Today's podcast is part 2 of the second series from the team at First Financial Bank's Pharmacy & Veterinary Divisions. Today we talk with Drew Hegi, MBA Loan Officer at First Financial Bank and Schwanda Flowers, PharmD Veterinary Practice Lender at First Financial Bank.  

On this episode we learn about: 
What is POLA?
How and when did POLA start?
What are the benefits of participating in POLA?
How much does it cost to attend?
What topics and activities do you cover at POLA?
How can interested students and colleges get more information about attending?

About P.O.L.A.

Opportunity is on the horizon for student pharmacists interested in ownership. With an aging demographic of independent pharmacy owners, there has never been a better time to consider ownership.

The Pharmacy Ownership and Leadership Academy (POLA) was developed to prepare student pharmacists for this exact opportunity. Twenty-five students from eleven colleges of pharmacy across the country arrived at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Pharmacy on June 17th for a week long academy focused on leadership, personal and professional development, pharmacy financials, business planning and team building. The week began with assessing the attendees entrepreneurial spirit, leadership styles and emotional intelligence.

They were welcomed with a picnic sponsored by First Financial Bank and had the opportunity to get to know each other and network with a team of lenders who truly understand pharmacy. The second day was a huge success; programming focused on writing a business plan, pharmacy lending, tools and support from the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), and ended with a networking dinner with current Arkansas pharmacy owners. Students had the opportunity to connect with a professional mentor who can provide real-world advice and encouragement for these young entrepreneurs. Days three and four provided unique sessions on marketing, Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network (CPESN), and developing a vision for your business. 

Today's podcast is part 2 of the second series from the team at First Financial Bank's Pharmacy &amp; Veterinary Divisions. Today we talk with Drew Hegi, MBA Loan Officer at First Financial Bank and Schwanda Flowers, PharmD Veterinary Practice Lender at First Financial Bank.&nbsp;&nbsp;
On this episode we learn about:&nbsp;
<ol>
<li>What is POLA?</li>
<li>How and when did POLA start?</li>
<li>What are the benefits of participating in POLA?</li>
<li>How much does it cost to attend?</li>
<li>What topics and activities do you cover at POLA?</li>
<li>How can interested students and colleges get more information about attending?</li>
</ol>
About P.O.L.A.
Opportunity is on the horizon for student pharmacists interested in ownership. With an aging demographic of independent pharmacy owners, there has never been a better time to consider ownership.
The Pharmacy Ownership and Leadership Academy (POLA) was developed to prepare student pharmacists for this exact opportunity. Twenty-five students from eleven colleges of pharmacy across the country arrived at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Pharmacy on June 17th for a week long academy focused on leadership, personal and professional development, pharmacy financials, business planning and team building. The week began with assessing the attendees entrepreneurial spirit, leadership styles and emotional intelligence.
They were welcomed with a picnic sponsored by First Financial Bank and had the opportunity to get to know each other and network with a team of lenders who truly understand pharmacy. The second day was a huge success; programming focused on writing a business plan, pharmacy lending, tools and support from the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), and ended with a networking dinner with current Arkansas pharmacy owners. Students had the opportunity to connect with a professional mentor who can provide real-world advice and encouragement for these young entrepreneurs. Days three and four provided unique sessions on marketing, Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network (CPESN), and developing a vision for your business.&nbsp;

In March of 2009, Todd S. Eury, launched the Pharmacy Podcast Show. Over the years, the Pharmacy Podcast has accumulated over 75,000+ listeners and subscribers and is the most popular and downloaded podcast about the Pharmacy Industry.

The Pharmacy Podcast Show transformed into the Pharmacy Podcast Network (PPN) in 2014 and will continue to collect the thought leading interviews with some of the most brilliant minds in Pharmacy with over 30 co-hosts. The PPN is a Digital Health Publication and Content Developing partner to the Pharmaceutical industry focusing on Specialty medications, pharmacy business supportive technologies, and industry trends.

The PPN is the world's largest network of podcasts dedicated to the pharmacy professional and industry insiders leading with our hosts interviewing dynamic people in the pharmacy industry making a difference for our profession, customers, and patients.

The definition of “Innovation” is: A new method, idea, product, or process. Processing, implementing, operating, or designing beyond the status-quo. Pharmacists are the HUB of Healthcare & the PPN is the Pharmacist's biggest fan. 

