The Link is featuring interviews with pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who have had the opportunity to attend the ACP Leadership Forum. Dwain Nottebrock attended ACP’s Leadership Forum in 2023. He discussed his experience at the event and hopes to encourage pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to consider applying for this year’s forum.
What inspired you to apply for the ACP Leadership Forum?
I saw this as a valuable opportunity to develop my personal leadership skills and style. Having the opportunity to spend some time with a group of like-minded professionals who were keen on improving themselves and developing their own leadership skills was intriguing. I assumed that anyone interested in such an opportunity was already in a leadership frame of mind, and who better to learn from and work with.
Describe your experience at the forum.
This event truly exceeded my overall expectations. Everyone brought a positive energy and it was a great networking opportunity. Learning from everyone’s journey in a safe space was remarkable. Every participant brought differing experiences and perspectives to the conversation and that stimulated so many valuable conversations.
What were some of your key takeaways?
We had the chance to learn about our own strengths and opportunities for growth and develop a personal vision. This was something I hadn’t done before and it was a rewarding experience.
We also spent time discussing the art of listening. I learned that, although I do try, I could still be a better listener as great things can be achieved by simply listening and not rushing to respond. This is an important skill for all of us as healthcare providers to really listen to what our patients are telling us.
We were also encouraged to think about our own personal values and overall purpose, which is something I had never really done prior to this experience. It left me feeling more in control over my future.
Overall, the event focused on so many important life skills that have benefited me both professionally and personally.
How can these types of experiences lead to personal growth?
I learned a lot about myself and it proved valuable to step out of my comfort zone to try something different and challenging. I know that we all, as pharmacy professionals, get bogged down in our day-to-day work, but this provided a needed opportunity for me to step back and think about leadership and my own personal direction in a proactive way for a change.
I’ve also expanded my network, as I still keep in touch with some of the other participants I got to know at the event.
How did this experience impact your approach to patient care?
Overall, I think that it has helped me frame my interactions with others somewhat differently, as I am more aware of my own inherent biases and strengths. Also, becoming more aware of others’ varied backgrounds, cultures, and experiences has helped me become more sensitive to what each of us brings to each and every personal encounter. This type of awareness can only help us better assist our patients along their individual journeys to health and make us better pharmacy professionals.
Interested?
If Dwain’s experience sounds rewarding to you, we encourage you to apply to attend the 2024 ACP Leadership Forum, to be held in Calgary June 12-14, 2024. You have until Tuesday, April 30, 2024, to submit your application and supporting documentation. Learn more about the event and how to apply.
