Home
Subscription
February 2026 issue
January 2026 issue
BACK ISSUES
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
|
"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:21
|
|
Each issue of The Pharmacist Activist newsletter provides editorials/commentaries on topics relevant to the profession of pharmacy. Read on for this month's issue.
December 2025 Issue [Download PDF format]
In this issue:
• A Christmas Letter
• Appreciation
• Twenty Years
• Index for Volume 20, 2025
|
A Christmas Letter
Editor's note: The following letter (author unknown), intended to be a communication from Jesus Christ regarding the celebration of his birth, includes a message that can be of value for each of us, regardless of our personal faith. The message is of value not only throughout the year but over decades. It is the message that I included in the December issue of Volume 1 of The Pharmacist Activist in 2006.
Dear children,
It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking my name out of the season. Maybe you have forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate my birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. Although, I do appreciate being remembered anytime.
How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate my birth, just get along and love one another.
Now, having said that, let me go on:
If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting my birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all of my followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.
Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can and may remember me any time you see any tree. Decorate a grapevine if you wish. I actually spoke of that one in a teaching explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks are. If you have forgotten that one, look it up in John 15: 1-8.
If you want to give me a present in remembrance of my birth, here is my wish list. Choose something from it.
-
Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way my birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know—they tell me all the time.
-
Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.
-
Instead of writing George complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him you'll be praying for him and his family this year.
-
Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of my birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.
-
Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.
-
Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take his own life this season because he feels so alone and helpless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile—it could make the difference. Also, you might consider supporting the local Hot-Line; they talk with people like that every day.
-
Instead of nitpicking about what the retailers in your town call the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas," that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day, they would close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families.
-
If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary, especially one who takes my love and good news to those who have never heard my name. You may already know someone like that.
-
Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but will also not have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them (and I suspect you don't) buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Marines, the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in me and they will make the delivery for you.
-
Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in my presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.
P.S. Don't forget; I am God and can take care of myself. Just love me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work. Time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and, remember, I love you.
[To Top]
Appreciation
This issue marks the completion of the twentieth year of publication of The Pharmacist Activist. The index for this Volume 20 (2025) is included. All issues in Volumes 1 through 20 are available on the website, www.pharmacistactivist.com.
I am grateful to those who read this newsletter, and the many who provide thoughtful comments, experiences, and recommendations. I am fortunate in being able to voice opinions that can be provocative because, in "retirement," I am not beholden to an employer or pharmacy leaders, or at risk of losing my position. I understand that many pharmacists do not have that liberty, and can't afford to risk losing their position or being vulnerable to criticism/discipline. The need for these pharmacists to have a "voice" helps motivate me to continue challenging the situations that I consider destructive for the entire profession.
I wish to express my appreciation to Linda Corvari, my friend and former student, who is the founder and CEO of the pvalue group of companies (www.pvaluecomm.com) for the financial support she has provided for the publication of The Pharmacist Activist. This support makes it possible to continue to make this newsletter available free-of-charge via email to interested pharmacists, student pharmacists, and others.
Appreciation is also extended to Jeff Zajac for his very capable design and distribution services that he has provided from the time that the first issue was published in January, 2006, and to my wife and Assistant Editor Suzanne Hussar for their expertise, skills, and encouragement in editing, preparing, and distributing each issue.
Best wishes for a blessed Christmas season and a healthy and enjoyable new year!
Daniel A. Hussar
[To Top]
|
EDITORIAL:
Twenty Years
The 20th anniversary of publication of The Pharmacist Activist provides the opportunity to reflect on the issues that I have considered important enough to address over this period of time. The following are among the editorials that I wrote in 2006, the first year of publication,
"The Medicare Prescription Benefit?"
"Independent Pharmacists – The Front Line of our Profession"
"The Justice Department Should Not Settle with Medco!"
"Shame on CVS!"
"When Price Controls are Established for Drugs, Big PhRMA will have Only Itself to Blame"
"Walmart's Generics Scam Ignores the Professional Role of Its Pharmacists"
"No More Excuses! Let's Get Cigarettes Out of Pharmacies!"
"Paying $155 Million Means Never Having to Say You are Sorry or Admit to Any Wrongdoing!"
