Insights & Connections: Policy Week in Focus - Priorities, Progress, and What’s Ahead

October 12, 2026

Advocacy is a driving force behind our strategic priorities and this year’s Policy Week brought those priorities directly to Capitol Hill. ASHP Executive Vice President and CEO Sam Calabrese and Chief Advocacy Officer and Vice President of Government Relations Tom Kraus reflect on this year’s Policy Week, discussing the key policy priorities that shaped the week, conversations with lawmakers and congressional staff, and the momentum surrounding pharmacy’s advocacy priorities. From meaningful engagement on the Hill to the collective voice of our members, we’ll explore how Policy Week is helping turn our advocacy priorities into action.

SPEAKERS

Samuel V. Calabrese, MBA, RPh, CPEL, FASHP is the executive vice president and chief executive officer (CEO) of ASHP, leading the nation’s largest membership organization for pharmacy professionals.

Tom Kraus, JD, MHS serves as the chief advocacy officer and vice president of government relations for ASHP. Kraus previously served as the deputy staff director of health on the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions under Senators Edward Kennedy and Tom Harkin, where he was instrumental in the passage of key legislation, including Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drug and food safety reforms and user fee legislation, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and the Affordable Care Act. Following his time on Capitol Hill, he joined the FDA, where he served as Chief of Staff and Associate FDA Commissioner for Legislation.