NO barriers!
Tearing down of the Berlin Wall in Germany - the end of a near 30-year, 96 mile barrier preventing access to families and jobs in East and West Berlin (1989)
the student national pharmaceutical association
Signatura Spring 2017
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Table of Contents The Signatura is interactive! Legend: Click the page numbers Back to Table of Contents Scrollable text Presidential Welcome page 3 Regionals Wrap-Up page 4 - 5 National Convention page 6 National Project Highlights page 7 "No Barriers" with SNPhA, pages 8-9 Looking Ahead... Dates & Deadlines page 10 National Officer Information page 11 Chapter Submissions - "No Barriers" page 12 I) University of Maryland, Baltimore page 13 SNPhA members from all three Maryland schools of pharmacy participated in the Maryland Pharmacy Coalition’s annual Legislative Day advocating for the profession in Maryland’s capital. II) University of New England, "Eradicating Barriers by Bridging the Gap." page 14 III) Howard University, "Nothing Can Hold Us Back!" page 15 IV) University of Georgia, "From Georgia to Nanka, Nigeria!" page 16 An OTC medication/medical supply drive and medical mission trip opportunity for the Nanka Community in Nigeria. V) Cedarville, Findlay, Ohio Northern, Toledo, "Four pharmacy schools, No Barriers!: No barriers." page 17 VI) University of Texas - Austin, UTCOP Signatura page 18 Quotes of the Issue, page 19 END, page 20
"Many small people, who in many small places, do many small things, that can alter the face of the world."
These words decorate the remains of what was a symbolic barrier between people, governments, ideologies and progress. The Berlin Wall, which stood for nearly 30 years, was torn down through the hands of the very people who were subject to its barrier. Today, we face the barriers of stigmas associated with various health conditions, inadequate resources to live healthy lifestyles, and increases in the emergence of diseases, all of which are parallel to geopolitical conflict and intolerance. The pursuit of abolishing barriers at our capacity is very timely; in a world that often focuses on division and intolerance, SNPhA and its appreciation for diversity has stood the test of time. Rather than being united by material or tangible interests, we instead are bound by ideals that move us beyond our backgrounds, lift us above our interests, and teach us what it means to be contributing citizens of the world. For nearly half a century, our SNPhA members have been winning hearts and minds, not only because of their professionalism and acuity of clinical knowledge, but also because they have genuinely adapted SNPhA's historic mission and compassion into their daily activities. The positive consequences of these actions are not always immediately measurable, yet we still pursue our mission with passion and perseverance. We recognize the contributions of each and every one of our 5,000+ National Members, who have decided to connect to something bigger than themselves; something that, though extracurricular, continuously advances our careers and personal development. It is really the best of times to become a pharmacist and to be in SNPhA while doing so. The opportunities available to us are greater than ever. The focus of educating the underserved communities on medication safety and disease prevention allows us to demonstrate our value while developing new roles for ourselves. In this process, teaching and learning should bring joy to all of us. Imagine how powerful our world would be if we had community members who had access to valuable education and who were not afraid to take control over their own health. Imagine if they had just one champion who understood the power of diversity and cultural differences; it could be a healthcare professional like yourself who will not give up on them and will insist that they reach the best health that they can possibly have. We hope this issue of the Signatura will give you a glimpse of the passion exuded by our wonderful members as they strive to overcome barriers in the global communities. May this mark the beginning of our journey toward celebrating your accomplishments at the 2017 SNPhA National Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. We look forward to seeing you! Best, Gevorg Martirosyan, National President
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Samford University helped us find the Keys to the Magic City in Birmingham, AL to "Navigate a Changing Healthcare Landscape" and California Northstate University allowed us to Unleash our Inner SNPhA HERO in Sacramento, CA by Helping the underserved, Educating the community, Raising awareness, and Opportunities & networking! Thank you To our Host Chapters for their hard work and dedication in developing a program with inspiring keynote speakers, professional development workshops, and the opportunity to connect with our SNPhAm! To our Chapter Delegates and members by highlighting key healthcare issues that affect our patients and the practice of pharmacy. The resolutions that continue to National Convention continue to shape our future. Photos can be found in the Regionals Albums on our SNPhA Facebook page!
Regionals Recap!
