National Pharmacy Organizations: What is Their Return on Investment?

As a pharmacist and educator for almost 25 years, I have been actively involved with many aspects of national pharmacy organizations. This involves attending national meetings, attending and delivering CE programs, committee membership, and planning education programming. After some time, I thought about what was the true value of belonging to these organizations? I thought of this as a “return on investment” or ROI.  As a professional, you need to determine what a ROI means to you. For me, it was to know if the financial investment provided me a return, equal to this investment. I decided to sit down and answer this question for myself. I calculated the financial costs of attending 23 national meetings (flights, hotel, meeting registration), yearly membership, etc. My calculation came to just about $57,000. I then asked myself, what was the return on my investment of $57,000.  I was very disappointed on my return. Sure, I was able to network with others, attend and provide CE credit, and receive publications, but I could not find any additional return on this investment.

I have routinely asked pharmacists throughout my career the same question, “what is your ROI of national organization membership?” Pharmacists who graduated 5 years or less could not provide me an answer due to limit exposure to the profession. Pharmacists graduating more than 5 years stated, “there was no return on investment.” Many benefits as a member such as networking (social media can replace this), CE programs (many CEs can be obtained on-line), committee work (many were not interested since it does not have value to them). Many pharmacists questioned national pharmacy organizations value in helping pharmacists become recognized as providers. Many questioned their inability to work as one cohesive unit to implement change to the pharmacy profession. Many believe they were more interested in their membership numbers then they were in advancing the profession.

I came to the opinion that our national pharmacy organizations may have limited ROI. I also noticed that many pharmacists were eager to embrace a national pharmacy organization as a new graduate but quickly faded over time.

I understand this blog will not be popular with many of our national pharmacy leaders and many will disagree with my conclusion. However, if you ask one simple question, “have national pharmacy organizations succeeded in convincing lawmakers that pharmacist’s must be recognized as a health care professional and be financially compensated for their services?”  I have to say, no they have not. Maybe after waiting another 25 years this may change, however, I am concerned it will not and the next generation of pharmacists will continue to wait as I have.

Time will tell.

Michael J. Cawley, PharmD, RRT, CPFT, FCCM, has more than 25 years of experience practicing in the areas of medical, surgical, trauma, and burn intensive care as both a critical care clinical pharmacist and registered respiratory therapist.

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