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President Barack Obama signed an executive order to reduce the nationwide shortage of prescription drugs last month, a BWH pharmacist stood by his side, representing health care providers who are affected every day by the shortage.
“We’ve been struggling to keep life-saving medicines on our shelves,” said Bonnie Frawley, PharmD, BCPS, Pharmacy manager at BWH, during a press event Oct. 31 in Washington, D.C. “This summer, we almost had to cancel heart surgeries due to a shortage of an essential medication that prevents bleeding. Without this medication, surgeries cannot proceed.”
Frawley, who voiced the concerns of health care providers, said that it’s important that this issue is now receiving national attention. “The executive order will serve as a push to identify the root causes of this problem, and ultimately, a solution,” she said.
Frawley joined Jay Cuetara, a cancer patient from San Francisco who was affected firsthand by a shortage of chemotherapy at the center where he was receiving treatment this summer. Together, they provided their personal perspective on the issue to 130 news organizations on a phone call. Minutes later, Frawley and Cuetara were ushered into the Oval Office to stand behind Obama as he signed the executive order.
“It was an amazing experience,” said Frawley.
Frawley was invited to participate in the signing of the order and press event, thanks to a BWH colleague, Elizabeth Cote, MD, MPA, a resident in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine. This fall, Cote was named a White House Fellow, one of the country’s most prestigious programs for leadership and public service. As part of the year-long fellowship, Cote has been working closely with the secretary of Health and Human Services to address drug shortages.
Frawley and Cote have been affected by such shortages in their daily work at BWH, and Cote asked Frawley to share this experience at the Oct. 31 White House events.
“The connections you make at the Brigham, and the opportunities they lead to, are just incredible,” Frawley said.