The Michigan based Arab American Pharmacists Association’s
(AAPA) membership is continuing to increase by 25 percent annually, which has
prompted the group to consider expanding in other states.   

U.S. Representative John Conyers, Jr. (far right) poses with AAPA members and Consul General of Lebanon to Detroit Houssam Diab. Photo courtesy of Mohamad Jaber

The group currently comprises 50 pharmacy students, 115
independently owned pharmacies and 225 registered pharmacists. The AAPA was
founded in 1996 by pharmacists who wanted to establish a voice for Arab
pharmacists. Its members include registered pharmacists, pharmacy technicians,
pharmacy owners and others who work in, or are interested in the field. 

The group celebrated its annual dinner at the Hyatt Regency
in Dearborn on May 7. More than 350 attended, and a number of awards were
distributed. Recipients included Lloyd Young, dean of the Eugene Applebaum
College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Wayne State University.

Member pharmacies serve about 450,000 clients annually. Each
pharmacy averages 3,000 to 4000 clients. 
AAPA’s partnership with a pharmaceutical wholesaler offers members the
opportunity to increase their buying power. That buying power is second only to
CVS Pharmacy. AAPA board member, Osama Fakih says membership is increasing
because of the benefits.

“We have helped pharmacists compete with
contracts,” Fakih said.  

The AAPA’s student chapter at the WSU Eugene Applebaum
College of Pharmacy mentors students and will provide $25,000 in pharmacy
student scholarships.  AAPA
contributes $15,000 to other education institutions. It also offers
scholarships to Fordson High School students. The AAPA is currently working to
establish relations with the University of Michigan. Several pharmacies are
externship sites for pharmacy students though the AAPA’s affiliation with WSU.
AAPA also helps pharmacy students study for their board exams.

To reach out to the Arab community AAPA, a non-profit, partners
up with local organizations in health fairs, and strives to deliver culturally
competent care to its patients. The majority of its members are bilingual
speaking Spanish, Chaldean and Arabic.