At the recent American Pharmacists Association (APhA) meeting in Seattle, the UT Health Science Center chapter of the Academy of Student Pharmacists was named the APhA-ASP Chapter of the Year.
At the recent American Pharmacists Association (APhA) meeting in Seattle, the UT Health Science Center chapter of the Academy of Student Pharmacists was named the APhA-ASP (American Pharmacists Association – Academy of Student Pharmacists) Chapter of the Year. The award is presented to the most outstanding of the 89 APhA-ASP chapters nationally.
UTHSC was well represented at the convention, with 60 students attending. The chapter also received the Region 3 Operation Diabetes and Operation Immunization awards for their hard work screening and educating patients in these areas of pharmaceutical care.
UTHSC students have held numerous diabetes screening sessions at local pharmacies, long-term care facilities and health fairs. Last fall, they provided immunizations for 11,000 Tennesseans, which accounts for one-fifth of the total number administered by students across the United States.
The UTHSC chapter of ASP is made up of more than 350 members, and these awards are a reflection of their tireless efforts. APhA-ASP is comprised of 16 different committees led by 50 chairmen and vice chairmen. These students have spearheaded efforts to educate citizens about various health risks, disease states, and disease prevention through health fairs and other community events like Senior Day at the Zoo and the American Heart Association Women’s Conference.
In addition to successful diabetes and immunizations programs, students have: taken hundreds of blood pressures, counseled assisted living residents on their medications, taught children with asthma how to better cope with their disease, and educated women on breast cancer. Other projects have included fundraisers and charity events, including collecting more than 400 textbooks for pharmacy students in Mexico and Africa.
The Academy of Students Pharmacists is not the only UTHSC pharmacy student group to receive accolades this year. Phi Delta Chi Pharmaceutical Fraternity and the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) received top recognition as most outstanding chapter from their respective national organizations. Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity was recognized as most improved chapter.