2021 Prescott Lecture: Leading with your why

The past year has been incredibly challenging. That sentence seems so simple and oversimplified. Yet, it is the elephant in room that we have to acknowledge all aspects of life these days. It easiest way summarize our lives since last gathered for a Prescott Lecture. For many us, year’s American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting was first virtual meeting experience. We did not know would be many. All separation between personal professional had just demolished. were re-learning how juggle both while working from home, unaware long be. learning new technologies able sustain patient care teaching activities when could physically same room. Now are experts at them all–Zoom, GoToMeeting, Microsoft Teams, list goes on. dealing with having no other option than respond adapt constant significant change year. I found myself routinely reflecting as process manage change. As sought find meaning events year, personally professionally, returning one-word question like explore my remarks today. Why? Simon Sinek popularized concept why his TED Talk book “Start With Why” 2009.1Sinek S. Start Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone Take Action. Portfolio/Penguin, New York, NY2009Google Scholar,2Sinek great leaders inspire action [video]. TED.https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action?language=enDate accessed: March 18, 2021Google Scholar acknowledges people inspired by sense purpose. need cause, reason get out bed each morning, something believe fight for. why. hypothesizes act because they think, act, communicate differently most.1Sinek key difference start He provides useful framework illustrate this leadership approach: Golden Circle. Circle composed three concentric circles. outer circle what you do. middle do it. inner Most individuals outside in, On hand, most effective inspirational inside out, starting They clearly simply articulate their own This important because, states book, “People don’t buy do; it.” Professionally, keep coming back question, “Why am doing work?” ask draw inspiration strength persevere during more difficult times, In response, frequently recall one specific meaningful interaction. student pharmacist University Pittsburgh School Pharmacy, interned high volume supermarket chain pharmacy. Monday evening third pharmacy school. likely on filling 1000 prescriptions day. data entry station entering into computer picked up telephone answer latest incoming call. continued next prescription basket an older female end phone began describing her husband discharged hospital after experiencing transient ischemic attack (TIA). She quickly explained he very healthy prior TIA, only taking 2 medications. Her multiple medications confused. sure she should give husband. What said stopped me tracks. said, “I scared going mess will kill husband.” answered calls career. instances, spent few minutes making addressed questions or concerns person end. still vividly hearing utter fear wife’s voice made feel. those feelings spurred different response done before early point busy night pharmacy, but also following evening. asked if available come talk about person. accepted. confirming needed him morning then hung up. Later night, got closer closing, put together medication list, learned school, which outlined on, administered, any special instructions, whether food. evening, 10 wife. questions, repeat medication. left feeling relieved, confident, smiles faces. think interaction pivotal moment development. confirmed wanted pursue community helped famously uses Apple example company mastered Circle.1Sinek what, computers cell phones develop. starts thinking challenging status quo. happen developing phones. My help people. At time previously described, happened wife providing reconciliation easily accessible public. gotten memory farther past, longer remember details taking. faces reinforced help. While see patients, remains same. bit different. now researcher who works pharmacists grow services educator trains students providers. guessing can relate story mine highlights devoted ourselves lifetime service took Oath Pharmacist.3American Association. pharmacist.https://www.pharmacist.com/oath-pharmacist?is_sso_called=1Date people, positive impact others’ lives. Over sustained seeing profession lead every seen colleagues Washington Pharmacy invested hours re-engineering classes rolling curriculum make best experience possible. Who host office meetings weekends available. risk school virtually global pandemic. show class cameras ready speak share ideas front classroom peers never met learn pharmacist. local independent chose implement SARS-CoV-2 testing program without guarantee reimbursement desperately access. practicing state across country tirelessly administer COVID-19 vaccine fast can. freezer breaks vaccinate through waste. volunteer clinics pharmacies days off means colleague gets day off. There hurdles overcome ensure us most. Pharmacists’ scope practice highly variable state-to-state.4Pollack S.W. Skillman S.M. Frogner B.K. Assessing Size Scope Pharmacist Workforce US. Center Health Studies, Washington, Sep 2020Google where order age group based collaborative agreement 30 years.5American National Alliance State Associations. administered vaccines.https://naspa.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/IZ-Authority-9_2020.pdfGoogle Scholar, 6Gardner J.S. A practical guide establishing administration pharmacies.J Am Pharm Assoc. 1997; 37: 683-692Scopus (23) Google 7Gardner Establishing pharmacy.J 2000; 40: 111-112Scopus (3) there gained authority vaccines children recent Department Human Services declaration.5American Scholar,8US Services. HHS expands access childhood pandemic.https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2020/08/19/hhs-expands-access-childhood-vaccines-during-covid-19-pandemic.htmlGoogle continue advocate federal provider management covered benefit adults, population whom polypharmacy concern.4Pollack Scholar,9Masnoon N. Shakib Kalisch-Ellet L. Caughey G.E. polypharmacy? systematic review definitions.BMC Geriatrics. 2017; 17: 230Crossref PubMed Scopus (824) must overcome, related it, succeed provide pharmacists. After all, says, it.”1Sinek Thank Leadership & Education Institute Phi Lambda Sigma recognition Sean Sullivan Peggy Odegard nominating honor. Special thanks friends, family, Pitt your unwavering support, especially Karen Art Bacci, Stephanie McGrath, Tony Ferri, Melissa McGivney, Kim Coley, Josh Akers, Odegard. Lastly, thank Akers Anna Shields thoughtful feedback