HOPA Now

HOPA Off-Script: Hobbies, Side Hustles, and How Members Make It All Happen

Matt and special guest co-host Jeremy Whalen sit down with HOPA members to discuss their unusual hobbies, how they strike a successful work-life balance, and explain how their side-hustles have actually helped them in their careers. Classical Hindustani vocalist Divya Khandekar; Professional Carolina Shag dancer and small business owner LeAnn Norris; and Harp-playing Past President LeAnne Kennedy joined us onstage for a fun and fascinating chat, followed by a lively audience Q&A. You can watch some of Divya's performances on her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@musicroomchicago Interested in contributing to a future episode? Got a topic suggestion? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at ⁠communications@hoparx.org⁠ [communications@hoparx.org]

Inside Healing, Optimism, Pharmacy, and Advocacy: Stories and Perspectives from Oncology Pharmacists

HOPA wrote a book! Healing, Optimism, Pharmacy, and Advocacy: Stories and Perspectives from Oncology Pharmacists is the brainchild of President Robert Mancini and a dedicated task force headed by Kristen McCullough and Latha Radhakrishnan. This collection of 30 contributions from oncology pharmacists across 5 continents provides some incredible viewpoints and experience – some moving, some profound, and all designed to share what it’s like to be part of our unique profession.   Peter and Matt sat down with Robert and one of the contributing authors, ISOPP member Gisele Fraga Moreira, who joined us from Boise and Brazil, to discuss their contributions to the publication, and offered a preview of what readers can expect from it.   It will be available onsite to everyone attending this year’s HOPA Annual Conference in New Orleans – not registered yet? It’s not too late! Check out rates and more at https://hopa.cventevents.com/x9y7R3 [https://hopa.cventevents.com/x9y7R3]    And if you’re going, why not join us for the first ever live episode of HOPA Now, in front of an audience? It’s taking place on Friday March 27 @ 5.30PM in Rooms 388-90.   Kristen McCullough’s article can be read here: https://ascopubs.org/do/do-you-see-me-candid-message-pharmacist-physician [https://ascopubs.org/do/do-you-see-me-candid-message-pharmacist-physician]   Joseph Kalis’ article can be read here: https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/the-chemotherapist [https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/the-chemotherapist]  Interested in contributing to a future episode? Got a topic suggestion? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at communications@hoparx.org [communications@hoparx.org]

What I Wish I Knew Then: A Conversation Between Students and Residents

One of the most common pathways to becoming a hem/onc pharmacist is through pharmacy school, followed by residency. It’s a path many of our members have undertaken. But what’s it like to experience that journey now?   Peter and Matt explore the student-to-resident pipeline with members who are currently undertaking it - LB Mason, a final-year pharmacy student at the University of Georgia in Athens; Tyler Vaglivelo, a PGY1 resident at the University of Connecticut; and Megan Wolff, a PGY2 resident at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC.  Our roundtable discussion covers everything from the best advice they can share with others in their position, and tips for improving patient interactions, to decompress through cooking.  Interested in contributing to a future episode? Got a topic suggestion? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at communications@hoparx.org [communications@hoparx.org]

AI in Cancer Care: A New Era or New Error?

