American Pharmacists Association
The American Pharmacists Association (APhA, previously known as the American Pharmaceutical Association), founded in 1852, is the first-established professional society of pharmacists in the United States. The association consists of more than 62,000 practicing pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and others interested in the profession. Nearly all U.S. pharmacy specialty organizations were originally a section or part of this association. Mary Munson Runge became the first woman and the first African-American elected president of this association in 1979; she was president for two terms, from 1979 to 1981. Organization. All members choose one  of these three Academies : The Annual Meeting & Exposition provides a forum for discussion, consensus building, and policy setting for the pharmacy profession. The association's Board of Trustees is responsible for broad direction setting of the; Association;. Policy is developed by the APhA House of Delegates that meets each year at the association's Annual Meeting & Exposition. The House of Delegates has representatives from all major national pharmacy organizations, state pharmacy associations, federal pharmacy and APhA's three academies. Publications. The Association publishes two peer-reviewed journals: It also publishes: