PharmD students travel to Albany to advocate for the profession of pharmacy

PharmD students at Pharmacy Day in Albany.

From left to right: Annie Kurdziel, PharmD/MS’24, Sophia Osmond, PharmD’25, Nicole Siwarski, PharmD’25 Rachel Romanowski, PharmD’25, Autumn Spyhalsky, PharmD/MS’24, Alice Adachi-Bartholomay, PharmD/MPH’24

By Samantha Rzeszut

Published April 27, 2023

A group of University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (UB SPPS) PharmD student representatives from the Student Pharmacists' Association of Western New York (SPAWNY) traveled to Albany on April 24 to advocate for the profession of pharmacy.

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“The goal is to achieve positive change and improvements in the pharmacy profession and patient care. ”
Autumn Spyhalsky, PharmD/MS ’24, SPAWNY president,
University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Pharmacy Lobby Day in Albany is an annual event that gives PharmD students and pharmacy professionals the opportunity to meet face-to-face with their respective assemblymembers and legislators to educate them on issues related to pharmacy practice and patient care.

“By meeting with legislators and their staff, participants can educate them on these issues and potentially influence legislation that will benefit the community,” says Autumn Spyhalsky, PharmD/MS’24, SPAWNY president. “The goal is to achieve positive change and improvements in the pharmacy profession and patient care.”

UB SPPS PharmD students met with Senators Robert Ortt, Jack Martins, Joe Griffo and Peter Oberacker, along with Assemblymembers Joe Angelino, Pamela Hunter, Christopher Friend, Sarah Clark and Fred Thiele to advocate for the following legislation:

  • Pharmacist Dispensing of Contraceptives Pursuant to a Standing Order (S.1043A, Stavisky/A.1060A, Paulin): This legislation would authorize licensed pharmacists in New York to dispense hormonal contraception through a standing order issued by a physician or nurse practitioner.
  • Collaborative Practice Medication Adherence Act (S3591A, Breslin, Addabbo): This bill would allow a pharmacist to combine clinical knowledge and patient counseling skills in a coordinated program designed with a treating physician to improve the care of patients with chronic illnesses.
  • Access to Long-Acting Injectable Medications (S6337, Breslin): This legislation would enhance existing law that was recently enacted authorizing licensed pharmacists to administer long-acting injectable medications used to treat mental health and substance use disorder (SUD).
  • CLIA-Waived Testing (S3467, Rivera): This legislation would authorize pharmacists to order and administer CLIA-waived tests which would allow them to perform clinical laboratory tests on patients to expedite health assessment, diagnosis or treatment of disease.

Our UB SPPS PharmD students in attendance were joined by nearly 100 of their fellow New York State pharmacy students, members of the Pharmacists Society of the State of New York (PSSNY) and state legislators.

For over 135 years, the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences has continually been a leader in the education of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists, renowned for innovation in clinical practice and research. The school is accredited by the American Council of Pharmaceutical Education and is the No. 1 ranked school of pharmacy in New York State and No. 14 in the United States by U.S. News & World Report.