History of the Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group

The Early Years

In 1979 Dr. Doug Smith, Dr. Robert Poole, and Mr. Steve Allen began discussing the need for an organization aimed at helping pediatric pharmacy directors to better serve their unique patient populations. These trailblazers met informally and then formally at the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacist’s Midyear Clinical Meeting. Over the next six years, the group expanded and included Pharmacy Directors from across the United States.

At these meetings a core group of leaders emerged. Mr. Doug Smith (Chicago, IL) served as President and Chairman of the Board from 1985-1995. Other members of this charter group include: Mr. Stephen Allen (Washington, DC), Mr. Joe Sceppa (Boston, MA), Mr. Henry Wedemeyer (Denver, CO), Dr. Gary Greiner (Columbus, OH), Mr. Dave Grinder (St. Petersburg, FL), Dr. Chris Lomax (Los Angeles, CA), Dr. Robert Warren (Fresno, CA), Ms. Darlene Anderson (Dallas TX), and Dr. Robert Poole (Stanford, CA). As the network of directors grew so did the need for a more structured organization.

By 1985, their vision had taken form and the Pharmacy Directors of Pediatric Hospitals (PDPH) organization was born. PDPH held the first Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA during the ASHP Midyear Meeting. Annual Board of Director retreats in the Colorado mountains shaped the future direction of the organization. In 1987 interest in the group expanded to include Associate Directors, Clinical Directors, and Managers in the pediatric pharmacy setting. This prompted the group to change its name to the Pediatric Pharmacy Administrative Group (PPAG).  

The 1990’s: Momentum and Rapid Growth

By the early 1990’s PPAG continued to grow and membership expanded to include pediatric clinical pharmacists and specialists as well as pharmacists academicians. Struggling to find a voice in the larger pharmacy community, PPAG was officially incorporated as a non-profit organization.

In 1991 PPAG received a $200,000 grant from the Kappour Charitable Foundation to establish The Kappour Center for Pediatric Drug Information at the Children’s Hospital in Denver with the help of then Director of Pharmacy Henry “Hank” Wedemeyer. The Center developed the Pediatric Adverse Drug Event and Reaction Reporting (PADR) Program. The PADR program was one of the first national ADR and ADE reporting programs in the US, and in 1995 received a $300,000 grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation’s Center for the Future of Children. The PADR Program expanded to 25 reporting and participating Hospitals by 1998. The findings of this study were published in the Journal of Pediatric Pharmacy Practice in 1999 and presented at the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists meeting in Madrid, Spain in 2000.

In 1992 Kellie McQueen became the first Executive Director of PPAG. PPAG held its 1st Annual Meeting in Copper Mountain, Colorado. At this Annual Meeting, the Board changed the name to the Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group to reflect the diverse membership of the organization. The PPAG Annual Meeting has grown over the years and has become the best educational and networking meeting for Pediatric Clinical Pharmacists worldwide (see list of Annual Meetings below).

In 1995 the Board of Directors established the Mission, Vision, and Values of PPAG. These statements of purpose remain as the organizing principles of PPAG.

In 1996 The Journal of Pediatric Pharmacy Practice became the official journal of PPAG. The founding editor was David Grinder. The Journal was a forum for practitioners in pediatrics to publish works such as original research, case reports, and drug therapy reviews.

The year 1997 marks a very active year for PPAG. Kellie McQueen resigned as Executive Director and day-to-day management was outsourced to an Association Management Company.

On October 27, 1997, PPAG presented the need for regulation requiring manufacturers to assess the safety and effectiveness of new drugs and biological products in pediatric patients. Mr. Dave Grinder represented PPAG at the FDA public hearings on the issue.

Also in 1997 PPAG partnered with Publications International to publish Guidelines for Children’s Prescription Drugs. This publication provided accurate information for families related to medication use. Later that year, PPAG lead the movement to avoid the use of drug name abbreviations (eight years before the Joint Commission).

