In This Issue:

MPA CEO Perspective

MPA News

• MPF Golf Classic Takes Over Timber Trace
• Book Your Room Now for ACE 2025!
• Register for 2024 MSHP Annual Meeting
• Register for the UP Division Fall Conference
• On Rotation with MPA: Lindsey Fronizer
• MPA Practice Section and Executive Board Nominations Deadline Extended to June 21

National Association News

• MPA's Jesse Hogue Elected Chair of ASHP House of Delegates
• APhA and NASPA Release First PWWR Report and Learnings For 2024

CE Events

• MPA Introduces Trauma-Informed Workforce Certificate Training Program
• APhA MTM Training at Wayne State University June 20
• Upcoming MPA CE Offerings
• MPA Offering ALS Homestudy Free in June for Members in Honor of Michael Tiberg

Professional Practice

• MDHHS Update on Influenza A (H5N1)
• Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding Town Hall on Compounded GLP-1s
• New Drug in Illicit Drug Supply Causing Overdose Deaths in Michigan
• FDA Tells COVID-19 Vaccine Makers to Update Shot to Target Current Virus Variant
• FDA Approves Moderna's RSV Vaccine

Legislative and Regulatory

• Removal of Gabapentin as Schedule 5 Controlled Substance

Upcoming Meetings and Events

I’m amplifying our call for nominations to serve as Michigan delegates to either the House of Delegates for the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) or the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA). The MPA Executive Board Nominations Committee is responsible annually for recommending candidates to the MPA Executive Board to serve as delegates for each organization's House of Delegates (HoD).

If you are interested in serving as a delegate for either APhA or NCPA, you must be a member of the organization. The APhA HoD will meet March 21 and 24, 2025, during the association’s Annual Meeting & Exposition March 21-24, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition, APhA holds virtual webinar/open hearing sessions in the fall of 2024 and winter of 2025. The NCPA HoD will meet Oct. 29, 2024, during the group’s Annual Convention & Exposition October 26-29, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio.

If you plan to attend either of these meetings and have an interest in setting policy for pharmacy at the national level, then please complete the MPA Member Engagement Form. When completing the form, you will find the APhA and NCPA House of Delegates information under the "Other Volunteer Opportunities" section which is located at the end of the form.

The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, June 28, 2024. MPA members selected to be delegates will be notified by Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024.

I hope to see you as a Michigan delegate at either the NCPA or APhA House of Delegates!

For over three decades, PrimeRx, developed by Micro Merchant Systems, has been at the forefront of providing pharmacy management solutions. Since our inception, we’ve dedicated ourselves to supporting thousands of pharmacies nationwide with innovative, technology-focused solutions, empowering pharmacists in their critical work.

Our diverse team, boasting extensive experience that includes former pharmacy consultants, owners and technicians, is committed to addressing the daily challenges pharmacists face with cutting-edge technology.

Enhance your pharmacy’s efficiency, generate more revenue and reduce operating expenses. Discover how our pharmacy management solutions have improved efficiency, patient care and driven success across various pharmacy settings.

Find out what PrimeRx can do for your pharmacy. Schedule a DEMO today at www.primerx.io/schedule-a-demo.

PrimeRx is a Michigan Pharmacists Association Emerald Annual Sponsor.

MPF Golf Classic Takes Over Timber Trace

The Michigan Pharmacy Foundation (MPF) Golf Classic was another rousing success June 12, as 60 golfers took to the scenic course at Timber Trace Golf Club in Pinckney. The proceeds of the MPF Golf Classic benefit student pharmacists, innovative research projects, the Health Professional Leadership Academy and much more, with the mission of advancing patient care and the profession of pharmacy.

Fifteen teams took part, with several side competitions such as closest to the pin, longest drive and longest putt. Hole No. 7 hosted the hole-in-one contest, with a grand prize of $25,000 sponsored by PSI Insurance! Unfortunately, there was no lucky winner – but no worries, the contest will return next year (and perhaps even bigger than ever). The top team prize went to the foursome of Heather Rickle, Bryce Rickle, Hope Broxterman and Ed Szandzik, who shot an incredible 24-under par!

