Brian Kawahara, PharmD spoke to the CSHP Student Chapter about CSHP membership and time and money.  Dr Kawahara is Director of Pharmacy at Hemet Valley Medical Center and also serves as Chair of the CSHP House of Delegates.  The presentation was also part of the Elective Seminar lectures series.  Check out the reflections from some of the students:
Reflection #1:  Patrick Potives, PharmD Candidate 2019
Dr. Brian Kawahara has a very interesting outlook on the pharmacy profession. His presentation began with some figures that represented the amount of money that we will make in the future and how miniscule the price we are paying now.  Dr. Kawahara also emphasized time and how important it is to not take it for granted.  What I took out of this presentation as a keeper and what I believed was the most interesting is when he mentioned that being a part of an organization has much to do with having a voice. These organizations will be a voice for you and the pharmacy profession as well. I never thought joining an organization would provide me with this kind of “voice” which I personally am very excited about this because I like to be heard.  As of right now I am not sure which organization I would like to be a part of. After Dr. Kawahara’s presentation I will definitely consider the organizations that he listed off and be involved in the programs. I know that these organizations will better the pharmacy profession and it will help me develop as a pharmacist throughout the rest of my career.      
Reflection 2:  Tina Menedjian, PharmD Candidate 2019
On August 11, 2015, Dr. Brian Kawahara spoke to our elective class about “CSHP Membership and the Future of Pharmacy.” Dr. Kawahara emphasized the importance of networking, staying informed updated about laws, and, essentially, feeling as though you are helping make a difference in the world. He spoke about the value of our pharmacy education and that time is more valuable than money. He mentioned that our pharmacy education, though expensive, time-consuming, and draining, is a wonderful investment with Return on Time Invested (ROTI). What is important, he discussed, is utilizing the time we have in pharmacy school to become an active member in an organization and build strong connections with our peers, preceptors, government officials, and etc.
Keeper Idea: The excellent speaker, Dr. Kawahara, rhetorically asked if any of the students remembered their community’s pharmacist by name. My reply to this rhetorical question would regretfully report that I did not, in fact, remember by childhood pharmacist by name (nor did I expect my parents to). I felt sadness and frustration that most Americans could name their primary care provider like they could name their favorite television show. Patients visit their community pharmacist’s at least once a month (much more frequently than visits to their primary provider) for their medication refills but pharmacists have some how blended and blurred into the background as simply figures behind their counters. With this notion, I vow to be that pharmacist who takes an extra stride to know each patient by name and be known for her character, integrity, and helpfulness rather than a head on a stick counting tablets in a quiet corner.  
Reflection 3:  Layla Najibfard, PharmD Candidate 2019
This seminar was presented by CSHP and the guest speaker was Dr. Brian Kawahara who is the CSHP House of Delegates Chair. The objective of his speech was to inform the students on why they should join CSHP or get involved in any organization. Some key reasons to get involved were networking, staying up to date on legislation, leadership, teamwork and making a difference in pharmacy. Dr. Kawahara suggests that pharmacists are their own enemy because they don’t get involved. He advised us to not give up on the involvement after school and continue to stay connected to the cause and the advancement of pharmacy. The biggest threat to pharmacy is that people want to get rid of it because they don’t understand the need for it. Being involved with associations means that delegates can fight off these threats for you so it is worth your time and money.
One keeper idea I got from this seminar is to "not ask what pharmacy can do for you but what you can do for pharmacy". This meant a lot to me because people are so concerned about the job market and want to make sure that the time and money they are spending on their degree is going to pay off but don’t feel the need to do anything about it. They feel somewhat entitled to the money and respect they believe comes with a PharmD. Public perception is important; if the general public doesn’t see the value in the field of pharmacy then they wont be willing to create a place for pharmacists at the table. It is the duty of any and every one in the field to not only prove themselves to the world by being the best at what they do but to continuously push the field in a progressive direction. If pharmacy advocates weren't there when the ACA was being written and the scope of practice of other healthcare professionals were being expanded then we would've got left behind. The idea that just the degree makes you a pharmacist and guarantees you a place at the table is outdated. The world is changing and pharmacy should be changing with it. I plan to constantly think about what I can do for the field of pharmacy. Whether that be in a small way like applying my knowledge in the work place and practicing to the full extent of my training or on a larger scale by following the legislation and fighting as an advocate for the field.