The Evolution of BPS: Insights from Former Executive Directors William Ellis and Richard Bertin

As the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) celebrates its 50^th anniversary in 2026, it is only fitting to take a moment to look back on the leaders who helped guide the organization through periods of significant growth and change. With a combined 28 years of service in the role of Executive Director of BPS, William Ellis and Richard Bertin played essential roles in strengthening the credibility and impact of pharmacist board certification. Their reflections provide a perspective on the evolution of BPS.

Richard ‘Dick’ Bertin, who served as the first full‑time Executive Director of BPS from 1997-2010, reflects on a major shift in the organization’s early years. At the time he began his role, board certification was held by fewer than five thousand pharmacists, and some pharmacy practitioners and professional organizations regarded pharmacist board certification as unnecessary, and in certain cases, even viewed it with skepticism or negativity. Over a relatively short period, however, attitudes significantly changed. Specialty certification came to be seen as the most effective way for pharmacists to demonstrate their specialized knowledge and advance professionally. This perspective transformation altered the trajectory of BPS and laid the foundation for its future expansion.

For William ‘Bill’ Ellis, who served as BPS Executive Director from 2011-2025, the most memorable aspects of his time as executive director were those that directly advanced the mission of BPS: to improve patient care by promoting the recognition and value of specialized pharmacist training and board certification. He shared that this work felt deeply meaningful because, “we will all be patients one day.” Ellis takes pride in how the BPS Board of Directors and staff worked collaboratively with countless individuals and organizations to move the BPS mission forward and to elevate the role of specialty certification in the pharmacy profession.

Both leaders also offered insights that resonate well beyond pharmacy. Ellis often reminded colleagues and friends that a desk is a dangerous place from which to view the world. By this, he emphasized the importance of staying in touch with the real-world and not getting so comfortable in a role that you miss changes. Bertin highlighted the need for broad engagement, advising leaders to get buy‑in from educators, employers, and thought leaders, as these individuals often drive meaningful and lasting change.

Looking to the future, both former BPS Executive Directors see great promise in the continued growth of board certification. Bertin finds the expansion of BPS credentials worldwide particularly encouraging and noted that it reflects a rising level of respect for specialized pharmacy practice. Ellis pointed to the increasing recognition of BPS by various accreditation bodies as an affirmation to BPS’s commitment to quality and the ability of BPS to promote public health and safety.

As BPS prepares for the next fifty years, both leaders offer thoughtful guidance to the next generation of pharmacists and leaders. Ellis stresses the importance of maintaining independent and objective standards that place the needs of patients and the profession first. He noted that board certification provides a portable, peer‑developed standard that allows employers to clearly identify a pharmacist’s expertise. Bertin encouraged leaders to never be satisfied with the status quo and to continue seeking opportunities to advance the profession in order to meet the evolving health needs of society.

Together, their perspectives reflect the remarkable journey of BPS and the bright future that lies ahead for pharmacist specialization.