Together as One Voice: Reflection of my Time on HOPA’s Board of Directors

Sally Yowell Barbour, PharmD, BCOP, CPP, FHOPA
Director of Oncology Pharmacy Programs
Director, PGY2 Oncology Residency
Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner
Department of Pharmacy
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, NC

Having recently rolled off as Secretary for the HOPA Board of Directors, I was asked to reflect on the time spent serving our professional organization. I can honestly say it was rewarding, extremely challenging at times, eye opening and fun! Everyone who serves our organization, whether as a Board member, committee leader, or as a volunteer, does so because they are passionate about oncology pharmacy. They are passionate about the role of oncology pharmacists on the care team and the value we bring. And, they are passionate about trying to make sure all cancer patients have access to an oncology pharmacist.

I hope everyone who is interested in volunteering for our organization gets to do so at some at some point. Our organization has grown by leaps and bounds, and we have so many talented individuals. With growth, though, do come challenges, and as a Board, sometimes you have to make hard decisions; sometimes you disagree with each other and sometimes members don’t like the decisions you make. But, you learn how to disagree, you learn that there is more than one way to accomplish a goal, and you learn the importance of standing together as one voice.

I have been in oncology pharmacy practice now for almost 23 years and have always prioritized being involved in the many pharmacy organizations that help to train and support our profession. Of course, since its inception, HOPA has been the pharmacy organization where I have chosen to devote my volunteer time. I remember speaking at some of the early conferences; as a new grad, I saw my mentors and teachers out in the audience and felt both scared (I did not want to disappoint), but also proud because they were the ones who helped guide me. I wondered: How could I get involved? And, would I ever be able to do some of the amazing things I saw them doing?

HOPA has given me, and it offers you, all these opportunities. Take advantage of them. Volunteer for small things, committees, anything you can do to be a part of this great organization. Even after all these years, I think part of me feels the same way I did when I was first starting out, still wanting my mentors to be proud of what I had done. But I also wanted to set an example for others to do the same and to encourage younger practitioners to get involved.

When I considered serving on the Board, I thought about many of these same mentors, many whom had served in various volunteer roles within HOPA. I thought of my mother who was always a huge volunteer when I was a child, and I thought of the many other folks who have given of their time. All of these folks set such great examples of volunteerism, and I can only hope that I and every other prior Board member has demonstrated the importance of giving back.

I learned a lot about our organization and the people who serve during my time on the Board. It was an honor and privilege to work with the other Board members and many volunteers who give of their time and expertise to move us forward in achieving our mission and vision. We accomplished many things on our strategic plan during my tenure. We transitioned executive directors; transitioned to a new management company; reorganized our committee structure; started the Oral Oncology Collaborative; initiated work in diversity, equity, and inclusion; dealt with the challenges of COVID-19; and I am sure I am forgetting something. But we did it with a great team and I am forever grateful to have been a part of all of it.

I worked with people I knew well, people I only sort of knew and people who I had never met. As in many opportunities in life, it really is the people who made it and the same goes for my time on the Board. The relationships we forged through the good and the bad will stick with us for the long haul, and I am forever grateful for their friendships. It is one of the things I think I miss the most.