NASP announces new leadership, establishes advisory council
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Specialty Pharmacy has been busy at its 2015 Annual Meeting & Expo. NASP on Thursday announced that it had elected new leadership, established advisory committees for stakeholders and unveiled its new Center for Specialty Pharmacy Education.
The organization’s board of directors has selected Burt Zweigenhaft as the next president, succeeding Mike Ellis in 2016. The board also elected Rebecca Shanahan as president-elect, to take over for Zweigenhaft in 2017. Zweigenhaft has worked for several years in oncology, working at Onco360 from 2005 until June 2015, and currently serves on the NASP board of directors’ executive committee.
“I look forward to the accomplishments that NASP will make in the year ahead," Ellis said. “Burt has been involved with NASP and dedicated to its mission since the beginning. Rebecca is a strong leader who was involved in SPAARx and the merger of the organizations to create a unified, influential organization for specialty pharmacy. They both bring proven leadership and industry knowledge to this organization.”
NASP also added Kelly Ratliff, COO of U.S. bioservices at AmerisourceBergen Specialty Group, and Mark Vineis, VP of Cardinal Health Specialty Pharmacy, to the board of directors for 2016.
In addition to elections, NASP has also established five new Advisory Councils that are meant to serve specialty pharmacy stakeholders: specialty pharmacy providers, pharmaceutical/biotechnology manufacturers, managed care organizations, institutional pharmacy and GPOs and distributors. The organization said it would put out a call for volunteers in November, with the board of directors making final appointments. The councils will review proposes public policy, comment on NASP programs and services and assist the board in choosing the organization’s strategic direction.
“The establishment of Advisory Councils gives a formal voice to all NASP stakeholders with regard to membership, policy, education, and other NASP activities," Ellis said. "We will be encouraging members to serve on an Advisory Council and by doing so take a more active role in the progress of NASP and advocacy for the specialty pharmacy industry.
In addition to providing more opportunities for stakeholders to have a say in the organization’s direction, NASP is also looking to ensure members’ educational needs are taken care of, launching its Center for Specialty Pharmacy Education. The CSPE, made possible by a partnership with ProCE to offer specialty pharmacy education to pharmacists and other health care professionals.
“Education is a fundamental component of NASP's vison,” executive director Jim Smeeding said. “We intend to offer premier, educational opportunities to our members and others in our industry in a manner that is convenient and accessible for them.”
Over the next several months, NASP will roll out dozens of CE offerings, including webinars and home study, the organization said.