1943

The Voice of ASHP

Official Bulletin of the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists

ASHP launches its own membership periodical, the Official Bulletin of the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists.
 
 

1946

First Institute

Attendees at the first Institute on Hospital Pharmacy at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

The first Institute on Hospital Pharmacy, co-sponsored by ASHP, is held July 15–19 at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. The institute serves to educate members, encourage exchange of ideas, and enhance ASHP’s national stature.

Hospital Pharmacists Wanted

Duke University Hospital pharmacists (L–R) Eugene Brown, Thomas Reamer, Archie Mills, and Hunter Kelly

(Courtesy: Duke University Medical Center Archives, Durham, N.C.)

The Hospital Survey and Construction Act (Hill-Burton Act) is passed, leading to an expected increase in demand for hospital pharmacists.
 
 

1947

Membership Growth

Members at ASHP’s Annual Meeting in Milwaukee

By its fifth anniversary, ASHP numbers 1,000 members.

Evolution of Pharmacy Standards

1948

First Internship Standards

ASHP publishes its first “Standards for Internships in Hospital Pharmacy.” Approved in 1951, this later leads to our residency accreditation program.
 
 

1952

Ten-Year Milestones

1952 Annual Meeting Decennial Banquet

ASHP celebrates its decennial in Philadelphia with 2,000 members and 32 affiliated chapters. Members endorse the first increase in annual dues to $5.
 

1958

A Name Change

Cover of American Journal of Hospital Pharmacy (1958)

The Bulletin becomes a monthly publication and changes its name to American Journal of Hospital Pharmacy.
 

1959

American Hospital Formulary Service

First edition of American Hospital Formulary Service

The American Hospital Formulary Service, first proposed in 1954 and stemming from the formulary of the University of Michigan Hospital, is published.
 

1960

Dr. Joseph A. Oddis

Dr. Joseph A. Oddis, Sc.D., ASHP’s first full-time executive officer

Dr. Joseph A. Oddis is appointed as ASHP’s first full-time executive officer.
 

1963

Accredited Residencies

Directory of Approved Residencies

ASHP approves 32 residency programs in its initial year of accrediting hospital pharmacy programs.
 

1964

Comprehensive Audit of Services

Mirror to Hospital Pharmacy published

Supported by a federal grant of $36,000 in 1956, ASHP publishes Mirror to Hospital Pharmacy, the first comprehensive audit of pharmaceutical services in U.S. hospitals.
 

Conference on Drug Information Services

Drug Information Center, University Hospital, University of Kentucky, Lexington

ASHP sponsors the first Conference on Drug Information Services, at the University of Kentucky Medical Center, to determine a plan for assisting drug information centers in pharmacy departments.
 

1965

Aiding Medicare Patients

Special Conference on Drug Distribution

Special Conference on Drug Distribution

Nearly 350 people attend the Special Conference on Drug Distribution in Washington, D.C. — the most attendees at an ASHP meeting to date. A forerunner to the Midyear Clinical Meeting, the conference is open to representatives of the drug, packaging, and equipment industries, as well as to hospital pharmacists.
 
 

1966

First Midyear Meeting

Announcement for first Midyear Clinical Meeting in AJHP

The inaugural ASHP Clinical Midyear Meeting is held in Washington, D.C., November 28–30.
 

Residency Preceptor Conference

Headquarters Move

New headquarters

ASHP moves its headquarters to offices at 4630 Montgomery Avenue in Bethesda, Md., and establishes a building fund for future space needs.
 
 

1967

25th Anniversary Achievements

1970

Building Purchase

ASHP purchases the headquarters building that it had been leasing.
 

1972

Dr. Wendell T. Hill Jr.

Dr. Wendell T. Hill Jr.

ASHP elects its first African-American president, Dr. Wendell T. Hill Jr.
 

1975

Special Interest Groups

Listing of ASHP Special Interest Groups

ASHP Special Interest Groups are formed.
 

1976

National Drug Shortage Monitoring Program

News release on Drug Shortage Monitoring Program

The National Drug Shortage Monitoring Program, a joint effort of ASHP and the FDA, is implemented.
 

