by John “Brock” Harris, PharmD, BCPS, BCPPS, FCCP
Vice Chair, BPS Specialty Council on Pediatric Pharmacy
My pathway to becoming a dual-certified pharmacist began with a few pushes, or encouragements, if you will. Hi, I am Brock Harris, and I am Board Certified in Pharmacotherapy and Pediatric Pharmacy. During my PGY1 pharmacy residency, the residency program director and preceptors emphasized the critical role of board certification in benchmarking the qualifications of the pharmacist workforce. After PGY1 completion, my journey continued at a pediatric PGY2 program in a neighboring state, but the encouragement I received during my PGY1 program to be the best pharmacist I could constantly echoed in my head.
In pursuit of being my best, my next step was to pursue board certification in pharmacotherapy, which I became eligible for after my first residency. I became a Board-Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS) in 2009 as a PGY2 resident. In addition to the intrinsic motivation, I felt to become board-certified, another component of my pursuit of certification as a resident was the opportunities the certification would provide after completion of my PGY2 program. My goal was to return to my home state and establish a pediatric clinical pharmacy service. Institutions looking to start or expand pediatric services were often adult hospitals with smaller pediatric units. The BCPS credential afforded me the opportunity to work at institutions where adult populations were the primary focus, while also developing a pediatric practice.
My motivation to seek board certification in pediatric pharmacy began as a student pharmacist, although I didn’t realize it at the time. The professor of my pediatric elective course was integral in petitioning BPS to establish the Board-Certified Pediatric Pharmacy Specialist (BCPPS) certification program. During the petitioning processes, I witnessed my former professor and mentor advocate for recognition of the specialty, emphasizing its significance in advancing pediatric pharmacy. When the first BCPPS exam was offered, I seized the opportunity. Taking the inaugural BCPPS exam was not just an accomplishment for me as an individual pharmacist – it was also a way for me to honor the work and efforts of pediatric pharmacy trailblazers while encouraging other pediatric pharmacists to achieve board certification and elevate the profession.
Today, as a practicing pediatric faculty member, I maintain my BCPPS and BCPS credentials to remain up-to-date in a variety of patient populations. Even after moving into academic administration, these credentials facilitate conversations within the pharmacy community around the importance of board certification. Just as the educators throughout my career discussed the personal, institutional, and professional significance and benefits of board certification and encouraged me, I have the opportunity to be the push for the next generation of learners. Each new class of student pharmacists and residents presents a new opportunity for me to instill appreciation for the importance of the board-certified pharmacist practitioner on the evolving healthcare team.
Achieving board certification was a major goal for me. I sought my board certification in pharmacotherapy not only to demonstrate my expertise to my colleagues and potential employers, but also to bolster my self-confidence. From obtaining my Board-Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS) certification to working at BPS, the organization recognized as the gold standard in pharmacist certification, I became excited to partake in yet another meaningful career journey. The discipline and precision ingrained during my residency and fellowship have been indispensable in my journey, and will no doubt be useful in this next chapter.
It is a privilege to take the next step in my career at a respected organization like BPS that acknowledges the high standards of specialized knowledge and skills among pharmacists. In my role, I look forward to collaborating with BPS specialty council members, exploring future specialty areas, and continuing to promote the value of board certification. I’m eager to contribute to BPS’s mission and vision of recognizing board-certified pharmacists while addressing the needs of the public and the pharmacy profession.