Various prizes were awarded after the event, including golf club bags, balls, tees, a rangefinder, several free rounds of golf and numerous MPF-branded items. The 50/50 raffle was won by Brittany Stewart. Justin Maksym, Stewart and MPA President Sarah Hill were also lucky winners of lodging prizes in Traverse City, the site of MPA's Annual Convention & Exposition in 2025, courtesy of Traverse City Tourism.

MPF Golf Classic 2024 Winners

Team Winners

The winning team of Heather Rickle, Bryce Rickle, Hope Broxterman and Ed Szandzik, who shot 24-under, poses with MPA CEO Mark Glasper, left, and MPF Executive Director Rick Drabek, right.

The second place team of Chris Maksym, Tom Tomaski, Kevin Johnson and Todd Raehtz.

The third place team of Matt Voss, Ben Voss, Tripp Crosthwaite and Trevor Reno.

Contest Winners

Putting Contest – Matt Gunn

Men's Long Drive – Trevor Reno

Women's Long Drive – Stephanie Swart

Men's Closest To Pin

– Tripp Crosthwaite

Men's Longest Putt – Eric Roath

Women's Closest to Pin – Robin Curtis

Women's Longest Putt

– Stephanie Everard

Book Your Room Now for ACE 2025!

MPA's Annual Convention & Exhibition (ACE) will take over the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa just outside of Traverse City from April 11-13, 2025! Information on registration, exhibitors and sponsorships will become available later this year, but it's not too early to block off your calendars as pharmacy's biggest continuing education event in Michigan takes its show on the road.

We encourage our members to make the 2025 ACE their "stay-cation" – golf, water activities and wineries are just a few things you can do in beautiful Traverse City. Get started now and book your room by clicking the button below! Attendees can also call 231-534-6001 and speak with a reservations agent to book their accommodations. They will receive the discounted rate if they mention the Michigan Pharmacists Association.

MSHP Annual Meeting Oct. 25 in Grand Rapids

Join the Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists (MSHP) for its 2024 Annual Meeting Oct. 25 at the Sheraton Grand Rapids Airport Hotel! With registration opening at 7:30 a.m. and a wellness CE promptly at 8:30 a.m., MSHP Annual is the place to be for our health system industry members. In addition to the wellness focus, complete with a conference wellness room, CE will address this year’s theme, “Less Not Loss” with a focus on optimization within pharmacy practice.

In addition, expect required CE like pain and law, as well as important endeavors such as pharmacogenomics, artificial intelligence within electronic scoring systems and the utilization of pharmacy extenders – all planned and facilitated by industry leaders. MPA has set aside additional networking time for attendees and looks forward to creating an atmosphere of learning, engagement and wellness.

Click the buttons below to get started.

Register Now for the UP Division Fall Conference

Oct. 5-6 in Marquette

MPA and its Upper Peninsula Division return to beautiful Marquette Oct. 5-6 for the UP Division Fall Conference. Registration is open now and available by clicking the button below. A detailed agenda will be coming, but topics will include ethics and jurisprudence, cardiovascular health, addiction and the brain, and natural approaches to inflammation.

All this information and more, including pricing, can be found by clicking the registration link. 

On Rotation with MPA: Lindsey Fronizer

Lindsey Fronizer is a P4 student at the University of Toledo who is on rotation with MPA for the month of June. Fronizer earned a Bachelor of Science in pharmaceutical sciences from Toledo with a minor in chemistry. After earning her Pharm. D, she plans to pursue a residency in managed care.

Fronizer is a pharmacy intern at the University of Toledo Main Campus Pharmacy, assisting in filling prescriptions, counseling patients, administering vaccines and conducting medication therapy management services. She is actively involved in several professional associations, including Lambda Kappa Sigma – where she served as vice president of the Alpha Mu chapter – Phi Lambda Sigma-Pharmacy Leadership Society, the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) and the Industry Pharmacists Organization (IPhO).

