The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is actively working to expand its pharmacist membership base and enhance their involvement in oncology care standards development, according to Dr. Stephen Grubbs, Vice President of Care Delivery at ASCO, speaking at the 2024 Florida Society of Clinical Oncology Fall Session.
With pharmacists currently representing just 1.5% (800) of ASCO's more than 50,000 members, the organization sees significant opportunity for growth. "We have plenty of room for more pharmacists within our membership community," stated Grubbs, highlighting the valuable contributions pharmacists already make through various volunteer activities.
Key Contributions to Standards Development
Pharmacist volunteers have been instrumental in developing several landmark standards in oncology care. The ASCO/NCODA Medically Integrated Pharmacy Standards, published in 2019, benefited from the expertise of prominent pharmacists including Michael Reff, PharmD, MBA and Michael Brodersen, PharmD. Similarly, the ASCO/ONS Antineoplastic Administration Safety Standards, updated in spring 2024, relied heavily on pharmacist input from experts such as Alexandre Chan, PharmD, MPH, and Amanda Ouzts, PharmD.
Expanding Roles in Quality Initiatives
Pharmacists are increasingly involved in ASCO's quality improvement initiatives. The Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI) Certification Program includes pharmacist representatives on its steering group, while the Quality Training Program (QTP) features pharmacist coaches and faculty members. Amy Morris, PharmD, BCOP, serves as a QTP coach, with additional pharmacist coaches currently being onboarded.
Addressing Professional Development Needs
A significant focus has emerged on improving pharmacist access to professional development opportunities through ASCO. During the session, several pharmacists, including Tiba Al Sagheer, PharmD, BCOP, BCACP, raised concerns about funding challenges for conference attendance and the lack of pharmacy continuing education (CE) credits at ASCO meetings.
Jorge Garcia, PharmD, MS, MHA, MBA, emphasized the disconnect between ASCO's extensive focus on pharmacotherapy and the current absence of pharmacy CE credits at annual meetings. "A lot of the innovation at ASCO is around new pharmacotherapy, which is right down our alley," Garcia noted.
Future Initiatives
ASCO leadership has acknowledged these concerns and is actively working to address them. Dr. Grubbs confirmed plans to include pharmacist representation on the Clinical Practice and Innovation Committee in 2025 and expressed support for providing CE credits for pharmacists at future meetings.
"There's no reason if you're going to spend the time to come to our big meeting that you shouldn't be getting some CE from it," Grubbs stated, indicating that with new leadership in the education department, changes may be forthcoming to better serve the pharmacy community.
