Innovations in Hematology and Oncology Explored at HOPA Annual Conference

In an interview with Pharmacy Times at the HOPA Annual Meeting 2025, Zahra Mahmoudjafari, PharmD, BCOP, FHOPA, clinical pharmacy manager at the University of Kansas Cancer Center, highlighted the annual conference's benefits, including educational sessions on hematology and oncology, advocacy updates, and professional development opportunities.

Pharmacy Times: Can you introduce yourself? What is your relationship with HOPA?

Zahra Mahmoudjafari, PharmD, BCOP, FHOPA: My name is Zahra Mahmoudjafari. I'm a clinical pharmacy manager at the University of Kansas Cancer Center. I've been a HOPA member for—I think—about 16 years now, which is really wild to think about. I first joined as a resident and have really grown in my role and capacity since then.

I'm not presenting at this year's conference; however, I do serve in an official capacity on the Board of Directors. I serve as Secretary, and this is my second year on the board. What I can definitely say is that what I’ve appreciated most about being part of the Board of Directors is the level of passion and commitment—not just for our patients, but also for our membership.

Being here at the Annual Conference is not only an opportunity to connect with colleagues and friends, but also a great place to continue the discussion and all of the great work that HOPA is doing. I'm really glad to be here. They’re long and busy days, but they’re really, really beneficial.

Pharmacy Times: Can you share the benefits of HOPA and the Annual Meeting for pharmacists?

Mahmoudjafari: HOPA has many strategic priorities, and of course, the first is education. One of the big benefits of coming to the Annual Conference is the chance to attend many great sessions on new and late-breaking developments in both hematology and oncology. Being able to earn BCOP credits is another major draw for attending the conference.

Outside of that, some of the other important sessions that happen every year at the Annual Conference include the Annual Advocacy Update. That’s a session I never miss. It’s important for us to understand what our role is and how we can advocate—not only for patients, but also for our profession. Today was the Annual Advocacy Update, and it was such a beneficial session. They had two patients, both cancer survivors, who have become patient advocates. They spoke about the importance of patient advocacy and the advocacy needed for our profession.

Beyond that, the HOPA Annual Conference is really focused on maintaining organizational excellence and professional development. There have been several sessions on career growth, whether for someone who's a new practitioner or someone with more experience. There’s a lot going on this year with many parallel sessions, so it’s been tricky to figure out which ones to attend. Thankfully, the app makes it easy to access multiple sessions at the same time, so it’s been great.

Pharmacy Times: What findings coming out of the HOPA Annual Meeting are you most excited about?

Mahmoudjafari: There are many things, and it's no surprise that I am primarily focused in the blood cancer space. There have been many advancements in the treatment of hematologic malignancies, but also significant progress on the oncology side as well. I think it’s really important, whether you're a pharmacist specializing in one area like I am, or a more general practitioner, that HOPA offers many sessions to help us stay up-to-date on the latest advancements—certainly in my field.

One of the more recent advancements is the utilization of bispecific therapies. These therapies are being explored not only in hematologic malignancies but also in oncology. There were several sessions today discussing what that looks like, how to operationalize these new therapies, and which patients are the best candidates for them.

Overall, there’s a lot of great information being shared, including important updates on supportive care for our patients. So, there's certainly a lot going on this year.