Fronizer is looking forward to supporting and advocating for the pharmacy profession during her rotation with MPA. "I look forward to increasing my knowledge of pharmacy-related policies, enhancing my professional development, expanding my network and improving my leadership skills," she said.

MPA Practice Section and Executive Board Nominations Deadline Extended to June 21

The Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA) is successful because of the volunteer efforts of engaged pharmacy professionals. MPA is guided by the leadership of its Executive Board as well as practice section and affiliated chapter leadership.

The deadline for nomination submissions for the MPA Executive Board and its MSPT, MSCP and CSPM practice sections has been extended to June 21, 2024. Please note the deadline for MSHP Board nominations was May 15, 2024.

Learn more about each board and the election process.

In addition to the practice section boards, please consider one of the following MPA Executive Board positions:

• President-Elect
• MSCP Representative
• MSPT Representative At-Large

MPA's Jesse Hogue Elected Chair of ASHP House of Delegates

Congratulations to MPA member Jesse Hogue, who was elected and installed as chair of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists' (ASHP) House of Delegates June 11!

Hogue's term as chair will expire in 2027. The chair presides at all meetings of the House of Delegates, is a member of the ASHP Board of Directors and represents the House of Delegates at all Board meetings. Specific responsibilities include:

• Guides the House of Delegates in its interpretation of the ASHP governing documents, precedents, and Robert's Rules of Order as they relate to the business of the House.
• Advises the Board of Directors on issues and actions likely to be raised by the House of Delegates.
• Recognizes certified delegates or alternates appearing before the House as the enrolled and recognized delegate from each state.
• Conducts and presides at any open hearing, in conjunction with any House of Delegates session.
• Extends the privilege of the floor during the meeting of the House of Delegates
• Conducts the order of business of the House of Delegates.
• Serves as liaison between the submitter of resolutions for consideration by the House and the Committee on Resolutions.
• Consults with the parliamentarian concerning current and pending procedural matters before the House.
• Serves as Board liaison to House caucuses.
• Prepares reports to the Board of Directors and the House on actions taken at meetings.

Hogue is the pharmacy education coordinator, the PGY-1 pharmacy residency director and an emergency department pharmacist at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. Hogue currently serves on the ASHP Commission on Credentialing and has been a Michigan delegate to the ASHP House of Delegates for 15 years. He has previously served on the ASHP Council on Education and Workforce Development.

Hogue has been an outstanding member of MPA, having served as president, treasurer, and executive board member for the Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists (MSHP). He also served on the MPA Executive Board and in the MPA House of Delegates. He is a Fellow of MPA and a member of the MPA Hall of Honor. Other accomplishments include the MSHP Pharmacist of the Year, the MSHP Joseph A. Oddis Leadership Award and the MPA Distinguished Young Pharmacist of the Year Award.

APhA and NASPA Release First

PWWR Report and Learnings For 2024



The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations (NASPA) have released the ninth installment of the Pharmacy Workplace and Well-being Reporting (PWWR) trends and learnings report series.

Launched in October 2021, PWWR serves as a safe space to submit both positive and negative pharmacy workplace experiences in a confidential and anonymous manner. The goal of PWWR is to tell the stories of those who submit their experiences so that the profession may begin to act on the findings and learnings. This report covers the first quarter of 2024.

To date, more than 2,100 reports have been submitted to PWWR from pharmacy supervisors to pharmacy support personnel in nearly every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The learnings from all PWWR report analyses provide a roadmap for pharmacy personnel, employers, and the profession at large to address patient/consumer/co-worker harassment concerns, out-of-sync metrics and staffing, and barriers to staff–management communication.

"This cycle’s findings are similar to the reported experiences with the previous eight cycles,” said Brigid K. Groves, PharmD, MS, APhA vice president, professional affairs. “Reports this cycle included a new theme of outdated software and broken hardware computer systems in the pharmacy that has led to near-miss errors, which are those that were corrected prior to reaching the patient. This learning is a call for a systematic review of all pharmacy prescription processing software and hardware to address and resolve needed updates and replacements.”