1977

New Standards

Joint Commission

Brochure on Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners

ASHP helps organize the Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners.
 

1978

Guidelines for Fellowship

News release announcing oncology fellowship

ASHP Oncology Pharmacy Practice Special Interest Group develops guidelines for the first fellowship program supported by the ASHP Foundation.

Madam President

Sister Mary Gonzales, ASHP President (1978–1979)

ASHP elects its first female president, Sister Mary Gonzales.
 
 

1979

Psychology Pharmacy Residency Accreditation

Psychology Pharmacy Practice Special Interest Group develops first ASHP accreditation standards for specialized residency training.

ASHP Residency Match

1981

Independent Annual Meeting

ASHP Board of Directors

ASHP holds its first stand-alone annual meeting.
 

1982

Examining Drug Therapy

Cover of Clinical Pharmacy v.1(1) 1982

Clinical Pharmacy, a new ASHP journal focusing on drug therapy information, is first published.
 

1984

Pharmacy in the 21st Century

Conference attendees

The first “Pharmacy in the 21st Century” conference is held in Millwood, Va.
 

1985

Hilton Head Conference

“Directions for Clinical Practice in Pharmacy” (Hilton Head) conference

ASHP and the ASHP Foundation sponsor the invitational conference “Directions for Clinical Practice in Pharmacy,” also known as the Hilton Head conference, which attracts 146 participants in February.
 

1989

Pharmacy in the 21st Century Conference II

1990

Commission on Therapeutics

Commission on Therapeutics

The Commission on Therapeutics is formed.
 

1991

Department of Student Affairs

ASHP Task Force on Students

ASHP establishes the Department of Student Affairs, making this function a separate organizational entity for the first time. By year’s end, student membership reaches 2,500.
 

1992

50th Anniversary

New headquarters at 7272 Wisconsin Ave. in Bethesda, Md.

ASHP celebrates its semi-centennial year with membership at 27,000, a budget of $22 million, 153 personnel on staff, and 14,000 people attending the Midyear Clinical Meeting. A new headquarters at 7272 Wisconsin Ave. in Bethesda, Md., is purchased.
 

1993

New Section of Home Care Practitioners

Section of Home Care Practitioners at the Midyear Clinical Meeting

The ASHP Home Care Advisory Group guides the implementation of the new ASHP Section of Home Care Practitioners, which officially forms in 1994. The name is changed to the Section of Home, Ambulatory, and Chronic Care Practitioners in 1996 and then to the Section of Ambulatory Care Practitioners in 2002.

San Antonio Conference

Proceedings of the San Antonio Conference

The ASHP San Antonio Conference is conducted to clarify and identify effective strategies for implementing pharmaceutical care.
 
 

1994

Pharmacy Student Forum

Student Forum members

Pharmacy Student Forum is launched and becomes one of ASHP’s fastest growing membership categories.

Journals Merge

Name Change

1995

Clinical Specialists Section

Section of Clinical Specialists booth at the Midyear Clinical Meeting

The Section of Clinical Specialists is officially formed.

Center on Pharmacy Practice Management

Announcement for the Center on Pharmacy Practice Management

ASHP launches the Center on Pharmacy Practice Management, a resource for pharmacists on practice management issues in health systems. Its first major achievement is developing the National Survey on Quality Assurance Program for Sterile Products.

Pharmacy Technician Certification

Pharmacy Technician Certification Board members and association representatives

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board is created.
 
 

1996

Leadership Conference

Leadership Conference on Pharmacy Practice

The first annual Leadership Conference on Pharmacy Practice is held.
 

1998

Collaborating on Credentialing

ASHP works with seven other national pharmacy organizations to form the Council on Credentialing in Pharmacy.
 

2000

Doctor of Pharmacy

Doctor of Pharmacy is adopted as the entry-level degree for the pharmacy profession.
 

2003

Membership Community Growth

2003–04 Section of Pharmacy Practice Managers Executive Committee

With the addition of the Section of Inpatient Care Practitioners, the Section of Pharmacy Practice Managers, and the New Practitioners Forum, ASHP has six distinct membership communities.
 

