An interview session with the Treasurer of Hospital Pharmacy Section (HPS)
Received on 06/04/2022
Name: Ryan Forrey
Country: USA
Current Job Position: Associate Director, Market Development and Training, Hazardous Drug Safety, Becton Dickinson (BD)
Area of Expertise: Pharmacy Leadership, Hazardous Drug Safe Handling, Sterile Compounding
Current Role in the SIG/Section: Treasurer, Hospital Pharmacy Section
Describe your experience in the SIG/Section:
I started my involvement in the Hospital Pharmacy Section when I was a new member of FIP and active in the YPG. As a YPG member, I was a liaison to the Hospital Pharmacy Section and was able to participate as an observer/ex-officio member of the HPS extended executive committee. I also was given the opportunity to serve as an abstract reviewer for the Congress poster session, which eventually transitioned into full coordination of the poster session abstract review and poster judging process. When the Vice President of America’s position on the Executive Committee (ExCo) became available, I was nominated and elected to this expanded position. As VP for the Americas, I also served as coordinator of the HPS webinars, but when the digital focus of FIP began to expand, a new role was added to plan and coordinate the webinars. After 4 years as the VP for the Americas, I was elected to the position of Treasurer in 2018. In the 4 years of being Treasurer for HPS, FIP, and the world has changed dramatically. I feel fortunate that the section has continued to expand its offerings to members and stay financially secure during this time. I hope to continue ensuring the financial stability of the section (with the support of members of the financial committee) well into the future.
Please discuss a bit about your career path and how you have come to be in your current position:
I came to my career in the medical device industry in a bit of a non-traditional pathway. I began my career as a hospital pharmacist by completing a two-year residency in pharmacy practice and health-system pharmacy administration at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. After completion of my residency, I took a leadership role at the Ohio State University James Cancer Hospital. This was a new role created due to the expansion of the cancer program and the need for additional pharmacy services. I had known virtually nothing about oncology, chemotherapy, and hazardous drugs prior to that role. Coincidentally, at the same time I started, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) released its guidelines on preventing exposure to Hazardous Drugs and USP released new standards for sterile compounding. In my new role, I had to quickly learn about both sterile compounding and hazardous drug-safe handling. These two areas became my specialty and niche area of practice (beyond pharmacy management/leadership). As I continued to learn about these topics and put them into practice, I became a local, regional, and eventually, a global expert on the topics. After one of my speaking engagements on hazardous drugs, someone from BD approached me to see if I would be interested in working in the hazardous drug safety devices platform for them. I decided to take the risk and change careers from hospital pharmacist to the medical device industry. Fortunately, this was an easier transition since I am working in the therapeutic area where I have practice expertise.
How do you see the importance of FIP for the Pharmaceutical Profession?
I believe FIP is vital to the globalization of pharmacy practice and the raising of standards and patient outcomes. FIP is the only organization that can bring together pharmacy organizations and practitioners from around the globe to advocate for pharmacists and pharmaceutical sciences and the role we can have on patients.
Please share any suggestions or advice for early career pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists:
I would definitely recommend everyone find their area of practice where they can establish expertise. Find what you are passionate about and seek to do it well. I also would recommend that you take opportunities as they present themselves, and don’t be afraid to fail, be prepared to pick yourself up when you fall and start again.
How do you see the work and impact of YPG for early career pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists?
I think YPG is a great part of FIP because it brings together new practitioners from a wide variety of sections and areas of practice. Some of my closest FIP colleagues/friends were the ones I met while in YPG. They all work in completely different settings and practice areas, but we have the common shared experience of YPG. That allows us to work together very well on areas where we can find a common interest and in support of FIP.
Thank you so much for your time.
