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"God is love." I John 4:16b
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Each issue will include an editorial on a topic that is important for the profession of pharmacy, as well as a review of a new drug that includes a comparison of the new drug with previously marketed drugs that are most similar in activity, and a New Drug Comparison Rating (NDCR) for the new drug. Read on for this month's issue.
December 2021 Issue [Download PDF format]
In this issue:
• The Touch of the Master's Hand
• Counting our Blessings
• Appreciation
• Index for Volume 16, 2021
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EDITORIAL:
The Touch of the Master's Hand*
'Twas battered and scarred
And the auctioneer thought it
hardly worth his while
To waste his time on the old violin,
but he held it up with a smile.
"What am I bid, good people," he cried,
"Who starts the bidding for me?"
"One dollar, one dollar, do I hear two?"
"Two dollars, who makes it three?"
"Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three."
But no!
From the room far back a gray bearded man
Came forward and picked up the bow,
Then wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet,
As sweet as the angels sing.
The music ceased and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said "What now am I bid for this old violin?"
As he held it aloft with its bow.
"One thousand, one thousand, do I hear two?"
"Two thousand, who makes it three?"
"Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
Going and gone," said he.
The audience cheered,
But some of them cried,
"We just don't understand."
"What changed its worth?"
Swift came the reply.
"The Touch of the Master's Hand."
And many a man with life out of tune
All battered and bruised with hardship
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd
Much like that old violin.
A mess of pottage, a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on.
He is going once, he is going twice,
He is going and almost gone.
But the Master comes,
And the foolish crowd never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
By the touch of the Master's Hand.
*Written by Myra Brooks Welch in 1921.
The late Robert Henry was a pharmacist who is best remembered for his humor and compelling motivational speaking that were further enhanced by his Southern drawl. Although he passed away a number of years ago, I am confident that pharmacists who heard him speak even just once will remember his name and a smile will cross their faces. I considered his presentations to be so important, as well as entertaining, that I frequently invited him to speak with my students at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and pharmacists who lived in this area.
Although it was written 100 years ago, Robert introduced me to the power of the message of "The Touch of the Master's Hand." He would often conclude his presentations by reciting it in a manner that captured the importance of a pharmacist's "touch" in relating to her/his patients, the awareness of the value of something most would consider insignificant (the old violin), and the spiritual recognition of God as our ultimate Master.
Six of our grandchildren attend the Dayspring Christian Academy in Mountville, PA. Included within the school's curriculum are opportunities for students to present orations. Several months ago I was delighted to hear our 9-year old granddaughter, Eden Hussar, present her oration, "The Touch of the Master's Hand." In addition to hearing this inspirational message once again, a smile crossed and lingered on my face as I recalled my wonderful friendship with Robert Henry. The message and memories are of enduring value.
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Counting our Blessings
Society, our country, and our profession will continue to experience difficult problems and challenges. Sometimes, it is heartbreaking just to watch the events of the day on the evening news, and I extend sympathy to those who have lost loved ones to the pandemic, violence, suicide, overdoses, accidents, tornadoes, and other tragedies. For most of us, however, our blessings far outnumber our problems and inconveniences even though the latter occupy a disproportionately large amount of our time and attention.
We should be thankful, and supportive of others throughout the entire year, and I fall far short in these areas. As we celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the start of a new year, there is no better time to count our blessings and increase our commitment to serve others.
Best wishes for a blessed Christmas season and a healthy and enjoyable new year!
Daniel A. Hussar
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Appreciation
This issue marks the completion of the sixteenth year of publication of The Pharmacist Activist. The index for this Volume 16 (2021) is included. All issues in Volumes 1 through 16 are available on the website, www.pharmacistactivist.com.
I wish to express my appreciation to the officers of the Delaware County (PA) Pharmacists Association for the financial support they have provided this year for the publication of The Pharmacist Activist. This support helps make it possible to continue to make this newsletter available free-of-charge via email to thousands of interested pharmacists, student pharmacists, and others.
