Forum

AzPA Annual Convention

Westin La Paloma, Tucson

June 12, 2025 | 8:00am - 12:30pm

Pharmacy’s workforce is at a tipping point—and leadership can’t afford to wait. AzPA’s new Chief Pharmacy Leaders Forum co-located with the 2025 Annual Convention is an exclusive, invitation-only gathering of senior pharmacy leaders—including chief pharmacy officers, pharmacy directors, and other top executives—dedicated to navigating what’s now and shaping what’s next. Join your fellow changemakers at the forefront of pharmacy leadership. As the inaugural pilot, this year’s focus tackles the high-stakes challenge facing every system: pharmacy staffing, retention, and workforce development. Through curated insights, peer exchange, and strategic dialogue from national and state perspectives, participants will dive into what’s working, what’s not, and how to build a talent strategy for the future. 

Bonus: Complementary Add-Ons Available

June 12, 2025 | 12:30pm - 2pm CPL Forum Networking Lunch 

June 12, 2025 | 2:00pm - 5:00pm Masterclass: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Pharmacy

REGISTER HERE

AGENDA

8:00 am - 8:15 am
INTENTION - Setting the Scene & Establishing Expectations 

We begin with a shared focus for the day: the pharmacy workforce. What truths must we face—and what assumptions must we let go of—to lead well through the current state of flux. Burnout, attrition, and shifting expectations have left the profession at a tipping point. This opening session sets the tone for honest dialogue, peer learning, and courageous exploration of what’s working, what’s failing, and what’s no longer sustainable—with a grounding in psychological safety and collective purpose.

8:00 am - 8:15 am
RECKON - Powerful Truths About the Talent Pipelines & Work Readiness

Enrollment is dropping, readiness is uneven, and traditional pathways no longer serve the system. This session examines how education, licensure, and training models must evolve to meet workforce demands. From apprenticeships to overlooked talent pools, participants will explore practical alternatives to the status quo and debate what the profession is really preparing people for.

  • Lynette Bradley-Baker, PhD, CAE, SVP and Chief Engagement Officer, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (Presenter/moderator)
    Liza Chapman, PharmD, FAPhA, chief professional officer, Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (Panelist)
  • Mitchell Emerson, PhD, PharmD, Dean of the College of Pharmacy-Glendale, Midwestern University (Panelist)
  • Rick Schnellmann, PhD,Dean of the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona (Panelist)
  • Amy Friedman Wilson, PharmD, Dean of the School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, Creighton University (Panelist)

9:05 am - 9:55 am
RECKON - Powerful Truths About Compensation, Power, and Policy

Let’s get real: external forces impacting pharmacy staffing—like payment reform, scope creep, and frontline organizing—aren’t theoretical. They’re here, and CPLs are navigating them from the front. In this session, we’ll reckon with misalignments in pay, power, and policy—and consider how leaders are navigating tension between workforce expectations and system constraints.

  • Michael Hogue, PharmD, Chief Executive Officer, American Pharmacists Association

9:55 am - 10:10 am
Break

10:10 am - 10:55 am
REIMAGINE - Collective Vision for Workplace Culture & Retention 

It’s not enough to keep people—we must create environments where they want to stay. This session reimagines how pharmacy culture can fuel retention by centering purpose, psychological safety, and meaningful career pathways. From onboarding and invisible labor to burnout and quiet quitting, CPLs will explore where pharmacy culture is quietly eroding teams—and what can be done to rebuild trust and commitment throughout the professional community.

  • Keith Marciniak, Vice President of Member Relations, American Pharmacists Association.

10:55 am - 11:10 am
Break

11:10 am - 11:55 am
REBUILD - Futurecasting Pharmacy to Construct Our Next Era

This capstone session shifts us from insight and imagination to bold action. What roles, settings, and systems will define pharmacy in 2035—and what needs to be true to prepare for (or create) that future? Leaders will explore the possibilities through extreme challenges and forward-facing prompts, then name the bold moves they’re ready to take back to their teams.

  • Krystalyn Weaver, JD, PharmD, CEO, National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations

11:55 am - 12:30 am
REBUILD - What Now and What’s Next?

We’ll close with space for shared commitments, evaluation, and next steps. Leaders are invited to contribute to the inaugural CPL Forum report and continue the dialogue through AzPA’s year-round network. This forum may be the pilot—but the movement it represents is just getting started.

  • Lorri Walmsley, RPh, FAzPA, Director of Pharmacy Affairs, Walgreens (Forum Chair)
  • Garet Turner, CAE, CMP, Chief Executive Officer, Arizona Pharmacy Association

Confidential. Program subject to change. Presenters are invited and pending confirmation.  

REGISTER HERE