MPA Introduces Trauma-Informed

Workforce Certificate Training Program

MPA is excited to launch a new partnership with Dr. Helen Sairany.

The Trauma-Informed Workforce Certificate Training Program is a catalyst for personal transformation, enabling you to forge deeper connections with yourself, your work and your team. Embark on this trauma-informed journey to sustain your practice.

Participants will:

• Bid goodbye to burnout and toxic patterns.
• Explore the potential of your workplace. 
• Be mentored by an expert facilitator. 
• Gain mastery in conscious decision-making. 

Held four times each year, the first live session offerings are quickly approaching in July and August.

Participants can take the training in its entirety or a la carte. Detailed information can be found at the links below. Please feel free to email or call the MPA Education and Events team with any questions or needs you may have!

Trauma-Informed Workforce: Full Certificate Training Programs

(Home study with live courses)

Trauma-Informed Workforce:

All Home Study Offerings

APhA MTM training at Wayne State University on June 20

The Wayne State University (WSU) Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences will present American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Delivering Medication Therapy Management Services training from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 20.

This is a live, in-person training for licensed pharmacists, who can earn 21.0 contact hours of continuing education credit if all course requirements are met. The session takes place at the Applebaum Building, 259 Mack Avenue in Detroit.

Wayne State preceptors may register for free by contacting assistant clinical professor of pharmacy practice Brittany Stewart at brittanystewart@wayne.edu or 313-415-6235.

The regular cost for pharmacists is $425, payable online at https://commerce.cashnet.com/1spevents?cname=PHARMACY. Registration closes June 14.

More Upcoming Continuing Education From MPA

Pharmacy Technician

Immunization Administration

Live Webinar: July 7, 10-11:30 a.m.

Self Study Must

Be Completed

Before Live Date

Michigan Pharmacy

Law Update, Q3

Live Webinar:

July 10, 9-10 a.m.

Pharmacy Technician Immunization Administration

Live Webinar: July 27, 10-11:30 a.m.

Self Study Must

Be Completed

Before Live Date

Point of Care Test

and Treat, Q3

Live Webinar:

Aug. 14, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Self Study Must Be Completed

Before Live Date

IBT Home Studies

Couldn't make it to a live implicit bias training (IBT) session? Not to worry, our IBT home studies could be right for you! MPA currently offers two IBT home studies. Both meet all current Michigan licensing requirements. Click the buttons below to get started!

Looking for Something Else? Try MPA's Home Studies.

In addition, MPA offers other home study pharmacy CE on a variety of topics that can be accessed 24/7/365 on its website. Click the button below to view our catalog of programs.

MPA Offering ALS Homestudy Free for Members

in June in Honor of Michael Tiberg

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of MPA member Michael D. Tiberg on the morning of May 24 with his family by his side after a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

In honor of Mike, MPA is offering its continuing education homestudy of "The Incurable Acronym: ALS – But Not Untreatable" free to members for the month of June. Mike was instrumental in the development of this continuing education program, which was presented live at MPA headquarters in April. He also authored an article in the January Michigan Pharmacist Journal chronicling his battle with ALS and the development of the session. Click here to read more about Mike’s journey with ALS (beginning on page 26) and the pharmacy continuing education he developed to bring more awareness around the disease.

Mike's impact on our profession and the individuals and patients he has taught and served will be felt for decades to come. He was a true pioneer in the field of pharmacy and we will forever be grateful for him as a leader, mentor and friend. Mike practiced for 15 years at Traverse City Osteopathic Hospital and became an adjunct professor of pharmacy at his alma mater, Ferris State University, where he precepted countless pharmacy students in their final year of clinical training.

After earning his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Illinois-Chicago, he was hired by Munson Medical Center as a clinical pharmacist, practicing there for more than 25 years. Mike became a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS) after obtaining his Pharm.D. and obtained a specialty certification BCPS with added qualifications in infectious diseases. He was one of the co-founders of the Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists (MSHP) Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee. In 2011, he was named the MSHP Pharmacist of the Year and was inducted into the MPA Hall of Honor in 2012.