2005

Advancement in Accreditation

New accreditation standards for postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) and postgraduate year 2 (PGY2) residency programs are released.
 

2007

Section of Pharmacy Informatics and Technology

2007-08 Section of Pharmacy Informatics and Technology Executive Committee

The Section of Pharmacy Informatics and Technology is added as a membership community.
 

2010

Pharmacy Practice Model Initiative Summit

ASHP and the ASHP Foundation sponsor the Pharmacy Practice Model Initiative (PPMI) Summit. Participants at the invitational consensus conference develop practice recommendations to support pharmacists' roles as direct patient care providers.
 

2011

Dr. Paul W. Abramowitz

Dr. Paul W. Abramowitz, ASHP Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Paul W. Abramowitz becomes ASHP Chief Executive Officer.
 

2013

For the Greater Good

ASHP joins the governance body of the Center for Pharmacy Practice Accreditation, an organization that recognizes pharmacy practices for providing patient care services that improve health outcomes and contribute to lower healthcare costs.

Taking Residencies Global

ASHP residency accreditation is expanded internationally.
 

2014

Serving the Underserved

Introducing legislation to meet the needs of more Americans

ASHP and the Patient Access to Pharmacists’ Care Coalition work together to introduce bipartisan legislation H.R. 4190, which recognizes pharmacists as Medicare Part B providers working within their states’ scope of practice in medically underserved areas throughout the U.S. A companion bill, S. 109, is later introduced in the Senate, and the bill is renamed the Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act.

Ambulatory Care Summit

This follow-up to the 2010 PPMI Summit focuses on developing recommendations to strengthen pharmacists’ patient care activities in outpatient settings.

A New Look

A New Vision

ASHP establishes a new vision: ASHP’s vision is that medication use will be optimal, safe, and effective for all people all of the time.

Pharmacy Technician Accreditation Commission

Launched with the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the Pharmacy Technician Accreditation Commission expands pharmacy technician education and training programs.
 
 

2015

Summit Rebrand

AJHP Residents Edition Published

Inaugural cover of the AJHP Residents Edition

The Residents Edition of AJHP is introduced on June 1.

Women in Pharmacy Leadership Task Force

Task force helps women become pharmacy leaders

The Women in Pharmacy Leadership Task Force is launched.
 
 

2016

Expanding Education

ASHP launches its library of professional certificates to prepare its members for new advances in medication therapy.

ASHP International

A New Era for AJHP

The redesigned AJHP

The redesigned AJHP includes theme issues, an increased focus on ambulatory care, and an enhanced digital experience.
 
 

2017

A New Home

ASHP moves into new headquarters at 4500 East West Highway in Bethesda, Md.

A New Online Presence

The newly designed ASHP.org

ASHP launches a new website in March that consolidates ASHP’s diverse websites into one digital ecosystem.

ASHP Consulting

ASHP Consulting is launched to provide advice and solutions for the full spectrum of medication use in hospitals, ambulatory care clinics, and other healthcare settings.

Conference Collaboration

ASHP is co-convener with the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education of a Pharmacy Technician Stakeholder Consensus Conference. Conference participants develop recommendations that support the evolution of pharmacy technician roles as pharmacists take on increasing responsibility for direct patient care.

A Story 75 Years Strong

Here are some of the milestones we are celebrating in ASHP’s 75th year:

• Membership has risen to nearly 45,000.

• Residency positions have grown to nearly 4,600 positions offered per year.

• The global impact of ASHP has increased markedly through products and services, including residency accreditation, educational conferences, publishing, ASHP Consulting Service, and membership.

• The number of members identifying as ambulatory care pharmacists has expanded rapidly to reflect the growing number of pharmacists practicing in clinics and leading the improvement of medication use across all healthcare settings.

• Advocacy influence and the involvement of members have grown — contributions to ASHP-PAC have more than tripled in recent years.

• Attendance at the Midyear Clinical Meeting has grown to 25,000+.