In March of 2009, Todd S. Eury, launched the Pharmacy Podcast Show. Over the years, the Pharmacy Podcast has accumulated over 75,000+ listeners and subscribers and is the most popular and downloaded podcast about the Pharmacy Industry.
The Pharmacy Podcast Show transformed into the Pharmacy Podcast Network (PPN) in 2014 and will continue to collect the thought leading interviews with some of the most brilliant minds in Pharmacy with over 30 co-hosts. The PPN is a Digital Health Publication and Content Developing partner to the Pharmaceutical industry focusing on Specialty medications, pharmacy business supportive technologies, and industry trends.
The PPN is the world's largest network of podcasts dedicated to the pharmacy professional and industry insiders leading with our hosts interviewing dynamic people in the pharmacy industry making a difference for our profession, customers, and patients.
The definition of &ldquo;Innovation&rdquo; is: A new method, idea, product, or process. Processing, implementing, operating, or designing beyond the status-quo. Pharmacists are the HUB of Healthcare &amp; the PPN is the Pharmacist's biggest fan.&nbsp;

Pharmacy Podcast Network

Our customers have the entrepreneurial spirit to build something bigger than themselves. Whether it’s starting their first pharmacy or growing a chain, we are instrumental in providing pharmacy loans and bringing dreams to fruition. Because we are a nimble, privately-held organization — we can focus on our customers and not on shareholders. 

https://www.ffb1.com/loans/pharmacy-loans/pharmacy-solutions.html 

We take the worry out of financing — so you can focus on your patients.

First Financial Bank is one of the nation’s leading small business lenders - originating over $200M in pharmacy loans over the last few years. Our lending team has over 75 years of pharmacy experience and includes current and past pharmacy owners. We have the industry-specific expertise and knowledge to help you finance your pharmacy.

We are a preferred Small Business Administration (SBA) lender offering financing solutions to help practicing pharmacists meet a wide range of business needs:
Acquisition
Equipment financing
Expansion & remodeling
Business refinancing
Start-up loans

We offer a wide range of flexible terms tailored to your unique situation. Whether you are buying, selling or refinancing, we’ll work with you, one-on-one, every step of the way. Our customer service, financial strength, and expertise in working with independent pharmacies nationwide make choosing First Financial Bank a sound business decision!

Our customers have the entrepreneurial spirit to build something bigger than themselves. Whether it&rsquo;s starting their first pharmacy or growing a chain, we are instrumental in providing pharmacy loans and bringing dreams to fruition. Because we are a nimble, privately-held organization &mdash; we can focus on our customers and not on shareholders.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.ffb1.com/loans/pharmacy-loans/pharmacy-solutions.html">https://www.ffb1.com/loans/pharmacy-loans/pharmacy-solutions.html</a>&nbsp;
We take the worry out of financing &mdash; so you can focus on your patients.
First Financial Bank is one of the nation&rsquo;s leading small business lenders - originating over $200M in pharmacy loans over the last few years. Our lending team has over 75 years of pharmacy experience and includes current and past pharmacy owners. We have the industry-specific expertise and knowledge to help you finance your pharmacy.
We are a preferred Small Business Administration (SBA) lender offering financing solutions to help practicing pharmacists meet a wide range of business needs:
<ul>
<li>Acquisition</li>
<li>Equipment financing</li>
<li>Expansion &amp; remodeling</li>
<li>Business refinancing</li>
<li>Start-up loans</li>
</ul>
We offer a wide range of flexible terms tailored to your unique situation. Whether you are buying, selling or refinancing, we&rsquo;ll work with you, one-on-one, every step of the way. Our customer service, financial strength, and expertise in working with independent pharmacies nationwide make choosing First Financial Bank a sound business decision!

First Financial Bank Podcast Series

The Pharmacy Podcast Network is ranked as the number one podcast in healthcare dedicated to the Business of Pharmacy and TOP 25 Podcasts in U.S. Business News. The most influential voices in the pharmacy industry are published on the Pharmacy Podcast Network (PPN). The PPN is the leading audio authority of the pharmaceutical & pharmacy industry with more than 30 hosts, 1,200+ episodes, supporting more than 25+ pharmacy industry associations, with more than 80,000 listeners world wide. 

The PPN is an Audio Branding & Public Relations Communications company dedicated to the Pharmaceutical industry focusing on Community, Long-term care, Health System, Specialty, pharmacy business supportive technologies, and industry trends. 

