New IMPACT Awards Spotlight Pharmacy Technicians’ Everyday Contributions
For years, pharmacy technicians have been the steady, often unseen force keeping pharmacies running—managing workflows, supporting pharmacists, and helping patients navigate increasingly complex systems of care. Yet despite their essential role, technicians frequently describe themselves with a resigned disclaimer: “I’m just a tech.” The National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA) is determined to change that narrative.
This year, NPTA launched the
The awards focus on the impact in its broadest sense. Honorees might be technicians who improved workflow efficiency in a busy pharmacy, developed a new way to support vulnerable patients, mentored coworkers through change, or launched an initiative that strengthened connections with the wider community. What unites these efforts is not job title but the determination to solve problems, elevate care, and advance the profession.
Behind the program is a recognition that retention and professionalism are closely tied to feeling seen, valued, and respected. NPTA leaders believe that by publicly celebrating technicians’ achievements, the IMPACT Awards can help reverse burnout, strengthen teams, and inspire others to launch their own projects. In this interview, Mike Johnston, CPhT-Adv, discussed the initiative behind the awards’ creation, how technicians are already transforming pharmacy practice, and what it will take to finally retire the phrase “just a tech.”
“We want to get as many nominations as possible so that way we can really shine a light on all the ways technicians are making an impact,” Johnston said.