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Regions 1 & 2 Clinical Skills Competition 1st: Jameisha Shavers & Rosalyn Reese (University of Georgia College of Pharmacy) 2nd: Nakiya Whitfield & Roderick Gladney (University of North Carolina School of Pharmacy) 3rd: Shantel Houston & Amber Cox (University of South Florida College of Pharmacy) Honorable Mentions: Marin Abousaud, Janee Jones, Alyssa Morgan, Dena Evans, Alyssa Nguyen, Natasha Powell Instagram-a-thon Hampton University
Regions 3, 4, & 5 Clinical Skills Competition 1st: Jeehee Scoville & Sonhee Cho (The Ohio State University) 2nd: Lauren Levi & Alyssa Sonchaiwanich (The Ohio State University) 3rd: Mariam Khan & Ashley Bizzell (University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences) Honorable Mentions: Sara Mirjamali, An Dieu, Anita Lee, Thy Mai, Kyle Quirk, Alysha Switalski Instagram-a-Thon The Ohio State University
Competition Recipients: Congratulations!
#SNPhANoBarriers #OneMissionNoBarriers #SNPhAinVegas #SNPhANationals2017
July 28 - July 31st Login to your SNPhA account to register
SNPhA/NPhA National convention in las Vegas, NV
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Thank you SNPhAm for continuing to actively serve, advocate for the underrepresented, build relationships and celebrate our organization! SNPhA members keep the momentum strong in fufilling our mission in 2017 This year, we continued our partnership with Shot@Life and were able to advocate for eradication of vaccine-preventable diseases in Washington, D.C. led by our Operation Immunization Chair, Ojong Bate. Across the country, we celebrated the organization that provided us the opportunity to break down barriers in our communities. The 45th SNPhA Day was a month-long celebration of this historical year. Our members truly showed the reasons why we are #StillLiveat45 with many fun service-focused events! Last but not least, our bonds with each other truly make us a family. Admist our busy schedules, the Chapter Acheivement Partners (CAPs) events allow us build relationships with each other. As our National Vice President, Robbie Cristian so excitedly puts it, "[o]h how I love SNPhA CAPs Events. So proud of the collaboration. Working together all over the U.S., from Ohio to Florida to St. Louis to California!"
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"No Barriers" with SNPhA, from Canada to Cameroon
From May 7th to May 12th, our Cedarville SNPhA chapter will embark on a week-long service trip to various parts of Ontario, Canada to provide blood glucose, cholesterol, and blood pressure screening as well as education and a listening ear if they may need. Their chapter invites all SNPhA members to join in via Snapchat and tune in! SNPhA chapters truly showcase how there are "No Barriers" in serving our patients and community. Flip over to the next page to see who we have partnered with in Cameroon...
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BrightStar Foundation (BSF) is a non-profit organization based in Buea, Cameroon. BSF aims to support sickle cell patients and their families, BSF promotes advocacy in the management of sickle cell disease (SCD) while eradicating the SCD stigma. The stigma around SCD in countries like Cameroon is very devastating and heart breaking. Patients and their families do not want to be identified by their genetic predisposition and are very hesitant to seek medical help even when necessary. BSF is a young and growing foundation, founded by Ms. Ojong Bate, a sickle cell patient and young professional. Her personal success in managing SCD motivated her to start a movement to eradicate the stigma around SCD in Cameroon, by empowering patients and families with the tools they need to overcome the devastating consequences of sickle cell complications. The BSF team has been working tirelessly to build a solid support network and encourage self-awareness and empowerment amongst sickle cell patients and their families. The foundation focuses on identifying individual patients, connecting them with other patients in their communities and providing empowering education to help patients prevent SCD crisis and complications. “Despite the debilitating nature of sickle cell anemia, triumph begins with accepting the condition, owning it, learning about it and finding the right support network” Ms. Ojong Bate, CEO BSF “Third Annual Seminar” December 21, 2016 For the past three years, BSF has hosted numerous annual seminars