Sick of hearing about AI in every aspect of your life? Want to know where it's actually needed, and where it can make a real difference in oncology pharmacy? Matt and Peter cut through the noise to figure out where it really fits into the future of Cancer Care in a special roundtable episode. They’re joined by experts in their field – Alan Yee, PharmD, MS, Research Pharmacist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN; and Nada Alsuhebany, PharmD, BCOP Chairman of Clinical Trial Management at King Abdullah International Medical Research Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; and Ravi B. Parikh, MD, MPP, FACP, Medical Director of the Winship Data and Technology Applications Shared Resource, and Director of the Human Algorithm Collaboration Laboratory at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University.  Learn the essentials; discover the key differences between types of AI; consider its role in education; understand the intricacies and guardrails of patient privacy; assess whether it’s a threat to the pharmacy workforce; and so much more.   RESOURCES MENTIONED  You can access FIP’s AI Toolkit for Pharmacy here: https://www.fip.org/file/6202 [https://www.fip.org/file/6202]   Open Evidence: https://www.openevidence.com/ [https://www.openevidence.com/]   JAMA AI: https://jamanetwork.com/channels/ai [https://jamanetwork.com/channels/ai]   https://sdaia.gov.sa/en/Research/Pages/EducationIntelligence.aspx [https://sdaia.gov.sa/en/Research/Pages/EducationIntelligence.aspx]  https://snih.gov.sa/en/ [https://snih.gov.sa/en/]  https://www.sfda.gov.sa/en [https://www.sfda.gov.sa/en]  https://ecsme.ksu.edu.sa/en [https://ecsme.ksu.edu.sa/en]  https://lean.sa/index.html [https://lean.sa/index.html]  https://executive.mit.edu/course/artificial-intelligence-in-health-care/a056g00000URaaTAAT.html [https://executive.mit.edu/course/artificial-intelligence-in-health-care/a056g00000URaaTAAT.html]  https://xpro.mit.edu/courses/course-v1:xPRO+AIHCx+R1/ [https://xpro.mit.edu/courses/course-v1:xPRO+AIHCx+R1/]  https://execonline.hms.harvard.edu/artificial-intelligence-in-health-care-from-strategies-to-implementation [https://execonline.hms.harvard.edu/artificial-intelligence-in-health-care-from-strategies-to-implementation]  https://online.stanford.edu/programs/artificial-intelligence-healthcare [https://online.stanford.edu/programs/artificial-intelligence-healthcare]      HOPA does not endorse any of these resources, and these recommendations reflect the individual opinions of our guests.  Interested in contributing to a future episode? Got a topic suggestion? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at communications@hoparx.org [communications@hoparx.org]

Balancing Parenting and Oncology Pharmacy - How Do We Do It All?

If you’re a new or expecting parent, finding the perfect work-life balance between your family and your profession (not to mention getting a good night’s sleep) can be tricky. HOPA Now is here to help – call it an early Christmas present!  We assembled an expecting mother, a new father, and a mother of twins to join Matt and Father-of-Four Peter to share their stories and tips on raising children and how their attitudes to their jobs have changed.  Former HOPA Now host Benjamin Andrick, PharmD, BCOP joined us alongside Renee McAlister Jones, PharmD, BCOP and Emma Garrison, PharmD, BCOP for a wide-ranging chat about everything you might want to know if you’re a HOPA member looking to start a family, or are already on the way to starting one.  Our podcasting parents cover everything from date night advice and the surprising amount of protein in Costco bagels, to the challenge of finding mess-free crock pot recipes, and the joys of Lucky Charms cereal.  Featuring a shocking mid-episode reveal you won’t see coming (our producer and one of the co-hosts didn’t when we were recording this, either!), you won’t want to miss our bumper Christmas edition of HOPA Now!  And don’t forget to share your hobby, side-hustle or passion project with us for a chance to join us onstage at Annual Conference for our first-ever live episode! And if you’re selected, get your conference registration and select expenses reimbursed! Submit before Sunday, January 11, 2026 at https://apps.hoparx.org/forms/call_for_guests/ [https://apps.hoparx.org/forms/call_for_guests/]   Renee, Emma, Ben and Peter recommended the following books and items:  * HALO SleepSack  * Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong--and What You Really Need to Know by Emily Oster  * Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool by Emily Oster  * The Happiest Baby on the Block: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer by Harvey Karp  * The “What to Expect” Series by Heidi Murkoff  HOPA does not endorse any of these items, and these recommendations reflect the individual opinions of our guests.  Interested in contributing to a future episode? Got a topic suggestion? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at communications@hoparx.org