MedZoomer is the nation’s fastest growing same-day prescription delivery service. We can deliver to your patients, facilities, group homes and more.

We offer a wide range of deliveries: contactless, controlled, temp-regulated and over-the-counter drugs, all within a 25 or 50-mile radius of the pickup location.

MedZoomer is a Michigan Pharmacists Association Preferred Business Partner.

MDHHS Update on Influenza A (H5N1)

Influenza A (H5N1) has been spreading across dairy and poultry farms throughout the country, including in Michigan. Earlier this year, a human case was identified in a Texas farmworker and, more recently, two human cases have been identified in Michigan farmworkers.

Sporadic human cases are not unexpected, given the current knowledge regarding disease transmission of H5N1. Sustained human-to-human transmission has not been reported at this time. The situation remains a low risk to the general public, but increasing numbers of impacted animals create more opportunities for human exposure.

Human cases can range in severity, but it is important to identify even mildly symptomatic cases to better understand disease transmission dynamics.

The cases identified thus far have occurred in individuals with exposure to infected animals. The first case in Michigan, occurred after a splash of infected milk to the eye, resulting in conjunctivitis. The second case occurred after direct contact with an infected cow in the absence of personal protective equipment (PPE), resulting in respiratory symptoms. These cases highlight the importance of PPE in high-risk settings.

In light of the above, we respectfully ask the following: 

• Ask your patients with influenza-like illness about exposures to wild birds, poultry, dairy cows, or other potential interactions with sick animals.  
• Individuals with compatible signs/symptoms plus risk factors should be tested for influenza A. Send samples to the MDHHS Bureau of Laboratories (BOL).  
• Have a low clinical threshold for starting antiviral medications, such as oseltamivir, in patients with clinical symptoms and risk factors – even while testing is pending.*
• If you work with a high proportion of individuals working on poultry or dairy farms, please remind them about the importance of wearing PPE to protect themselves from contaminated materials.
• Remind patients of the risks of drinking raw or unpasteurized milk, which includes potential exposures to influenza A, as well as pathogens like Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, E. coli, Salmonella, or Listeria monocytogenes.

*If treatment is not clinically indicated, please don’t let that deter you from testing. Case ascertainment is important at this time.

Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding

Town Hall on Compounded GLP-1s

In light of misinformation circulating around compounded GLP-1s, the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding (APC) is hosting a free town hall meeting to share what it knows and what it's doing about lawsuits against compounders, illegal marketing claims and best practices for protecting your reputation.

Program Agenda

• Welcome – APC Board Chair Joe Navarra, RPh
• 30,000 Feet: Drugmakers, Regulators, Media and More – CEO Scott Brunner, CAE
• What We See in the Lawsuits – Attorney Mark Boesen, JD, Pharm.D.
• Clean Up Your Marketing Claims – Matt Martin, Pharm.D., BCSCP
• Shortage Drug Compounding Best Practices – Tenille Davis, Pharm.D., BCSCP
• Q&A

New Drug in Illicit Drug Supply

Causing Overdose Deaths in Michigan

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is warning Michigan residents about medetomidine, a new drug identified in overdose deaths.  

Medetomidine is a veterinary tranquilizer, similar to xylazine, that can cause adverse effects including slowed heart rate, low blood pressure and decreases in brain and spinal cord activity. It is not approved for use in people. 

Since March, three overdose deaths have identified medetomidine during postmortem toxicology testing, according to data provided by the Swift Toxicology of Opioid Related Mortalities (STORM) project at Western Michigan University. The deaths occurred in Ingham, Berrien and Wayne counties. In addition to medetomidine, testing also identified fentanyl and other potent manufactured drugs. 

MDHHS is particularly concerned about this drug for the following reasons: 

• Medetomidine can cause central nervous system depression and death.
• Like xylazine, medetomidine is not reversed by medications such as naloxone or Narcan.
• Unlike xylazine, testing strips are not yet available to detect this particular drug.