and reached over one hundred sickle cell patients. The annual workshops have been held in different cities in the southern region of Cameroon; precisely, Buea, Muyuka and Ekona. The third annual BSF workshop took place on Wednesday December 21, 2016 in Buea, Cameroon based on the theme “WE ARE SICKLE CELL STRONG”. (scroll) Like any other event, this workshop was not free from substantial preparations. Prior to the event, there were; radio announcements, radio interviews, public service announcements, volunteer meetings, patient home visitations, hospital visitations, and finally a visit to the Cameroon Health Delegation in Buea On Wednesday December 21, 2016, the BSF seminar was hosted from 8am to 5pm. The event was very interactive with training workshops that dealt with topics such as basics about sickle cell anemia, hydration in, pain management, crisis triggers and self-care in sickle cell patients and other complications in SCD (wound healing, hormonal imbalance, jaundice and anemia). During the seminar, there was free screening for Hepatitis A and B, Malaria and hemoglobin. Patients had an opportunity to meet with our medical team (2 medical doctors and 5 student pharmacists) to discuss their laboratory finding. Our event was graced by fun and entertainment from patients and volunteers. We had amazing talent shows and shared lunch together as a sickle cell community. Teatime and short breaks were also observed during the event. Many pictures were taken to document BSF activities. “I can say with absolute certainty that patients and families had a great day at the BSF seminar, some patients were able to willingly share their personal struggles and testified to joy of seeing others struggling with the same disease state. It was truly a moment of hope restoration” - Ms. Ojong Bate, CEO BSF Meet Team SNPhA –BSF Pharmacists are at the frontline of healthcare in our communities. As SNPhA members and soon to be pharmacists, we believe in serving the underserved. We also believe that solidarity is very important to breaking all barriers and the change starts with us. Meet the dynamic five student pharmacists below: Mr. Gevorg Martirosyan: SNPhA National President, 2016-2017; BSF lifetime team member Dr. Stephanie Tchen: SNPhA member, University of Pittsburgh College of Pharmacy; BSF lifetime team member Mrs. Sidonie Sokoudjou: SNPhA Immediate Past-President, University of Baltimore School of Pharmacy chapter; BSF team member Ms. Ashley Hendje: SNPhA Chapter Operation Immunization Chair, University of Charleston West Virginia; BSF team member Ms. Ojong Bate: Founder & CEO of BrightStar Foundation; SNPhA National Operations Immunization Chair (2016-2017) Team SNPhA-BSF on the Field Team BSF was assisted by two medical doctors, eight nurses and forty volunteers to make the event a success. Presentations were done in English, French and other local languages like Pidgin English. Our audience was made of patients ranging from 9 months old to 40 years of age. A large number of our patient population were adolescents and preteens. Patient testimonials were an integral part of the seminar, as many patients shared their personal struggles and willingness to acquire knowledge to overcome these struggles. The seminar was very interactive and visual aids were used to aid in content explanations. There was room for a question-and-answer session that was also very interesting and interactive.
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Brightstar Foundation and SNPhA Join Forces to Break the Sickle Cell Barriers Special Report by Ojong Bate, National Operation Immunization Chair
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Upcoming Dates/Deadlines Wednesday, 5/10 - SNPhA Graduation Cord Orders Tuesday, 5/30, 11:59PM PDT - National Officer Application Submission Thursday, 6/1 - RTR/Walgreens Health Outcomes Grant Friday, 6/30 - Early Bird Convention Registration Friday, 7/7 - Late Convention Registration Upcoming Conference Calls and Webinars Monday 5/1, 8PM CDT/9PM EDT - National Officer Interest Webinar Tuesday, 5/2 at 8PM EDT - Chemical Dependency Friday, 5/5 at 8PM CDT/9PM EDT - Operation Immunization (OI) Thursday, 5/11 at 8PM EDT - “Serving the Underserved: An Analysis of Cultural Competence and Social Determinants of Health” Wednesday, 5/24 at 9pm EDT - RTR webinar Friday, 5/26 at 7PM CDT/8PM EDT - Power to End Stroke (PTES) Ongoing SNPhA Academy SNPhCHAT Takeover National Officer Chapter Visits
Looking ahead...
