HOPA in the Media
HOPA takes pride in our members and advocates, and their valuable contributions to the field of hematology/oncology pharmacy. See some of HOPA's member-experts in action below.
USA Today Profile
(Nov. 4, 2025) Is Pancreatic Cancer a Death Sentence? Interlaken Man Shares His Story to Spread Hope
In a recent article, the Ashbury Park Press profiles cancer survivor and HOPA Patient Outreach Panelist Steve Merlin, highlighting his personal journey through pancreatic cancer and his ongoing inspirational mission to spread hope, counseling, advice, and positivity to others facing the same diagnoses and fears.
Read the full article on USA Today's website.
Pharmacy Times Interview
(June 20, 2025) Inside the Synergy Between HOPA and OPC's Evolving Educational Impact
In this Pharmacy Times interview, HOPA Past President Jolynn Sessions, PharmD, BCOP, CCP, FHOPA, discusses her career, the impact of OPC, and the value of partnerships - such as HOPA's connection with Pharmacy Times.
"It’s been a great partnership and collaboration with HOPA, and I’d like to think it helps elevate both of us - delivering cutting-edge, nimble, and important information to the field," Sessions said.
Read the full article and watch the video interview on Pharmacy Times.
Oncology Practice Management Interview
(May 7, 2025) The Crossroad of Social Determinants of Health and Inequalities in Hematologic Malignancies
HOPA member Iman Ahmed, PharmD, BCOP, talks at HOPA 2025 about her presentation on the impact of social determinants of health on health inequities in hematologic malignancies and the pharmacist's role in mitigating those disparities.
Read the full piece and watch the interview on Oncology Practice Management.
Pharmacy Practice in Focus: Oncology
(Oct. 31, 2024) The Needs of One Are the Needs of Many: Everyone Counts in Health Care
In this Pharmacy Times article, Joseph A. Kalis, PharmD, BCOP, writes about a specific experience with a BPDCN diagnosis that highlighted the challenges of accessing uncommon drugs, the notion that every patient matters, and the importance of balancing both humility and hubris in oncology to help lighten the burdens of others.
Read the full article on Pharmacy Times.
Pharmacists at the Forefront
(Oct 15, 2024) The Evolving Landscape of Bispecific Antibodies in Cancer Care
Zahra Mahmoudjafari, PharmD, MBA, BCOP, FHOPA, succeeds Lisa E. Davis, PharmD, FCCP, BCPS, BCOP, as editor in chief of Pharmacy Practice in Focus: Oncology.
Here, Zahra provides a summer conference roundup, especially as it relates to bispecific antibodies in cancer care.
Read or listen to the article on Pharmacy Times.
Women Pharmacists Day
(Oct 12, 2024) Recognizing the Role of Women in Improving Patient Care Access
In an interview with Pharmacy Times, Jolynn Sessions, PharmD, BCOP, FHOPA, clinical pharmacist and president of the Hematology Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA), shared her experience working in pharmacy. She also shared why it is important to recognize and support women in the pharmacy profession.
Watch the 6:21 video or visit Pharmacy Times to read the transcript.
Cultural Competency
(June 27, 2024) Having Conversations and Practicing Cultural Competency With LGBTQIA+ Patients
"If you go out there and Google 'cultural competency in health care,' you're going to see a lot of different definitions for it. But what it comes down to, at its core, it is being respectful and responsive for the patients' needs and beliefs," says Tad Autry, PharmD, in this Pharmacy Times interview.
Total run time is 13:32. You can also visit Pharmacy Times to read the transcript.
Women Pharmacists Day
(Oct 12, 2023) Mentorship in Oncology Pharmacy Has an Impact
HOPA President LeAnne Kennedy discusses the importance of mentorship in oncology pharmacy as well as the value of HOPA’s mentorship initiatives.
Pharmacy Times spoke to LeAnne as part of their celebration of Women Pharmacist Day.
Among other takeaways, in the interview LeAnne says, "One of the things that I love to do is to train other people. To see that light, when they get it—when you're explaining a clinical practice subject, and that lightbulb goes off—I think that's so exciting, then to see that as they get involved within HOPA."
Pharmacy Times Drug Shortages Interview
(September 26, 2022) HOPA Provides Plan to Address Oncology Drug Shortages
Pharmacy Times interviewed Sarah Hudson-Disalle, PharmD, RPh, pharmacy manager in the Department of Pharmacy at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and chair of the Public Policy Committee at the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA), and Jeffrey Pilz, PharmD, MPA, MS, BCPS, assistant director of pharmacy – medication safety and drug policy in the Department of Pharmacy at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and vice chair of the Public Policy Committee at the HOPA, on HOPA’s oncology drug shortages research project.
2022 ATOPP Summit
(June 29, 2022) Experts: The Hematology-Oncology Pharmacist Great Migration Is Caused by Issues Outside of Burnout That Could Be Quickly Addressed
Pharmacy Times interviewed Zahra Mahmoudjafari, PharmD, BCOP, DPLA; Alison Gulbis, PharmD, BCOP; and Kamakshi Rao, PharmD, BCOP, FASHP, on a 2022 ATOPP Summit session they will be co-presenting in addressing research they conducted assessing the underlying causes of the hematology-oncology pharmacist great migration.
Read the full Pharmacy Times interview here.
JCO Oncology Practice Survey Article
(May 11, 2022) National Survey on the Effect of Oncology Drug Shortages in Clinical Practice: A Hematology Oncology Pharmacy Association Survey
Ali McBride, PharmD; Sarah Hudson-DiSalle, PharmD; Jeff Pilz, PharmD; Mark Hamm, PharmD; Brooke Boring, MPH; Larry W. Buie, PharmD; and David L. DeRemer, PharmD
The purpose of this survey was to characterize the impact of oncology drug shortages across the United States, including the experiences of health care organizations, resource implications, and the impact on patient safety, patient care, and clinical trials.
