History
"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
Matthew 18:20
​CaPhA is proud to add to the history of organizations devoted to the Catholic pharmacist, both in the United States (US) and worldwide. We are preceded by the International Federation of Catholic Pharmacists (FIPC), established in the 1950’s and recognized by the Holy See
Also, before CaPhA was the well-known National Catholic Pharmacist Guild of the United States (NCPG). NCPG was established in the 1960’s and recognized by what is now known as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). NCPG joined FIPC in the 1970’s
​The roots of CaPhA can be found primarily in the history of NCPG. While not explicitly a Roman Catholic pharmacy organization, many NCPG members belonged to this branch of Catholicism, as do current CaPhA members. NCPG was headquartered in Missouri, with student chapters across >20 US states
Prior to its dissolution in the 1990’s, its members strived to uphold the principles of the Catholic faith in the practice of pharmacy, with an emphasis on pro-life work
Another relevant pro-life pharmacy organization is the Pharmacists for Life International (PFLI) group, of which CaPhA has yet to partner with. Catholic health pharmacy education occurs in a variety of settings, both in schools of pharmacy and pharmacy residency training programs
Catholic pharmacy schools in which CaPhA members may reside include Creighton University, St. John’s University, and Xavier University of Louisiana. Pharmacy residency training programs are typically affiliated with Catholic health systems, such as Ascension and Catholic Health. CaPhA currently does not endorse any particular school or residency from which its members should seek education from
CaPhA hopes to connect with members of current and future partnering organizations. The Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International (CPFI) organization is a particularly strong and vibrant faith-based pharmacy community with a mission to serve Christ and the world through pharmacy
Several organizations related to Catholic beliefs as practiced in medicine and bioethics have been influential in CaPhA’s founding, namely the National Catholic Bioethics Center (NCBC) and the Catholic Medical Association (CMA)
Our logo depicts a mortar and pestle, a well-known symbol for the profession of pharmacy. Our colors are chose intentionally, to portray our aspirations of fostering professionalism, creating harmony, recognizing the mystery that is faith, and promoting joy in living it fully in professional practice. The cross in the center of our logo reminds us of the centrality of the cross and Christ in all we do
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We hope our current and future membership continue the preceding legacy of diversity and commitment of providing support to Catholic pharmacy professionals, influencing and educating the broader healthcare community