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visit snpha.org/about for more information Gevorg Martirosyan, National President GevorgMartirosyan@SNPhA.org Darryl Lewis, National President-Elect DarrylLewis@SNPhA.org Robbie Christian, National Vice President RobbieChristian@SNPhA.org Anna Poston, National Recording Secretary AnnaPoston@SNPhA.org James Agtuca, National Corresponding Secretary JamesAgtuca@SNPhA.org Kalyann Kauv, National Public Relations Liaison KalyannKauv@SNPhA.org Helen Mitchell, Region I Facilitator HelenMitchell@SNPhA.org Daniel Pearson, Region II Facilitator DanielPearson@SNPhA.org Steffany Nguyen, Region III Facilitator SteffanyNguyen@SNPhA.org Kwan Yuet, Region IV Facilitator KwanYuet@SNPhA.org Yasmyn Knight, Region V Facilitator YasmynKnight@SNPhA.org Brian Nwokorie, Bridging the Gap (BTG) Chair BrianNwokorie@SNPhA.org Grace Go, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Chair GraceGo@SNPhA.org Wanda Azu Owoh, Diabetes Chair WandaAzuOwoh@SNPhA.org Billie Evans, Legislative/Membership Benefits/Immigration Chair BillieEvans@SNPhA.org Ojong Bate, Operation Immunization Chair OjongBate@SNPhA.org Anh Dao Le, Power to End Stroke (PTES) Chair AnhDaoLe@SNPhA.org Shutian Kathy Ju, HIV/AIDS: "Remember the Ribbon" (RTR) Chair ShutianJu@SNPhA.org Dr. Kimberly Lewis, Executive Director KimberlyLewis@SNPhA.org Dr. George Okpamen, Assistant Executive Director GeorgeOkpamen@SNPhA.org Jessie Nia Hwang, Executive Chairwoman JessieHwang@SNPhA.org Dr. Pejman Ahmadi, Executive Consultant PejmanAhmadi@SNPhA.org Dr. Joshua Blackwell, Executive Consultant JoshuaBlackwell@SNPhA.org Dr. Bryan Donald, Executive Consultant BryanDonald@SNPhA.org
National Board contacts
Thank you for the time and effort to nearly 30 Chapters who submitted! Remember, submissions awarded CIC points will be included in our National Signatura at the end of the year. Each submission cycle has generated more impressive and well-written stories that make it harder and harder to determine what will be included. This year I created a strict rubric and blinded all submissions, and it is still tough! Thank you for inspiring us and embodying the SNPhA spirit - your efforts in the community do not go unnoticed! Below are exemplary highlights of activities across the nation.
"No Barriers!" Chapter submissions
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On February 16th, 2017, over three hundred students and pharmacists from the Maryland Pharmacy Coalition (MPC) united to advocate for the profession to Maryland Senators and Delegates. It was inspiring to see a multitude of SNPhA members in attendance. As our mission is to serve the underserved, we must acknowledge these populations face a plethora of barriers to accessing healthcare everyday. While SNPhA members tend to serve the community through our outreach events, Legislative Day allows us to make a greater impact in breaking down barriers for our communities. By educating our Senators and Delegates and sharing our personal experiences, we garnered support for fourteen pieces of legislation, which was a remarkable feat for the MPC. Three of the bills were HB1031/SB815 State Board of Pharmacy - Registered Pharmacy Technicians - Exemption for Pharmacy Students, HB613/ SB363, Pharmacists - Contraceptives - Prescribing and Dispensing, and HB631/ SB415 Public Health - Essential Generic Drugs - Price Gouging - Prohibition. HB1031/SB815 would allow pharmacy students to register as interns in their first year of pharmacy school. This was previously allowed, however, there was a piece of legislation passed that reversed this law. Students shared how not being able to work their first year of pharmacy school impacted their lives. They also expressed how direct pharmacy experience is one of the most valuable methods of learning about the profession. In addition, they educated (scroll) representatives that therapeutics and clinical skills are taught in the first year, further enhancing their ability to work as an intern. HB613/SB363 and HB631/SB415 were notably two of the most barrier breaking pieces of legislation discussed during these sessions. First, allowing pharmacists to prescribe contraceptives increases patient access to a valuable therapy for many community members. Almost everyone can relate to the time it can take to see one’s primary care provider and the accompanying costs of each visit. Many of our community members face barriers that preclude them from getting a prescription from their primary care provider for contraception. Some may not even have a primary care provider. Allowing pharmacists with special training to provide this service expands patient accessibility and addresses an important public health concern, as 58% of pregnancies in Maryland are unplanned. HB631/SB415 addressed one of the most contentious topics in healthcare today, prescription price gouging. This bill was the first step in trying to gain control over pharmaceutical companies’ ability to gouge prices of essential generic drugs. It is unconscionable to see how some manufacturers astronomically raise prices of medications that are necessary to treat disease states easily controlled by modern medicine. This was the most encouraging part of my day, as every representative we spoke to supported this bill. Participating in Legislative Day demonstrated the importance of advocating for the profession of pharmacy in order to be barrier breakers for our communities. We have a responsibility not just as future pharmacists, but as SNPhA members to live out our mission of serving the underserved. We are the voices for those that are silenced.