Some of these topics have been recurring themes/concerns of editorials over the last 20 years including PBMs, high drug prices, the threatened survival of independent pharmacies, and the corruption of CVS and the harmful consequences of its policies. Other topics that I have often addressed include patient safety/medication errors, stressful working conditions in many pharmacies that increase the risk of errors and threaten the health of pharmacists, and what I consider to be the fragmented and competitive relationships of our pharmacy organizations that limit their effectiveness in advancing our profession.
Most of my editorials address problems and threats for our profession. I would much rather write about the accomplishments of pharmacists and the professional opportunities that can be developed. However, our associations and other publications do this well and, indeed, that is part of their responsibility in promoting our profession and increasing the awareness of the important roles of pharmacists. My writing about these "positive" situations would not serve a purpose.
I am not aware of a pharmacy association or publication that consistently addresses the "internal" problems and differences of opinion within the profession which we presumably have a better opportunity to resolve than "external" problems or threats (e.g., PBMs, government agencies). Do our associations perform self-analyses of their own strengths and weaknesses? If they do, to what extent are they shared with members and what steps are initiated to resolve the weaknesses? It is my observation that our organizations (associations. boards, colleges) avoid consideration of differences of opinion among each other and among pharmacists, rather than have debates or discussions that might, hopefully, achieve better understanding and resolution of differing views.
When I started publishing The Pharmacist Activist, I had a question as to whether there were enough topics of importance and interest to write an editorial once a month. I quickly realized that there were more such topics than I had time or space to address. As we approach 2026, I have a long list of topics I wish to address including the following:
What is Pharmacy's role in TrumpRx? Who are the pharmacists and where will they practice?
How should Pharmacy respond to the American Medical Association's (AMA) strong opposition to congressional bills that expand the professional role of pharmacists, which the AMA identifies as "scope creep"?
How can Pharmacy respond to the closures of thousands of pharmacies that increase the number of pharmacy deserts and place patients at risk?
Why do the pharmacy associations and boards of pharmacy refuse to specifically identify and take action against the companies that have horrible working conditions that are most responsible for mental health problems and suicides of pharmacists?
Are the authority and standards of accreditation agencies realistic and appropriate? Earlier today I saw the term "accreditation theater" with which I was not previously familiar. It may have been a promotion to compare one agency favorably with others, but larger questions exist.
If independent/local pharmacies do not survive, what is the future for Pharmacy?
|
Index for Volume 20, 2025
Volume 20, 2025
January 2025 (No. 1)
• How Will Pharmacy Recover from 2024?
• A New Year – An Old Theme: Pharmacy Needs a More Effective National Organizational Structure!
February 2025 (No. 2)
• PBMs – Pharmacy Needs New Strategies: Or a DOPAE (Department of Pharmacy Association Efficiency)!
March 2025 (No. 3)
• The Walgreens Disaster
• The JCPP in Dream World
April 2025 (No. 4)
• The APhA Annual Meeting: Inspirational, Educational, a Home Run, and an Error!
• Congratulations to Carl's Drug Store in Greencastle, PA!
May 2025 (No. 5)
• PBM Reform and Action
• Chain Chaos
June 2025 (No. 6)
• TWO MORE PHARMACY TRAGEDIES
• The Rite Aid Bankruptcy Fallout
• Continued Learning from Reading Books
July 2025 (No. 7)
• IN HONOR OF The Pharmacists. Pharmacy Technicians, and Student Pharmacists Who Took Their Lives, and With Sympathy for Their Grieving Loved Ones
• Some CVS Pharmacists Have "Disappeared:" The Pennsylvania EPIDEMIC!
August 2025 (No. 8)
• COVID – 19: Millions died! No One is Accountable! Are We Prepared for the Next Pandemic?
September 2025 (No. 9)
• Our Healthcare System is Broken! It has Worsened over Decades on My/Your Watch: New Experts/Leaders with Different Ideas Should be Provided the Opportunity to Improve It! A Lesson from the DES Daughters
October 2025 (No. 10)
• CVS Suicides, Antitrust, and Lawsuits
• Does the Use of Acetaminophen During Pregnancy Increase the Risk of Autism?
November 2025 (No. 11)
• Is Radical Reform of the Healthcare System Possible? Will Pharmacy Have a Role?
• Drug Prices, Advertisements, and Distribution
• Continued Harassment and Corruption at CVS
December 2025 (No. 12)
• A Christmas Letter
• Appreciation
• Twenty Years
• Index for Volume 20, 2025
All issues of The Pharmacist Activist are available without charge.
|
[To Top]
|
