Summer 2011 - Western University of Health Sciences

CommencementClass of 2011Keynote SpeakerWilliam Zellmer currently serves as a consultant, writer and speaker onstrategic and professional issues in pharmacy practice. He holdsappointments as Clinical Professor on the affiliate faculty of the School ofPharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University; Contributing Editor,American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy; and Historian, AmericanSociety of Health-System Pharmacists.William Zellmer’s message:First, congratulations on your achievement! What a joy it is to finish along and demanding journey and then to celebrate through a ceremonysuch as this.The gap between the knowledge of pharmacists and the function ofpharmacists is still very large. Too many pharmacists in all practicesettings still assume a very narrow, technical role in the care of patients.We will not be sustained as a profession unless pharmacists takeresponsibility for the outcomes of patients’ use of medicines. It will be upto you to see that this is done.We will not be sustained as a profession unless pharmacists find the courage toalways give the highest priority to the best interests of the patient. It will be upto you to see that this is done.We will not be sustained as a profession unless pharmacists develop newpractice models, working much more closely with physicians and nurses ingroup medical practices, ambulatory care clinics, community healthcenters, chronic care programs, medical homes, and accountable careorganizations. It will be up to you to see that this is done.14 | RxBound WesternU, College of Pharmacy