No Barriers by: Chelsea, McFadden, Pharm.D. Candidate 2019
January and February have been a productive time for bridging the gaps in our university, the community, and the state of Maine. Kelly Sawyer (COP ’18), Chronic Pain chair, donated blood on January 31st at the Red Cross blood drive to show her support in serving the underserved. When Kelly was in the middle of her blood draw she said, “it’s really rewarding to know that this [donating blood] can help save a life!” Our pre-pharmacy coordinator, Marina Izzi (COP ’18), has worked diligently to coordinate with UNE’s undergraduate pre-pharmacy students on the Biddeford campus. Marina has acted as a mentor for the pre-p harmacy students and hopes to transition the Pre-Pharmacy Club into an undergraduate SNPhA chapter. A pharmacy faculty member attended one of the weekly pre-pharmacy meetings, hosted by Marina and other SNPhA members, to discuss UNE’s new College of Pharmacy curriculum that starts with the new incoming class and answer questions. Other meetings have covered topics such as professionalism, ways to prepare for pharmacy school, and professional organizations. Once the pre-pharmacy students become SNPhA members, our chapter members and other pharmacy students will have a stronger presence on the undergraduate campus and expand our work into the Biddeford community. SNPhA members collaborated with UNE dental students and the Frannie Peabody Center to host our annual health fair at the Maine Mall on February 25th. Along with the dental students, each chair will present their respective poster, educate the public, and pass out information about each initiative and SNPhA. In addition, we will be performing medication reviews and blood pressure stations. For the first time ever, the Frannie (scroll) Peabody Center, an organization dedicated to helping people with HIV/AIDS, will be providing education, information about the organization, and free, immediate HIV test results at the health fair. We are so appreciative of everyone’s involvement to make this event happen and especially our Remember the Ribbon chair, Kayla Harris (COP ’18), who coordinated with the Frannie Peabody Center. Lastly, our legislative chair, Stephanie Villasis (COP ’18), has planned several events during February to promote awareness about recently legislative initiatives. For our first event, we tabled at different areas on campus to educate passersby about pharmacy legislation. We handed out sweets with pharmacy law facts attached to each one. On February 21st, SNPhA and American Pharmacists Association (APhA) invited the past president of the Maine Pharmacy’s Association, Dr. Kenneth McCall, to delineate the recent reintroduction of the Provider Status Bill. Currently in Maine, pharmacists are one of the few health professionals who do not have provider status. This event will be a great opportunity for students to learn more about pharmacy legislation, provider status, and ways to get involved. Stephanie shared information on how to contact our representatives to show our support of the provider status bill. Our last event is to host a lunch with a Maine legislative member to discuss the importance of provider status in Maine.
Eradicating Barriers by Bridging the Gap by: Lindsey Simmons, Pharm.D. Candidate 2019
Nothing Can Hold Us Back! by: Jonie Gregory, Pharm.D. Candidate 2019
Howard University’s SNPhA chapter continuously strives to overcome any obstacles, as there are no constraints on our chapter’s mind, no walls around our spirit, nor are there any barriers to our progress except those we ourselves erect. Sometimes obstacles appear in the form of time constraints. Student members of SNPhA have new projects, tests, and/or other organization duties that compete for our time. In light of this, our vice president, Lauren Latten became determined to help the chapter further our professional development. On February 6th, the chapter teamed up with ASHP to present “The Career Alumni Panel.” Various professionals provided their insight to countless career options for pharmacy students. This event was a great way to provide networking opportunities, allowed students of Howard University to foster a relationship with alumni, and updated alumni on our development as a chapter. This proved that, although some might perceive certain things to be unattainable due to the demanding nature of our educational duties, we will not be governed by that logic. Nor will it stop the chapter from focusing on what is best for the students of the organization. In an effort to continue contesting any constraints, which may also present as a travel issue, on February 7th, Remember the Ribbon initiative chair, Erica Shepperd, along with SNPhA students, traveled to Bellevue Pharmacy to honor National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. While there, students administered blood pressure screenings, risk assessments, and free HIV testing to patients within the community. There was no wall around these student’s spirits, which gave them the guidance and courage to travel a far distance to provide assistance to the community while still returning in (scroll) time for lecture. Lastly, it became a goal for our chapter to not only honor black history month, but also celebrate SNPhA’s 45th birthday. Once we realized as a unit that there are truly no barriers to our progress, we were able to find a location where we went on to host an amazing health fair. On February 19th, our chapter had the pleasure of hosting a health fair at First Baptist Church of Highland Park. We explained the importance of SNPhA and celebrated its birthday by passing out brochures, party favors, and treats. Multiple initiatives: Operation Immunization, Chronic Kidney Disease, Remember the Ribbon, and Diabetes, provided their assistance by providing educational materials pertaining to their disease state, blood pressure screenings, BMI, and/or risk assessments. In addition, Remember the Ribbon chairs provided lists of free D.C. HIV testing centers while legislative chairs held a letter campaign, in which patients were able to sign a pre-written letter to congresswoman Eleanor Norton in regards to the affordable care act. Although we have been highly involved in the community, the Howard University chapter of SNPhA plans to continue to effectively overcome any barriers that we encounter. That is, overcoming obstacles is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, which will gradually change opinions, help slowly erode old barriers, and quietly build new structures that represent progress.