In 1998, PPAG severed ties with its management group and named Henry “Hank” Wedemeyer as Executive Director. As Executive Director Hank continued to grow the organization and organized very successful Annual Meeting in Kiawah Island, SC, Vancouver, BC Canada, San Antonio, TX, St. Louis, MO, and St. Petersburg, FL.

PPAG launched its first website and PediNet, an electronic bulletin board dedicated to improving communication among the pediatric pharmacy community.

PPAG had 350 active members heading into its third decade.

The 21^st Century

In 2001, The Journal of Pediatric Pharmacy Practice became The Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics. Stephanie Phelps became Editor-in-Chief. The Journal became a peer-reviewed multi-disciplinary journal that is devoted to promoting the safe and effective use of medications in infants and children. To this end, the journal publishes practical information for all practitioners who provide care to pediatric patients. Each issue includes review articles, original clinical investigations, case reports, editorials, and other information relevant to pediatric medication therapy.

Soon after its launch, the Journal published a groundbreaking article, “Guidelines for Preventing Medication Errors in Pediatrics.”

2002 was another significant year for PPAG. Hank Wedemeyer retired as Executive Director, PPAG sponsored and offered the first Specialty Conference for Neonatology, and the Sumner J. Yaffe Lifetime Achievement Award in Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics was established. The Yaffe Award is given annually in recognition of significant and sustained contributions toward the improvement of children's health through the expansion of the field of pediatric pharmacology and therapeutics.

In 2003, Matthew Helms became the forth Executive Director of PPAG and moved the organization’s headquarters from Denver, Colorado to Memphis, Tennessee. PPAG recognized Lifetime Honorary Members; Doug Smith, Steve Allen, Dave Grinder, Joe Sceppa, Gary Greiner, Hank Wedemeyer, and Bob Poole.  

In 2004 the organization launched a new website, and began to offer a quarterly newsletter for membership. The official newsletter of PPAG became the Pediatric Pharmacy Advocate in 2007.

The Bruce Parks Memorial Residency Project Showcase was established in 2006. This showcase seeks to stimulate interest in the field of pediatric pharmacy by offering a highly competitive award for the best pediatric pharmacy resident presentation at the PPAG Spring Specialty Meeting each year.

In 2006 the Richard A. Helms Excellence in Pediatric Pharmacy Practice Award was established. The Helms Award recognizes (1) sustained and meritorious contributions to PPAG and to pediatric pharmacy practice, and (2) contributions of importance to education, new knowledge, and outreach. 

PPAG offered its first online continuing pharmacy education program in 2006.

In February of 2007 the PPAG Board of Directors officially endorsed the "Shanghai Declaration," which outlines the organization's commitment to improving safe and reliable medicines for children worldwide." This endorsement also established PPAG as a member of the International Alliance for Better Medicine.

In 2008 the Fellowship in the Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group (FPPAG) Program was established. The program serves the following purposes: to recognize excellence in pediatric pharmacy practice; and to grant recognition and to promote public awareness of pharmacists who have distinguished themselves in pediatric pharmacy practice.

Local Communities and Networks (LCN) Recognition Program was also established. Through networking events, local programming, regional news and volunteer opportunities, the Local Networks build a community of peers, advance career and volunteer opportunities within the pediatric pharmacy community.

In April of 2008, the Board formally approved the establishment of the first permanent reserve fund. PPAG also launched a comprehensive Age-based Competency for Pediatrics Program online.

KidsMeds, a website dedicated to accurate pediatric drug information to parents and families, was also launched.

In 2009 PPAG kept its commitment to improving safe and reliable medicines for children worldwide by planning the First International Pediatric Pharmacy and Pharmacology Summit in association with the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP). This exciting event was the first time that international pediatric pharmacy and clinical pharmacology organizations involved in the use of medicines in children came together to share research, practice, and ideas to improve the care of children.

Today, PPAG has grown to over 750 members in all 50 states and 20 foreign countries.