Topic: Beyond the Classroom

This session provides both pharmacists and pharmacy technicians with a comprehensive understanding of evolving approaches to diabetes care, highlighting the importance of lifestyle modifications and their progression from former to current recommendations. Through patient case studies, pharmacists will identify opportunities for targeted treatment interventions and reinforce their essential role in educating and empowering patients with diabetes to optimize outcomes. Pharmacy technicians, meanwhile, will develop skills to recognize when pharmacist intervention is warranted and will gain insight into their vital contribution to patient safety, particularly in supporting adherence and monitoring for potential issues in patients with type 2 diabetes.

As the new year begins, many patients commit to improving their health through diet, exercise, and smoking cessation, but sustaining these resolutions can be challenging. This unique panel style session equips pharmacists and pharmacy technicians with practical strategies to support patients in reaching and maintaining their goals. Through patient case discussions, participants will explore effective recommendations for motivating lifestyle changes, identify the most common barriers to adherence, and determine appropriate next steps in managing weight loss efforts. In addition, the session will highlight the role of pharmacologic agents in nicotine cessation, providing participants with the knowledge to guide patients toward evidence-based, individualized plans for long-term success.