IPA Volunteer Opportunities
The Iowa Pharmacy Association is a membership driven organization that achieves success through the
dedication of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and student pharmacists in Iowa who volunteer their
time and expertise.
There are numerous opportunities for IPA members to volunteer and become actively involved in IPA. It
is never too early or late in your pharmacy career to become engaged in the process – IPA volunteers
range from student pharmacists to retired pharmacists and everyone in between. If you are interested
in volunteering for any of the opportunities listed below, contact
Anthony Pudlo at apudlo@iarx.org.
IPA House of Delegates
IPA Policy Committees
IPA Advisory Committees
IPA Board of Trustees
Iowa Pharmacy Recovery Network (IPRN)
Katy’s Kids
IPA House of Delegates
The IPA House of Delegates meets each June to debate and adopt policy during the IPA Annual Meeting. Serving
as a delegate in the House of Delegates provides pharmacists, technicians, and student pharmacists an
opportunity to have a voice and be part of the policy adopting process for the profession. Delegates are
responsible for attending and participating in two House of Delegates sessions during the IPA Annual meeting.
Pharmacists - 17 pharmacists from each region are elected during odd years (eg 2009, 2011) to serve 2 year
terms as a delegate. Members from each region vote for their region only. Pharmacists elected as a
delegate are responsible for selecting an alternate delegate if they are unable to fulfill their delegate
responsibilities.
During election years, IPA will notate *pharmacists* on the delegate ballots that are interested in serving.
During non-election years, IPA works to fill in unattended delegate seats with alternate delegates from the
same region.
Pharmacy Technicians - IPA appoints eight (8) technicians
to serve as voting delegates. Technicians are appointed for one-year terms.
Student Pharmacists - IPA appoints six (6) students from each college of pharmacy in the state to serve
one-year terms as voting delegates.
Other members of the IPA House of Delegates include: current IPA Board of Trustee members, all past IPA
and ISHP presidents, a representative from each local pharmacy association, and the Deans from Drake
University and the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy.
For more information on the IPA House of Delegates, click here.
IPA Policy Committees
Members of the IPA Policy Committee on Professional Affairs and the Policy Committee on Public Affairs
are appointed annually by IPA’s president. Each year, the IPA president seeks to have a diverse
representation of pharmacists, residents, pharmacy technicians, and student pharmacists serving on
policy committees from various practice settings and areas of the state.
Policy Committees are responsible for attending two meetings – a Committee meeting in April at the IPA
headquarters and an executive Committee meeting following the first session of the House of Delegates at
the IPA Annual Meeting. Committee members receive a packet of background material prior to the April
meeting to review.
Policy Committees are chaired by pharmacists appointed by IPA’s president. Typically, a pharmacist is
appointed to serve as vice-chair and will advance to chair the committee the following year.
For additional information on IPA Committees, click here.
IPA Advisory Committees
Six committees serve in advisory capacities to the IPA Board of
Trustees. Pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and student pharmacists
are appointed to advisory committees by IPA’s president.
IPA’s Legislative Advisory Committee meets each November to
establish IPA’s Legislative and Regulatory Priorities for the
upcoming year. Additionally, the Committee may be asked to review
and comment on proposed legislation or regulatory language
throughout the year as needed.
IPA’s Advisory Committee on Medicaid and
Pharmacy Benefit Programs meets each November. This Committee
discusses issues related to the delivery of services to the Iowa
Medicaid program and its recipients, administered by DHS and the
state’s fiscal intermediary. This Committee also encompasses
Medicare Part D and issues pertaining to third party payors and
pharmacy benefits managers.
IPA’s Health-System Liaison Board (HSLB),
established in 2007, serves as an advisory committee to the Board of
Trustees to ensure the needs of hospital and health-system
pharmacists in the state. The HSLB is chaired by a health-system
pharmacist on the IPA Executive Committee. This advisory committee
meets twice annually, typically in May and November. Throughout the
year, feedback and review may be sought by the HSLB via email
communication.
IPA’s Long Term Care and Senior Care
Advisory Committee was established in 2011 and works closely with
the IPA Board of Trustees and IPA staff. Issues include short cycle
dispensing, geriatric therapy updates, and changing federal rules
related to LTC and Senior Care.
Iowa Pharmacy Political Action Committee (IPPAC) Advisory
Committee was established in 2012. This committee promotes the
pharmacy profession in the Iowa political arena through direct
strategic support of electoral politics. Each committee member must
be an annual contributor to the IPPAC with a $250 minimum
contribution.
IPA’s Pharmacy Technician Advisory Committee
serves to address issues facing pharmacy technician members, promote
the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination in Iowa,
and develop and promote educational programs and materials for CPhTs
and technicians interested in becoming certified.
For additional information on IPA Committees, click here.
IPA Board of Trustees
Pharmacists interested in serving on the IPA Board of Trustees (BOT)
are elected by their colleagues either as a regional trustee,
trustee-at-large, or as an IPA officer (president, president-elect,
treasurer, speaker and vice-speaker of the House of Delegates).
Pharmacists are slated to run for Board of Trustee positions by the
IPA Nominations committee each April for the following year. If you
are interested in running for a BOT position, email Anthony Pudlo at
apudlo@iarx.org.
Technicians interested in serving on the IPA Board of Trustees
(BOT) are elected by their colleagues to serve a two year term.
Technicians are slated to run for Board of Trustee positions by the
IPA Nominations committee every two years to begin office the
following year. Pharmacy technician Board members will serve as
voting members of the Board. Technicians interested in serving
on the BOT can email Anthony Pudlo at
apudlo@iarx.org.
Two student pharmacists (one from Drake University, one from
University of Iowa) are appointed by their respective colleges to
serve a one-year term on the IPA Board of Trustees.
Student pharmacist Board members will serve as voting members of the
Board. Student pharmacists interested in serving on the BOT can
email Anthony Pudlo at
apudlo@iarx.org.
The IPA Board meets in July (1.5 day Board Retreat); October,
February, April (1 day Board meetings at IPA headquarters); and June
(during the IPA Annual Meeting). Incoming Board members and officers
are installed during the Saturday evening banquet at the Annual
Meeting.
For additional information on
the IPA Board of Trustees,
click here.
Iowa Pharmacy Recovery Network (IPRN)
IPRN is a monitoring and advocacy peer-review program for the purpose of assisting impaired pharmacy
professionals, including pharmacists, pharmacy students and pharmacy technicians, whose dependency and/or
disability is potentially threatening to professional performance and public safety. Services provided by
IPRN are intended to be in the best interest of the professional and the public.
There are many roles for volunteers, including monitoring impaired professionals for compliance with
their IPRN contract, and providing peer support and assistance to impaired professionals as they enter
treatment and recovery. IPRN will assure that volunteers are adequately trained and educated so they
can most effectively work with clients throughout the state.
IPRN is always in need of caring volunteers. Please contact Emily Dykstra at
emily@proheights.com, IPRN staff, or Bruce Alexander at
bruce.alexander@va.gov, IPRN Chair if you are interested in serving as a
volunteer or in finding out more information. The profession needs you to make a difference!
For more information on IPRN, click here.
Katy’s Kids
Katy’s Kids is a community-based volunteer program developed by IPA for pharmacists and student
pharmacists to present in kindergarten and first grade classrooms information on safe and appropriate
medication use. Since development in 1988, Katy’s Kids has been presented by pharmacists and student
pharmacists in over 30 states to more than 50,000 children.
For additional information on Katy’s Kids,
click here.