APhA’s Lead360 Program

 

Lead360 Program
Image: pharmacist.com

A graduate of Oregon State University, Ashok Pinnamaraju holds a PhD in pharmacy and possesses more than 10 years of experience in the field. The owner of Williamson Road Pharmacy in Roanoke, Virginia, Ashok Pinnamaraju stays abreast of changes in the field through his membership in organization such as the American Pharmacists Association (APhA).

Since 1852, APhaA has been supporting pharmaceutical scientists, student pharmacists, pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians. One of the many programs maintained by the organization is Lead360, a part of the APhA’s Leadership 360 Institute. The program is designed to provide pharmacists with management and leadership skills.

The Lead360: The Leader Within program is a live experience that prepares pharmacists for leadership roles within their community, profession, and among their health care teams. The in-person offering helps participants demonstrate their motivations to lead, recognize the importance of following their interests, and realize their leadership strengths and weaknesses.

The program features small groups and individualized attention, with one facilitator for every 12 participants. After the program is completed, professionals can continue their leadership development by participating in a three-month virtual experience. This experience includes 30-minute webinars to watch every other week, along with 60-minute small cohort calls with a facilitator and three to five other professionals.

APhA Establishes Leadership Institute

Leadership Institute
Image: sli.pharmacist.com

Starting his career as a pharmacy intern at Walgreens in St. Paul, Minnesota, Ashok Pinnamaraju later rose to the rank of pharmacy manager. He then became a co-owner of Lexcare Pharmacy in Lexington, Virginia, before eventually owning Williamson Road Pharmacy in Roanoke. Ashok Pinnamaraju keeps up-to-date with the latest developments in his field as a member of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA).

The country’s first and largest association of pharmacists, with over 64,000 members, APhA launched in August 2017 a new Leadership360 Institute. This program is intended to equip pharmacists with the management skills required in their industry. Participants can enroll in any of the three leadership tracks.

The Lead360 track enables participants to examine their interests, strengths, and values, as they engage in a committed approach to leadership and life in general. Through the Mentor360 track, newer pharmacists have the chance to connect with leaders in the field and learn from them. Finally, the Manage360 track, which will commence in early 2018, includes a series of online management training sessions.