Appreciation is also extended to Jeff Zajac (Publications Director) and Pat Polli (Publisher), and my wife and Assistant Editor Suzanne Hussar for their expertise, skills, and encouragement in editing, preparing, and distributing issues of The Pharmacist Activist.
I am also very grateful to those who read The Pharmacist Activist, and to the many who provide thoughtful comments, experiences, and recommendations. Your responses (received almost every month from some) provide the motivation to continue with this publication, and represent a substantial part of the content of the issues during the past year.
During the last several years, we have become increasingly aware of email distribution problems that have resulted in many readers no longer receiving issues regularly or at all, or having issues diverted into spam/junk mail. We would call attention to the index for this Volume 16 and all previous issues that are archived on the website, for those who wish to check to see if there are issues you did not previously see. We will soon be making changes in the hosting and distribution of the publication that should result in improvements in having issues reach you. I am very pleased that Jeff, Patrick, and Sue will continue to be important participants on The Pharmacist Activist team.
Daniel A. Hussar
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Volume 16, 2021
January 2021 (No. 1)
• A Supreme Victory
• A New National Pharmacy Association (URPhA) and a Bold Statement from the First One (APhA)
• The New Year Should Begin with Apologies as well as Resolutions
February 2021 (No. 2)
• Chain Pharmacy Greed is Damaging the COVID-19 Immunization Program, and Increasing Prescription Errors!
• Calamities Eclipsing COVID
• New Drug Review: Bempedoic acid (Nexletol)
February 23, 2021 SPECIAL EDITION (No. 3)
• The Spirit of 1821: Happy 200th Birthday to the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy – Founded February 23, 1821
March 2021 (No. 4)
• Vaccine Distribution and Administration – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly!
• Almost Scammed
April 2021 SPECIAL EDITION (No. 5)
• No Greater Love
• Lead Like it Matters to God
• Overtime!
April 2021 (No. 6)
• Walgreens Should be Removed from Vaccine Programs!
• Is Your College of Pharmacy/Alma Mater Holding an In-person Commencement?
• Many Pharmacy Associations, Colleges of Pharmacy, and Pharmaceutical Companies Use PBMs that are Destroying Our Profession!
• New Drug Review: Lemborexant (Dayvigo)
May 2021 (No. 7)
• Harbingers
• Viruses and Vaccines – Opinions and Questions
• We Can't Give Up!
• Myth – Rite Aid: "We Care" Fact – Rite Aid DOESN'T Care!
June 2021 (No. 8)
• FDA Approval of Aduhelm for Alzheimer's Disease is the Wrong Decision!
• New Therapeutic Agents Marketed in the United States in 2020 (table)
July 2021 (No. 9)
• The ONLY Thing that CVS Management Fears – Strong and Sustained Negative Publicity! The CVS Underground
• Challenging Political Correctness
• New Drug Review: Rimegepant sulfate (Nurtec ODT)
August 2021 (No. 10)
• COVID Cover-ups – In Both China and the U.S. Truth and Transparency – The Antidote for Vaccine Hesitancy/Refusal
• Challenging Political Correctness – Systemic Racism
September 2021 (No. 11)
• The AMA, APhA, and ASHP Collaborate! – But Undermine the Rights of Their Members!
• It Starts in Rhode Island
October 2021 (No. 12)
• Joseph William Zorek – A Pharmacy Hero
• A CVS Story (continued)
• Ivermectin – Clinical Trials Are Needed!
November 2021 (No. 13)
• Death At CVS – Ashleigh M. Anderson
• To be Forewarned is to be Forearmed
• Tobacco (continued) – The Great American Smokeout – November 18, 2021
December 2021 (No. 14)
• The Touch of the Master's Hand
• Appreciation
• Counting our Blessings
• Index for Volume 16, 2021
All issues of The Pharmacist Activist are available without charge.
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