by Beth Deen, PharmD, BCNSP, BCPPS
Vice Chair, BPS Nutrition Support Pharmacy Specialty Council
As a board-certified pharmacist, I’ve been able to introduce my peers and administrators to what board certification is and why it is important, becoming part of the reason my hospital has one of the largest populations of board-certified pediatric pharmacists (BCPPS) in the state of Texas.
When I became a board-certified nutrition support pharmacist (BCNSP) in 1997, I was the first pharmacist to earn board certification at my hospital. Now, 27 years later, there are close to 40 board-certified pharmacists at my hospital and more than 60,000 active BPS certifications around the world. After obtaining my board certification in pediatric pharmacy (BCPPS) in 2016, I recognized that I never thought of board certification as an “if,” but a definite “must” to validate my knowledge and expertise in pediatrics. Since 1997, I’ve been a member of the community of board-certified pharmacists, and I’m proud to be a champion of board certification.
As the Residency Program Director for my hospital’s PGY1 residency program, I am given the opportunity to discuss and encourage our residents to consider board certification on a regular basis. I think having a mentor or champion to offer encouragement for a goal is often all it takes to push new pharmacy practitioners to have the confidence to apply and sit for a board certification examination.
Another way I find myself being a champion for board certification is through volunteering. Volunteering with various professional organizations has always been an area I feel is important for pharmacists to give back to our profession. The professional involvement that has been the most meaningful and impactful for me has been my work with BPS. Through serving on the BPS Pediatric Pharmacy Specialty Council and the BPS Nutrition Support Pharmacy Specialty Council at different times, I have learned about and participated in the rigorous process necessary for maintaining board certification examinations. I realize that serving on a specialty council may not be feasible for everyone, but I do encourage colleagues to participate in the peer-driven nature of board certification at any level. There are many ways to get involved with BPS, from item writing, participating in job analyses, and serving on standard setting panels. I make sure to share these great opportunities with my residents so they understand engagement can happen at any level.
I find that most of my residents and peers have no idea how thorough the process is to create and maintain a specialized exam, and how important it is to have practitioners informing the examination material as practice changes over time. By encouraging them to engage in these opportunities, they become champions, too, and aid in supporting the mission of BPS, which is to improve patient care by promoting the recognition and value of specialized training, knowledge, and skills in pharmacy and specialty board certification of pharmacists.
I believe that holding board certification in nutrition support pharmacy and pediatric pharmacy, as well as volunteering with BPS, has contributed to the fulfilling professional growth I have seen within my career. I’ve been able to delineate my role within the healthcare team, creating a basis of trust with providers and providing reassurance to the patients and the families I serve. I have had patients and families ask me about my board certifications, and after I explained the extra credentials behind my name, they have told me how much respect they have for my dedication to my profession and my patients.
I enjoy maintaining my certifications and working to be the best pediatric nutrition support pharmacist I can be, and I enjoy being the champion that motivates others to experience the fulfillment I’ve found in board certification!