HOPA, in the Beginning

By Phil Johnson MS RPh

Although HOPA is only 7 years old, it has a rich heritage of oncology-focused pharmacy practice, education, and research. Because cancer is a unique disease, it requires a different therapeutic approach than other illnesses. It is a disease that elicits an emotional response, one that compels healthcare professionals throughout the spectrum of care to help treat and cure it.

Even though the range of cancer therapy options was very limited during the 1970s, there were important scientific discoveries being made about the disease that led to new alternatives. And during the 1980s and 90s, the specialty practice of oncology really began to evolve. Bob Dorr, PhD, and Bill Fritz, MS, authored a seminal textbook regarding the basics of chemotherapy that served as the primary resource for most early oncology [pharmacy?] practitioners. Also during this time, the University of Texas at San Antonio emerged as a major training facility under the guidance of John Kuhn, PharmD, and Jim Koeller, MS. Their Oncology Pharmacy Residency and Fellowship program was responsible for training many, if not most, of the first leaders in oncology pharmacy. In fact, with the exception of Cindy O’Bryant and Phil Johnson, HOPA’s first seven presidents were trained in this program, including John Kuhn, Barry Goldspiel, Val Adams, Jim Koeller, and Moe Schwartz.

Before the advent of HOPA, there two primary conferences focused on oncology pharmacy—the MD Anderson Annual Symposium (conducted each fall) and the Making a Difference in Oncology (MAD ONC) produced by the Moffitt Cancer Center each summer. Throughout its 7-year history, MAD ONC established itself as an important networking opportunity, leading the founders of what would eventually become HOPA to organize a series of town hall meetings to determine whether an oncology-focused organization would be supported by practitioners. The answer was a resounding yes. In 2004 HOPA was formally incorporated as an association. Our mission was “to reduce the burden of cancer on society and promote optimal, cost-effective care for those affected by cancer.” In 2005 the first HOPA Board, along with enthusiastic founding members, conducted the 1st Annual HOPA Conference on June 2–5 in San Diego, CA, attracting approximately 300 participants.

HOPA’s Founding Board of Directors included

• John Kuhn (Chair)
• Barry Goldspiel (Vice Chair)
• Terri Davidson (Secretary)
• Susan Goodin (Treasurer)
• Ross Davidson,,Robert Ignoffo, Phil Johnson (Members)

HOPA’s Founding Members

Over the years HOPA’s membership has grown to include more than 2,000 members. Despite this rapid growth, it has never deviated from its core values of serving its members and providing patient advocacy and leading-edge education pertaining to cancer therapy, education, and research. HOPA has enjoyed support from a variety of healthcare industry partners who also have a stake in cancer care. HOPA has also had the foresight to engage professional management services (initially Syntaxx and DesignWrite, and currently AMC) to help provide the organizational structure and guidance a growing association requires.

The rapid growth and success of HOPA has been a direct result of the enthusiastic and dedicated efforts of these founding members and leaders, not to mention the subsequent efforts of other officers, committee members, faculty, volunteers, and conference attendees. Through all of this hard work, HOPA has become a dynamic, interdependent community.

To help celebrate members’ achievements and contributions to HOPA and the profession, the HOPA Board developed an awards program to recognize these successes. Without the vision of John Kuhn, HOPA would not exist. It is fitting that the annual conference keynote is named after him and that some of the greatest names in oncology practice have had the honor of delivering the address. The Board also developed the HOPA Award of Excellence in honor of Phil Johnson, who started the MAD ONC conference that eventually became the HOPA annual conference. In 2005 LeAnne Kennedy was our first Award of Excellence winner, followed by Judy Chase and Amy Valley (2006), Jane Pruemer (2007), Carol Balmer (2008), Barry Goldspiel (2009), Val Adams (2010), and Jim Koeller (2011). HOPA also confers annual awards to outstanding new practitioners, researchers, publishers, and technicians. Clearly, HOPA is rich with talent that will ensure a bright future.

Among HOPA’s noteworthy accomplishments was the 2005 launch of its member-focused website, which was enhanced in 2007 with HOPA University—a destination for high-quality oncology education. In 2005 HOPA also became a provider of BCOP-accredited education in partnership with the American College of Clinical Pharmacology and and the American Society of Health System Pharmacists. The 2008 annual meeting was a joint effort with the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioner, which broadened the scope of the agenda to include a more global perspective. Another milestone in 2008 involved HOPA developing a collaborative effort with the Institute for Safe Medication Practices to share information via organizational newsletters on issues related to oncology drug safety. In 2009 HOPA had its inaugural community service event, a “fun run” that raised money for the David Kann Melanoma Foundation. During that meeting, HOPA also initiated a practice of partnering with a local college of pharmacy, in this case Nova Southeastern, to provide student volunteers interested in oncology as a career path. In 2011 HOPA announced the formation of the HOPA Foundation and also the Industry Relations Council to support future education and research endeavors. 

Based on its rich heritage and active member base, HOPA’s future looks very promising.