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Celebrating American Pharmacists Month During October, American Pharmacists Month, three pharmacists with HHS's Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP) share their thoughts on the profession and the important role that pharmacists play in health care with HIV.gov. This year's theme is Caring for Our Communities. Lieutenant Commander Neelam 'Nelly' Gazarian, PharmD, MS, AAHIVP, notes that pharmacists play a key role in all aspects of health care in the United States. "Nowhere is this more evident than their expanding role in HIV prevention, especially through PrEP and PEP services," says Gazarian. "Pharmacists are often the most accessible health care providers, close to patients and embedded in their communities. Their work is critical in addressing the syndemic of HIV, STIs, and other diseases." Ronald J. Levinson, PharmD, HIV and STI Research ORISE Fellow, OIDP, adds that pharmacists are everywhere. "We're often the most accessible health care provider communities rely on, providing expert advice on prescription use, over-the-counter medications, and other health concerns a patient may have. Our accessibility is crucial in times of public health crises," says Levinson. Pharmacists' administration of vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic is just one example of this. Shary M. Jones, PharmD, MPH, BCPS, CAPT, U.S. Public Health Service, Director, OIDP Engagement Team Region 6, further points to how American Pharmacists Month acknowledges the critical role of pharmacists in the public health infrastructure. "Our proximity to patients allows us to identify and respond quickly to the compounding effects of syndemics," she says. "By recognizing this month, we highlight how pharmacists are more than medication experts — we are vital public health advocates working at the frontlines of syndemic care to improve the well-being of the communities we serve."
