In this milestone 50th episode of DISRxUPT, host Justin Cole sits down with Dr. Michael Hogue, CEO and Executive Vice President of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), for an in-depth conversation about the future of pharmacy practice. As the 15th CEO of APhA, Dr. Hogue shares his bold vision for transforming how pharmacists deliver patient care and achieve recognition as essential healthcare providers.

Vision for Pharmacy's Future

• Ensuring consumer access to pharmacist care services regardless of location
• Moving beyond traditional dispensing roles to focus on patient outcomes
• The critical need for pharmacists to take personal responsibility for medication therapy outcomes

Strategic Priorities & Policy Changes

• Advocating for payment parity between pharmacists and other healthcare providers
• Implementing standard of care practice models across all 50 states
• Working with insurance companies to onboard pharmacists as reimbursed providers
• Moving away from restrictive "can do/can't do" pharmacy practice acts

Addressing Healthcare Challenges

• Tackling the growing pharmacy desert crisis affecting communities nationwide
• Supporting overwhelmed community pharmacists facing unprecedented volume pressures
• Leveraging technology and automation to improve efficiency and safety

Innovation & Technology

• Embracing AI for predictive analytics and patient prioritization
• Implementing tech-check-tech models to free pharmacists for clinical care
• Balancing technological advancement with maintaining the human element of patient care

Professional Unity & Collaboration

• Working to unify pharmacy's many voices into a single, powerful advocacy force
• Collaborating across all national pharmacy organizations
• Examples of successful interprofessional care models already in practice

Notable Quotes

"For every $1 we're spending on medicine, we're spending a dollar and 55¢ on resolving medication-related problems. That's almost $600 million a year in the United States getting spent on medication-related problems. Somebody has to solve those problems."

"We've got to become accountable for the outcomes of our patients, the medication outcomes of our patients... Not just simply putting pills in a bottle, but saying this is my patient, and the outcomes of this patient are my responsibility."

Advice for Future Pharmacists

• Take pride in being a doctor of pharmacy, regardless of practice setting
• Consider opportunities in healthcare policy, including positions on Capitol Hill
• Stay engaged with professional organizations throughout your career
• Embrace technology while focusing on the clinical expertise that makes pharmacists unique

Looking Ahead

Dr. Hogue predicts that within ten years, pharmacists will routinely receive payment for care services, with community pharmacy revenue shifting from prescription dispensing to clinical care. He envisions a future where pharmacists are embedded in healthcare teams across all settings, recognized and compensated for their expertise in optimizing medication therapy outcomes.

About the Guest: Dr. Michael Hogue is CEO and Executive Vice President of the American Pharmacists Association and a nationally recognized leader with over 25 years of experience in community pharmacy, academia, and health policy. He has been instrumental in expanding pharmacist-administered immunizations and served as a key advisor during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Host: Justin Cole, Cedarville University Center for Pharmacy Innovation

Episode Length: 47 minutes
Release Date: August 15, 2025
Episode Number: 50

Subscribe to DISRxUPT wherever you get your podcasts and visit cedarville.edu/pharmacy for more information about innovation in pharmacy education and practice.