Geriatric Pharmacy and the Leaders of Today – ASCP National President Inspires Future Generations of Pharmacists
Written By: Samantha Paylor, PharmD Candidate, Class of 2027
On Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, the Peter Lamy Center on Drug Therapy and Aging, housed in the 4th oldest pharmacy school in the United States, hosted the national president of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP), Dr. Deborah Milito. Beyond Dr. Milito’s role in ASCP, she is a board-certified geriatric pharmacist and holds key clinical roles with Diamond Pharmacy Services. At Diamond Pharmacy, she uses her diverse background to enhance the care of older patients in the community around her. Dr. Milito also serves as an inspector for ambulatory surgery centers and a consultant for a behavioral health company. She maintains these roles while serving as an adjunct professor at her alma mater, Duquesne University. Her position allows her to instruct students on senior care topics related to senior care, which speaks to her commitment to advancing the new generations of pharmacists.
During her visit, Dr. Milito evoked enlightening conversations with both students and faculty, providing a valuable opportunity for future pharmacists to learn about the constantly changing field of senior care pharmacy. She put a strong emphasis on the mission of ASCP, “to promote healthy aging by empowering pharmacists with education, resources, and innovative opportunities.” A common theme of these conversations was how to involve young practitioners in national ASCP efforts. She charged students with being proactive in their professional development, as the future of the field lies in the hands of current students and new practitioners. People 65 and older is the fastest growing population in the United States, thus increasing the demand for the various services of the consultant pharmacists. Dr. Milito noted opportunities for students to put in efforts now to help care for this special population they will encounter later on, or may have already been encountering in their careers.
A major highlight of the visit was Dr. Milito’s presentation to the student chapter of ASCP at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. During her talk, she spoke of her journey that resulted in becoming the highly qualified pharmacist she is today. She had a non-traditional route that brought her to being part of the inaugural class for Duquesne University, and the theme of being one of “firsts” has been common throughout her career. This led students to engage with Dr. Milito and ask about ways that they too could continue engage in the ever-growing field of senior care pharmacy. Students asked what their roles might look like working collaboratively with the interprofessional team in other geriatric practices.
Dr. Milito also shared her passion and experience with vaccine administration and how this venture has become increasingly important in recent years. Pharmacists have played a growing role in vaccine administration since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Continuing in the vein of being one of the “first”, Dr. Milito explained that the development of the vaccine clinic, specialized towards the geriatric population in her communities during the pandemic, was the greatest accomplishment of her career. These clinics provided critical services to such a vulnerable population of older adults. Dr. Milito recounted a story of one older adult being so grateful for a vaccine because now her daughter could visit her. This example of the positive impact of her efforts is yet another reminder of the vital role pharmacists play in the community, and Dr. Milito encouraged students to seek out ways to make their own meaningful impact.
Dr. Milito’s visit to the Peter Lamy Center was not only inspirational, but also a reminder of the growth that occurs through collaboration. Both the faculty and students at the Peter Lamy Center and the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy thanked Dr. Milito for taking the time to visit and share her work.