How are we making a difference across the globe as a pharmacy students, you may ask? We are fortunate to have one of our very own SNPhA and UGA College of Pharmacy alumna, Celine Akoh, RPh, create a non-profit organization called the Nanka School Project (NSP) to give back to underserved individuals in Nanka, Nigeria. Her organization focuses on providing free medicine, medical treatment, and quality health education to the Nanka community in Nigeria. Mrs. Akoh is a Kroger pharmacist with close ties to this Nigerian community, where she received her middle and high school education. Upon a visit back home, Mrs. Akoh discovered the lack of educational resources and inadequate healthcare at her former high school. The state of the building, as well as the diminished state of the community, ignited a passion within Mrs. Akoh to make a change. Mrs. Akoh felt that the impoverished condition of the community should not remain a permanent barrier for quality education and healthcare. She started with the intention of fixing her old school building and bringing provisions with her to Nanka whenever she visited Nigeria. She understood that one of the largest barriers to medical care in Nigeria is quality control. Because of little government oversight, patients have a hard time finding a reliable and trustworthy source of medication. Recognizing the need for more efficacious medications and accessibility to adequate health services, Mrs. Akoh’s small idea flourished into what is now NSP. Over the years, her organization has expanded significantly and continues to make a lasting impact within the Nanka community. Every summer, the organization embarks on a medical mission trip to Nanka to provide much needed over the counter medications, basic medical supplies, and medical screenings for diabetes, (scroll) hypertension, and malaria. In order to make the mission trip successful every year, NSP collects medical supplies and recruits a crew of medical staff including physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and students. UGA SNPhA partnered with NSP this year to host an OTC medication and medical supply drive over the course of two weeks. Once we spread the word about our supply drive, we received an overwhelmingly positive response from fellow students, and quickly raised a substantial amount of supplies for the mission trip. The drive ended with Mrs. Akoh coming to speak at our general body meeting about NSP and a wonderful mission trip opportunity. We had several SNPhA members interested in traveling overseas to provide health services to the Nanka community. Our goal for this product drive was to support the NSP in their efforts to provide direct patient care to a population that needed it the most. A variety of items were donated including ibuprofen, acetaminophen, bandages, sanitary wipes, vitamins, and much more. By working with NSP, we strive to help them achieve their mission of lessening the barrier of poverty through education, awareness, and direct patient intervention. Even from Georgia, we will continue to break down barriers and serve the underserved community regardless of geographic location!