Pharmacy Podcast™ is a registered trademark

The Pharmacy Podcast Network is ranked as the number one podcast in healthcare dedicated to the Business of Pharmacy and TOP 25 Podcasts in U.S. Business News. The most influential voices in the pharmacy industry are published on the Pharmacy Podcast Network (PPN). The PPN is the leading audio authority of the pharmaceutical &amp; pharmacy industry with more than 30 hosts, 1,200+ episodes, supporting more than 25+ pharmacy industry associations, with more than 80,000 listeners world wide.&nbsp;
The PPN is an Audio Branding &amp; Public Relations Communications company dedicated to the Pharmaceutical industry focusing on Community, Long-term care, Health System, Specialty, pharmacy business supportive technologies, and industry trends.&nbsp;
Pharmacy Podcast&trade; is a registered trademark

Pharmacy Ownership and Leadership Academy | First Financial Bank

Each day, more than 130 people die from opioid overdoses.

Opioids are a class of drugs that include prescription pain relievers like oxycodone. They also include illegal drugs like heroin. In 2019, 1.6 million Americans had an opioid addiction. This is also known as opioid use disorder. Yet effective medications—like buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone—are prescribed to only a fraction of people with opioid use disorder. Patients often receive such medications in an opioid treatment program. Methadone, for example, can only be given in a certified treatment program. Primary care physicians can apply for a waiver to prescribe buprenorphine. However, less than 10% of U.S. primary care providers have a buprenorphine waiver. Given the limited number of patients that each physician can treat, involving pharmacists in opioid treatment may improve access.

The Doctor Patient Forum’s Mission Statement is to advocate, educate, and defend the rights of patients, to protect all providers (including prescribers and pharmacists) who tirelessly work to treat their patients, and to bring awareness to the general public regarding restrictions upon medical providers. We are fighting for a return to individualized patient care instead of using guidelines and laws based on little evidence using arbitrary thresholds. Contrary to what has been said, we are not “industry funded.” We haven’t taken any money from pharma. We are not being paid to promote opioids. We are simply chronic pain and illness patients who are fighting as hard as we can to effect change in this broken system where the patient’s voice is non-existent.

For part 4 of the series, we're honored to have Ms. Bev Schechtman. Ms. Schectman is one of the founding members of Don’t Punish Pain Rally and is the VP of The Doctor Patient Forum. She grew up in northern New Jersey, and has lived in the Raleigh area in North Carolina since 2009. Bev has been married to Randy for 18 years, and has two teenage daughters, Emma, 17, and Livvy,13. She also has a 3-year-old Aussidoodle, Griffin.

Bev has been living with Crohn’s Disease and Psoriatic Arthritis for over two decades. She first contacted Claudia Merandi after being denied opioid medication while hospitalized for kidney stones in 2017.She was denied due to being a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. Bev is a passionate advocate for people with chronic pain and illness as well as those who have PTSD/ survived sexual assault/abuse. Bev has her B.A. in Psychology and hopes to get her M.S.W. in the near future. Bev is a voracious reader and researcher. She is passionate about understanding why pain patients are being mistreated so she can educate other patients and empower them to fight back. Bev hopes her advocacy work brings awareness to the anti-opioid zealots who are profiting off of punishing pain patients while pretending to care about those with addiction. She also believes strongly in Harm Reduction efforts.

