National Organization and AFS Celebrate Pharmacists

It all started in October 1925. For one week, radio stations across the country broadcasted special programming to highlight the profession of pharmacy. In 2004, after celebrating National Pharmacy Week for nearly eight decades, the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) recognized October as American Pharmacist Month and has so ever since.

Pharmacists have long been considered one of the most trusted and accessible healthcare professionals. In fact, nearly 90 percent of the U.S. population lives within five miles of a pharmacy.

As the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the United States, pharmacists and their teammates contributed to protecting America’s health and promoting recovery by providing lifesaving vaccinations and expanding clinical services in their pharmacies and communities.

Associated Food Stores has approximately 90 pharmacists along with many pharmacy technicians, trainees and interns. Associated Food Stores also supports over 700 pharmacists as part of the company’s pharmacy consortium.

“I am extremely proud of our pharmacists and our pharmacy teams for all of their hard work each and every day,” said Shawna Hanson, director of pharmacy. “Over the last couple of years, they took on the additional challenges that arose during the pandemic. They provided countless vaccines, COVID tests and many hours of counseling during this difficult time. Their commitment to their patients and the communities they serve has been extraordinary. Our pharmacists do so much more than counsel and dispense medications each day. They also provide additional clinical services such as group A strep testing and treatment, all recommended vaccines as well as hormonal contraceptive care and other women’s health services. It is an honor to work with such amazing professionals who continually put the health and wellness of their patients first.”