"Medetomidine is considered more potent than xylazine and we want to make sure Michigan residents are aware of this new and dangerous drug showing up in overdose deaths in our state,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive for the state of Michigan. “Even though naloxone doesn’t directly reverse the effects of medetomidine or xylazine, these tranquilizers are usually found in combination with opioid drugs like fentanyl, that can be reversed. For this reason, we continue to urge individuals who use drugs and their loved ones to carry naloxone to prevent overdose.” 

MDHHS is urging local substance use disorder organizations, health care providers and harm reduction agencies to take the following actions: 

• Raise awareness and promote harm reduction practices – medetomidine like xylazine may be increasingly found in the illicit drug supply. Layer harm reduction strategies to lessen the risk of overdose: take it slow, use less, carry naloxone, do not use alone, monitor breathing, etc.
• As with xylazine, give rescue breaths in case of respiratory depression.
• Distribute naloxone as well as fentanyl and xylazine test strips. Organizations can request free naloxone from MDHHS to increase capacity. Connect individuals with more ways to access naloxone: order online at nextdistro.org/Michigan and have it delivered at no cost; get it at a pharmacy (Naloxone Standing Order, no prescription required); or contact a Syringe Service Program for naloxone, fentanyl and xylazine test strips, sterile needles, testing for HIV and Hepatitis C and other life-saving resources.
• Explore the Substance Use Vulnerability Index on the MDHHS dashboard to start conversations around gaps and barriers that may exist in your community.

Agencies aware of any medetomidine-involved overdoses or exposures since January 2024 are asked to share this information at MDHHS-MODASurveillance@Michigan.gov. 

FDA Tells COVID-19 Vaccine Makers

to Update Shot to Target Current Virus Variant

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Friday that it had advised the makers of the COVID-19 vaccines to formulate their new shots to be a better match for the JN.1 lineage of the coronavirus. The JN.1 version of the virus, along with its descendants KP.2 and KP.3 are the most common strain of the virus that are getting people sick right now, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The FDA’s committee of independent advisers voted unanimously Wednesday to recommend that the agency tell vaccine manufacturers to update the COVID-19 shots for the fall.

The FDA told the advisory committee Wednesday that studies have shown that the currently available COVID-19 vaccines appear to be less effective against the variants that are now in circulation. When manufacturers updated their vaccines last year to better match the variants that were in circulation then, the reformulated vaccines seemed to offer better protection, the FDA said.

FDA Approves Moderna's RSV Vaccine

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Moderna's respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, the company announced May 31, giving it a shot at much-needed new revenue from a second product.

Moderna's vaccine was approved for the prevention of RSV-associated lower respiratory tract disease in adults aged 60 or older, but with a label indicating the shot was 79% effective at preventing at least two symptoms of RSV, such as cough and fever.

Moderna had filed for FDA approval in July on data from a late-stage trial that showed its vaccine was 84% effective at preventing those symptoms, and its shares were down more than 6% in afternoon trading.

Jeffries analyst Michael Yee said in a note that the lower efficacy label was still in line with GSK's RSV shot Arexvy, the current market leader.

Removal of Gabapentin as Schedule 5 Controlled Substance

The Michigan Board of Pharmacy announced rules May 28 that included the revision of Rule 338.3111 to remove gabapentin as a Schedule 5 controlled substance in Michigan.

Per MCL 333.7333a, dispensed Schedules 2-5 controlled substances must be reported to the Michigan Automated Prescription System (MAPS). Gabapentin prescriptions dispensed after May 28 should no longer be reported to MAPS. Prescriptions dispensed after May 28 should not appear on MAPS reports. Gabapentin is also no longer subject to MCL 333.7303a(4).

Contact the MAPS Support Team at BPL-MAPS@michigan.gov if you have any questions.

July 8: MPA Executive Board Meeting

Aug. 9: MSPT Board of Directors

Aug. 29: CSPM Board of Directors

Sept. 5: MSHP Board of Directors Meeting & Retreat

Sept. 10: Pharmacy Day at the Capitol

Sept. 10: MPA Executive Board Meeting