Q&A: Pharmacist's Voices Help Propel Industry Changes | McKesson ideaShare

In this interview at McKesson ideaShare, held from July 10 to 13, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee, Brooklyn Morgan, PharmD, director of state policy at the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations, discusses the transformation of pharmacy practice from a rigid regulatory model to a more flexible standard-of-care approach. She emphasizes the importance of pharmacists getting involved with state pharmacy associations to advocate for their profession, highlighting how these organizations help enhance practice standards and provide essential education. As the regulatory landscape becomes more ambiguous, Mogran underscores the need for continuous learning, technological integration, and interoperability among health care providers.

Brooklyn Morgan, PharmD, discusses the transformation of pharmacy practice from a regulatory model to a more flexible approach. | Image Credit: Satawat - stock.adobe.com

Drug Topics®: What are some upcoming regulatory changes or trends that you are currently monitoring, and how do you anticipate they might affect patient access to pharmacy services or specific medications?

Brooklyn Morgan, PharmD: So pharmacy is rapidly moving towards the standard of care model of regulation. This is something that other health professions have been following for decades. Pharmacy has been kind of stuck in this bright-line regulation where things are lined out as to what they can and can't do. So this movement towards the standard of care model really allows pharmacists to practice at the top of their education and training and provide the highest quality of patient care.

Drug Topics: In what ways do you believe pharmacists can effectively advocate for policy changes that enhance patient access and outcomes?

Morgan: The best way that pharmacists can advocate for their profession is to get involved in their state pharmacy association. The state associations have a proven track record of enhancing pharmacy practice and making great changes [and] also providing high-quality education and those types of things. So the first step is just to get involved, become a member, and learn about what your state association is doing for you and have your voice heard.

Drug Topics: Why is it important for individual pharmacists, not just professional organizations, to be involved in shaping the regulatory landscape?

Morgan: Professional organizations rely on their individual members to understand what's happening in practice. So, it's vital that you get involved, have your voice heard so that they can be advocating for what your needs are. Pharmacists are uniquely positioned in practice on the frontlines, seeing what the patients are needing, what their practice is needing, and the state associations are only able to accomplish their mission if they have your voices.

Drug Topics: How can pharmacists approach staff training and education to ensure their entire team understands and adheres to all relevant regulations, particularly as they evolve?

Morgan: As the regulatory model is rapidly changing and we're moving more towards that standard of care approach, things can become a little bit ambiguous, so it's very important that we stay up-to-date on what our education and training is, and so you can leverage things like your professional organizations, specifically state pharmacy associations, to make sure that you and your staff feel competent and able to provide the best care to your patients.

Drug Topics: What role does technology play in strategies for maintaining regulatory compliance and improving patient outcomes in pharmacy?

Morgan: As the regulatory model becomes a little bit more ambiguous with the standard of care approach, it's important that we utilize technology to the best of our ability to help kind of fill in the gaps. Things like interoperability with other health care providers is going to be vital as we expand our care and practice and need to get the full picture of the patient so that we can provide that high-quality care. So, it's really important that we utilize it to the best of our ability and make sure that we can interact with others as on the health care team.

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