From Georgia to Nanka, Nigeria! by: Elizabeth Ojo, Pharm.D. Candidate 2018; Marin Abousaud, Pharm.D. Candidate 2018
#Region3BarrierFree by: Akshith Dass, Pharm.D. Candidate 2018; Maame Debrah-Pinamang, Pharm.D. Candidate 2019; Colin Lombardi, Pharm.D. Candidate 2020, and Mackenzie McClure, Pharm.D. Candidate 2019
In accordance with our 2016-2017 presidential theme the SNPhA chapters of Cedarville University, Ohio Northern University, University of Findlay, and the University of Toledo joined together to prove that regardless of the distance between us, Region 3 is truly #barrierfree. The University of Toledo has been putting on the AIDS Gala since 2010 and this year year decided to take on the challenge of throwing the gala while keeping the no barriers theme in mind. We determined that it would be a great opportunity to invite the neighboring pharmacy schools to partake in the festivities of the AIDS Gala. The Gala is co-sponsored by Toledo’s African People’s Association incorporating phenomenal performances of music and dance. In addition to attending the gala, we used this opportunity to impact the Toledo community and organized blood pressure screenings. The overwhelming positive response from the other chapters made this Gala a special one. Something that we will cherish for years to come. Upon receiving an invitation from the University of Toledo to attend and partake in the event, the Cedarville University chapter quickly accepted. While attending the 2017 national conference, the chapters had the opportunity to build a friendship that has evolved throughout the year. Although Cedarville and Toledo are 2.5 hours apart, we were not going to let distance stop us from making an impact and spending time with other chapters. Upon arrival to Toledo, we were quick to help out wherever we could. Ohio Northern University SNPhA was elated to receive an invite to the AIDS Gala. (scroll) Members of ONU SNPhA were enriched by the wide range of activities at the gala that shed misconceptions about HIV/AIDS. The knowledge that we gained was brought back to our chapter to continue help spread awareness about this disease. We truly cherished the opportunity to network with chapters across Ohio will continue to use these connections to work towards the ultimate goal of NO BARRIERS. Several members of the University of Findlay SNPhA happily attended the gala to learn more about HIV/AIDS and help spread awareness. We learned information to protect ourselves from the disease and also how to properly counsel our patients. As pharmacists, it is important to know about HIV/AIDS in order to educate. We enjoyed that the event had provider and patient perspectives on HIV. Our members got tested for HIV to know our own status. We also were able to assist in taking blood pressure for the attendees with members from other chapters. We thoroughly enjoyed networking with the other chapters and look forward to more collaboration in the future.The gala was just the beginning. The more bridges we build within our communities and organizations, the more walls we tear down. And the further we can go as an organization, community, and as a profession. #Region3BarrierFree.
UTCOP SNPhA Signatura by: Fiona Imarhia
Maya Angelou once said, “Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” Although barriers in life are inevitable, members of the University of Texas at Austin Student National Pharmaceutical Association chapter have consistently and effectively jumped every hurdle in order to serve the underserved community. Whether the hurdles consist of language, social, or even physical barriers, UT SNPhA is determined to penetrate walls and spread the message of hope and love. According to Fiona Imarhia, a third year pharmacy student and President of UT SNPhA, “Breaking barriers is about getting out of your comfort zone. Take risks, take chances, and do it all to better serve people.” Take, for example, a health screening at the annual Vietnamese Health Fair that many SNPhA members took part in. At this event, language was a tremendous barrier, as a vast majority of the attendees only spoke Vietnamese. However, by working together with other UT students who could act as translators, student pharmacists were able to successfully convey important health information to the attendees about their blood glucose and cholesterol levels. While it isn’t easy or ideal to communicate health information across language barriers, SNPhA members realize that breaking language barriers is of upmost importance in serving the underserved and making sure that every person receives the best health care possible, no matter their cultural background. Apart from language barriers, social barriers are the root cause of divides that can be seen all over society today. Whether these divides are personal, institutional, or structural in nature, UT SNPhA aims to hosts events that bring people together rather (scroll) than tearing them apart. Whether it is having coffee with parents at Burnett Middle School and talking to them about immunizations or mentoring students at Maplewood Elementary School, SNPhA members aim to bridge the gap between people from various job fields, lifestyles, and socioeconomic status. Within the organization, monthly socials, such as board game nights, help to bring members together and learn more about each other. As one student put it, “When we hang out together, we figure out we all have one common goal. We forget our differences, and it starts to feel just like a family.” Going forward, UT SNPhA’s vision is to break down physical barriers. For them, this means sending members on a mission trip to Haiti in May of 2017. Elizabeth Dong, a second year student will be going on the trip, along with third year student Jocelyne Mamvou. The students will work alongside other medical professionals to provide pharmacy services to people in need. “This is my first medical mission trip, and I’m looking forward to learning about the rich culture of Haiti, seeing people come together to serve others, and also serving those who might be different than I am.” She understands that ultimately, it is our ability to break down fences, extend a helping hand, and help our neighbors that makes us strong and unbreakable. As they dive into 2017, members of the UT SNPhA chapter plan on continuing to jump fences, penetrate barriers, and break down walls to stand together as one. The results, no doubt, will be extraordinary.
GOOD LUCK ON FINALS! Congratulations on those who have finished! From the SNPhA family, we believe in you!
Thank You for... Reading! inspiring! serving the underserved! Thank you to Mariam Khan (UAMS Chapter Vice President) for assisting with the cover page design! Made with Love, Kalyann Kauv National Public Relations Liaison