LAUSR

Good morning, everyone! Welcome to the Greatest ShowdAPhA2018! Last year in San Francisco, President Goode told me and all of you that the presidential year flies by when you're working hard and having fun, and I am here to confirm that shewas 100% correct. I am both humbled and honored to have served as APhA's 162nd President and to be, for a short time, the ringmaster in this remarkable, vibrant world of pharmacy. I could not have worked hard or had much fun this year without contributions from the tremendous leaders on the APhA Board or without support from the generous colleagues with whom I work at home. At the busiest times, they all helped me to effectively fulfill my role and manage my fulltime job at Chapman University, respectivelydthus enabling me to serve well. I have been overwhelmed by expressions of excitement and pride over my presidency. I feel tremendous gratitude toward my friends, fraternity brothers, and Chapman University student pharmacists who think enough of me to be here today. Please know that your presence fills me with joy. Of course, some of my family are making a return appearance at APhA2018. I want to thank my sister Carla, my childhood friend Lynn, and my Mom and Dad for traveling to Nashville for the Annual Meeting! You may recall from my inaugural remarks last year that, when I graduated, my parents gave me a strip cut from a serape blanket that represented our heritage and acknowledged how far our family was advancing in the world. I like to think that the purpose I crave from my life's work and the grittiness and resilience that I have shown this year reflect my cultural heritage and my parents' legacy. Their legacy continues to expand as I've been told that I am the first APhA President of Mexican decent, and today, all 3 presidential officers are women. It's a remarkable moment, one that represents many of the faces I see in the crowd today. I am proud to stand here having practiced in a variety of roles, symbolic of the professional diversity that lends strength to APhA. As I stand here today I amwearing the APhA President's Pin from 1876 to remind me of our APhA heritage and the contributions of the leaders that came before me. I'd like to ask the former APhA Presidents in the audience to please stand and accept our thanks! (APPLAUSE) As I'm sure each of these former presidents will confirm, the success of any officer is not possible without the efforts of the talented APhA staff. As President, I had the privilege to witness the hard work of our team in Washington and around