ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association is announcing the development of its new Department of Policy and Pharmacy Affairs, distinguishing the role of regulatory and pharmacy affairs within the association. The department

will help bolster NCPA’s already robust strategic affairs, advocacy, and media relations efforts. It will be working on research, legislative review and drafting; the preparation of regulatory comments, issue briefs, testimony, and correspondence; promoting pharmacy health information technology- and quality-related activities; and advancing public policy initiatives promoting the value of pharmacists.

Ronna Hauser will head the new department as senior vice president of Policy and Pharmacy Affairs,building on her prior role as NCPA’s Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs Operations. Hauser joined NCPA in 2009.

“I’m excited about this new department and the opportunity to lead our expanded focus on public policy and pharmacy professional affairs, which will further elevate the voice of independent community and long-term care pharmacists in all of NCPA’s work,” Hauser says.

The department will also include Lisa Schwartz, PharmD, Senior Director of Professional Affairs; Carlie Traylor, PharmD, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Student Affairs; Shion Chang, Associate Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs; Peter Mihalick, Associate Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs; and Stephanie Vichness, Operations and Program Coordinator.