The Home Study: 2026 Feurt Symposium: Pharmacy's Voice, Pharmacy's Future: The Essential Role of Advocacy

An annual tradition at the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy, the Feurt symposium is sponsored by the Seldon D. Feurt Endowment, which celebrates a previous dean, Dr. Seldon Feurt. Members of the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy and Tennessee Pharmacists Association, in cooperation with the University, started the Seldon D. Feurt Memorial Fund to honor Dr. Feurt and provide private funding for scholarships, fellowships, research grants, and other needs of the College. This year’s topic focuses on advocacy.  

 

The pharmacy profession continues to evolve as pharmacists assume increasingly significant roles in direct patient care, population health management, and interprofessional healthcare delivery. Despite expanded education, clinical training, and evidence demonstrating pharmacists' contributions to improved patient outcomes, legislative, regulatory, and payment barriers continue to limit pharmacists' ability to practice at the top of their license. Pharmacists and student pharmacists must understand how advocacy efforts influence healthcare policy, reimbursement, scope of practice, and patient access to pharmacist-provided services.

 

As healthcare systems continue to shift toward value-based care, pharmacists are uniquely positioned to address medication-related challenges, improve quality metrics, and expand access to care. However, many practitioners lack knowledge regarding effective advocacy strategies and opportunities to engage with policymakers, professional organizations, and other stakeholders. Enhanced understanding of advocacy processes is needed to strengthen the profession's voice and advance sustainable practice transformation.

 

Additionally, emerging standards of care and innovative pharmacy practice models are reshaping how pharmacists deliver patient-centered services. Pharmacists must be equipped to understand these evolving models and the role advocacy plays in supporting their adoption, implementation, and reimbursement. Increased awareness of successful advocacy initiatives and future opportunities will help pharmacists become effective leaders and agents of change within their communities and healthcare organizations.

 

This activity will address knowledge gaps related to pharmacy advocacy, healthcare policy, leadership, and contemporary practice transformation, enabling participants to better support the advancement of the profession and improved patient care.