Each day, more than 130 people die from opioid overdoses.
Opioids are a class of drugs that include prescription pain relievers like oxycodone. They also include illegal drugs like heroin. In 2019, 1.6 million Americans had an opioid addiction. This is also known as opioid use disorder. Yet effective medications&mdash;like buprenorphine, methadone, and&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naltrexone">naltrexone</a>&mdash;are prescribed to only a fraction of people with opioid use disorder. Patients often receive such medications in an opioid treatment program.&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methadone">Methadone</a>, for example, can only be given in a certified treatment program. Primary care physicians can apply for a waiver to prescribe&nbsp;<a href="https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a605002.html">buprenorphine</a>. However, less than 10% of U.S. primary care providers have a buprenorphine waiver. Given the limited number of patients that each physician can treat, involving pharmacists in opioid treatment may improve access.
The Doctor Patient Forum&rsquo;s Mission Statement is to advocate, educate, and defend the rights of patients, to protect all providers (including prescribers and pharmacists) who tirelessly work to treat their patients, and to bring awareness to the general public regarding restrictions upon medical providers. We are fighting for a return to individualized patient care instead of using guidelines and laws based on little evidence using arbitrary thresholds. Contrary to what has been said, we are not &ldquo;industry funded.&rdquo; We haven&rsquo;t taken any money from pharma. We are not being paid to promote opioids. We are simply chronic pain and illness patients who are fighting as hard as we can to effect change in this broken system where the patient&rsquo;s voice is non-existent.
For part 4 of the series, we're honored to have Ms. Bev Schechtman. Ms. Schectman is one of the founding members of Don&rsquo;t Punish Pain Rally and is the VP of The Doctor Patient Forum. She grew up in northern New Jersey, and has lived in the Raleigh area in North Carolina since 2009. Bev has been married to Randy for 18 years, and has two teenage daughters, Emma, 17, and Livvy,13. She also has a 3-year-old Aussidoodle, Griffin.
Bev has been living with Crohn&rsquo;s Disease and Psoriatic Arthritis for over two decades. She first contacted Claudia Merandi after being denied opioid medication while hospitalized for kidney stones in 2017.She was denied due to being a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. Bev is a passionate advocate for people with chronic pain and illness as well as those who have PTSD/ survived sexual assault/abuse. Bev has her B.A. in Psychology and hopes to get her M.S.W. in the near future. Bev is a voracious reader and researcher. She is passionate about understanding why pain patients are being mistreated so she can educate other patients and empower them to fight back. Bev hopes her advocacy work brings awareness to the anti-opioid zealots who are profiting off of punishing pain patients while pretending to care about those with addiction. She also believes strongly in Harm Reduction efforts.

Where's the Patient's Voice in Evidence-based Treatment & Research? | Pharmacist and Physician Opioid Collaborative

Pharmacists Answering the call | Pharmacy Podcast Nation

Ila M. Saunders, PharmD, BCOP, co-founder and leadership team member of the #PharmGradWishList interviews Ja’Miera Stuart, PharmD, #PGWL sponsee and winner of a large item crowdfunding campaign to support moving and relocation expenses to begin her PGY1 pharmacy residency.

Dr. Stuart has been interested in a career in pharmacy since high school when she began pre-pharmacy coursework. As a graduate of Florida A&M University, Dr. Stuart truly embraced the role of the pharmacist as a healthcare practitioner and ambassador. During her involvement in Student National Pharmaceutical Association, Dr. Stuart rallied and amplified the voices of underrepresented minorities. Now, Dr. Stuart began her career and continued her education as a pharmacy resident at Howard University Hospital, serving a pivotal patient population in the DC metro area.

Dr. Stuart is grateful for the generous outpouring of support from the pharmacy community who have and continue to help her achieve her goals and aspirations. She remains passionate about supporting opportunities, like those she has received, to continue diversifying pharmacy and healthcare.

To support other aspiring pharmacists, like Dr. Stuart, please follow more of her story on her instagram @morph_rx and you can find more information at pharmgradwishlist.org! 

Ila M. Saunders, PharmD, BCOP, co-founder and leadership team member of the #PharmGradWishList interviews&nbsp;Ja&rsquo;Miera Stuart, PharmD, #PGWL sponsee and winner of a large item crowdfunding campaign to support moving and relocation expenses to begin her PGY1 pharmacy residency.
Dr. Stuart has been interested in a career in pharmacy since high school when she began pre-pharmacy coursework. As a graduate of Florida A&amp;M University, Dr. Stuart truly embraced the role of the pharmacist as a healthcare practitioner and ambassador. During her involvement in Student National Pharmaceutical Association, Dr. Stuart rallied and amplified the voices of underrepresented minorities. Now, Dr. Stuart began her career and continued her education as a pharmacy resident at Howard University Hospital, serving a pivotal patient population in the DC metro area.
Dr. Stuart is grateful for the generous outpouring of support from the pharmacy community who have and continue to help her achieve her goals and aspirations. She remains passionate about supporting opportunities, like those she has received, to continue diversifying pharmacy and healthcare.
To support other aspiring pharmacists, like Dr. Stuart, please follow more of her story on her instagram @morph_rx and you can find more information at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/pharmacy-podcast/jamiera-stuart-brighter-WaVAb4oIEGp/pharmgradwishlist.org">pharmgradwishlist.org</a>!&nbsp;

Pharmacy Ownership and Leadership Academy | First Financial Bank

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