President's Memo

Commitment to Science By John F. Schlegel, PharmD recent address to pharmacy I compared the profesIsionnastudents, of pharmacy to a three-legged stool. My point was that, just as the stool requires all three legs in order to remain standing, the profession has three vi tal "legs" of its own which are necessary for its continued survival. These three "legs" are science, education, and practice. I want to address the Association's commitment to the first of these-science-in my comments this month. Since its founding in 1852, APhA has maintained a strong scientific base, and pharmaceutical sciences will always be a vital part of this Association. Consistent with that commitment, the Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences (APS) remains a strong component of APhA. hrough the collective and individual efforts of our members, we have maintained high standards of education and research in the pharT maceutical sciences and offer leadership, inspiration, and opportunity to members so that they may attain their full potential. Indicative of our heavy emphasis on the pharmaceutical sciences are the long-standing formal relations between APhA and such scientific organizations as the National Institutes of Health, the National Academy of Sciences , and the Office of Science and Technology, as well as the Association's active participation in the USAN Council and the USP. Within the last 12 months, APhA has presented testimony to Congress and the Federal regulatory agencies on such key scientific issues as the Emergency Reye's Syndrome Prevention Act of 1985, reauthorization of the Orphan Drug Act, home-use of in vitro devices, labeling for drugs containing sulfites, and U.S. export of pharmaceutical products. ver the past two years, APhA has developed policy on such scientific O issues as increasing voluntary human organ donations, supporting free dissemination and exchange of scientific information, supporting high levels of responsibility in genetic research, and support of Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs). Over the past year, APS has conducted a variety of successful scientific activities-including well-attended regional and national scientific meetings and workshops, post-graduate educational programs, an unparalleled awards and honors program, and prestigious scientific publications-and it will continue to offer high-quality scientific programs, publications, and awards over the coming years. ®

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American Pharmacy, Vol. NS26 , No.5 , May 1986/323