Student National Pharmaceutical Association

We are just under 2 weeks out from the SNPhA x American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) Residency Showcase!! This virtual residency showcase is open to ALL STUDENTS at no cost, allowing students to connect with over 600 recruiters without the financial burden of travel and conference registration fees. Students-- registration is still open! Learn more and register here: https://lnkd.in/g2dVg2pZ Can't wait to see you there! #Pharmacy #FuturePharmacists #GetConnected #RxResidency #Residency #ConnectedforChange

With the start of residency season comes the start of curating the perfect application documents. While a CV is provides a detailed look into professional experiences, the letter of intent provides a unique narrative opportunity to tell a story. We are excited to announce the next installment in our SNPhA Excellence Series: "Connect the Dots: Emerge from the Crowd with a Standout Letter of Intent", hosted by Dr. Jenna Cox PharmD, BCCCP, BCPS. Dr. Cox currently serves as the PGY2 Critical Care Residency Program Director at Prisma Health Richland- University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy This webinar looks to provide students with insight on what residency program directors look for in letters of intent and how to ensure that your letter tells your story effectively. The webinar will take place on November 13th at 7 PM EST I 6 PM CST I 4 PM PST. More information can be found here: https://loom.ly/FZFQZ5A #ConnectedForChange #SNPhAExcellence #LOI #SNPhA #ConnectTheDots #C4C #RxResidency

Regardless if you are applying for pharmacy school, fellowships, residencies, or a job, an interview is always one of the most daunting parts of the application process. P2 Christian To and P1 Matthew Kim, the pre-pharmacy liaisons at The University of Houston College of Pharmacy recognized this, leading them to host mini mock interviews for pre-pharmacy students. "Through each Mock MMI, students experience the pressure of interviews while developing essential skills in critical thinking, communication, and time management. In addition to this hands-on experience, proctors provide constructive feedback, helping students identify areas for improvement", said Matthew. "Gaining experience is huge. Whether it’s volunteering or working in a pharmacy, that real-world exposure is priceless. I remember when I first started shadowing a pharmacist—seeing them in action made me realize how much more there was to the job than I thought. It helped me connect the dots between what I was learning in the classroom and the actual patient care aspect", said Christian when asked about what advice he'd give pre-pharmacy students. For chapters looking to host similar events, Matthew and Christian encouraged chapters to embrace the event fully. By understanding the interview process, not only does this event give chapters the opportunity to help pre-pharmacy students, but also the chance to develop their own interview skills. Congratulations to Matthew, Christian, and the University of Houston College of Pharmacy on hosting an incredible Bridging the Gap event! Your dedication to the next generation of pharmacists is astounding! #FuturePharmacists #PrePharmacy #SNPhA #ConnectedForChange #GetConnected #BridgingtheGap #C4C #Interviews

Opioid overdose can be quite a scary topic to approach with college students-- however the University of Kansas' Chapter President, Maddie Berry , and Vice President, Austin Sherman , found a way to make the topic anything but spooky. Through partnership with DCCCA and the KU Health Education Resource Office, KU SNPhA was able to give out over 100 boxes of Narcan and 60 Fentanyl test strip kits to students on KU's main campus-- educating nearly 300 students on the signs of opioid overdose and the importance of carrying Narcan. "I loved hearing about how many students already had Narcan at home and felt ready to use it if they needed to. Additionally, by handing out over 100 boxes of a $50 medication at no cost, students were given access to a tool that may save someone's life" said Austin when discussing the impact of the event. For chapters looking to host similar events, Maddie suggested that chapters collaborate with campus and community health resources. By having demonstrator narcans and a dummy head, students were able to practice how to administer Narcan. Additionally, by going to a central area of campus to table, the members were able to engage with a wider audience, including pre-pharmacy students who had not heard of SNPhA. Congratulations to Maddie, Austin, and the KU School of Pharmacy's chapter for their outstanding work toward the LMBI initiative! Your advocacy helps save lives-- one dose at a time! #ConnectedForChange #GetConnected #C4C #Narcan #LMBI #SNPhA

Health fairs serve as an excellent way to connect with local communities and to educate others on the importance of general health maintenance-- such as the importance of getting vaccines. This message has been amplified over the past months by The University of Houston College of Pharmacy's Operation Immunization chair, Khanh Nguyen Since starting as the UHCOP's Operation Immunization chair, Khanh, alongside his co-chair, George Bonsu, have participated in over 5 health fairs, reaching 312 patients so far. When asked about the health fairs Khanh said that many patients approached SNPhA members to learn more about various vaccines, allowing the members to provide information that allowed patients to make informed choices regarding vaccines. "I vividly remember one patient who stopped by and asked to learn about all of the vaccines we were educating about that day. The patient was surprised about how many vaccines she did not know about, like the Tdap booster and HPV vaccine, and asked if I could write them down, along with the ones she was qualified for like the flu and COVID shots, so that she could talk to her provider about getting them", said Khanh When asked about what other SNPhA members should know when attending health fairs, Khanh stated "my biggest advice to others who are looking to participate in similar events is to just enjoy the experience because chances are the patients are happy to meet you too!" Congratulations to The University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Khanh, and George for your incredible dedication to the Operation Immunization Initiative! Your hard work is actively making an impact in your community! #ConnectedForChange #OperationImmunization #SNPhA #C4C #GetConnected #Pharmacy #VaccineAwareness

Last month, the University of Houston College of Pharmacy's SNPhA chapter participated in the Uplift Her Health Fair-- A health fair hosted by the African American Male Wellness Agency - Houston dedicated to informing and empowering women of color to prioritize their health. At this event, 15 members of the University of Houston College of Pharmacy (UHCOP)'s chapter provided patient education and blood pressure screening for attendees. When asked about the impact this event had, Aiden Tran, one of UHCOP's Power to End Stroke co-chairs and a P2 at UCHOP, stated that the event demonstrated incredible support for the black community in Houston. "It was remarkable to see students and professionals from various schools and organizations connecting with the community, offering screenings and educational resources that can positively impact the lives of those who attended the event. With a successful event like this, more people will benefit as they are better educated about their health and spread awareness of what they learned to their communities and loved ones. However, I also realized that we, as future healthcare providers, still have much to do to connect with patients and offer support to more underserved and marginalized communities." said Aiden While at Uplift Her, Aiden was able to connect with patients, learning their stories-- "One patient shared her story of experiencing a stroke in her late 20s while working as a teacher. Thankfully, her students recognized that something was wrong and quickly jumped into action to save her life. She is now in her 50s advocating for stroke education programs. This highlighted the importance of not only educating our patients but also students, as it can benefit the community by raising awareness of recognizing stroke and knowing how to prevent it." For chapters looking to participate in similar events, Aiden recommended bringing a positive attitude into every patient interaction, as it allows genuine connections to be formed with our patients. Congratulations to The University of Houston College of Pharmacy and Aiden for your astounding work on the Power to End Stroke Initiative! We are so proud to call you members of our #SNPhAm ! #ConnectedForChange #PowerToEndStroke #SNPhA #GetConnected #Pharmacy #FuturePharmacists #C4C #UpliftHer

Last weekend was a full circle moment for me. Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) played a vital role in my leadership development and career opportunities as I served on the national board during my last year in pharmacy school (2017). While leading nationally was definitely an experience of a lifetime, it was scary at times making decisions that would inevitably impact underserved communities, patients, and overall people! I was able to lean on my national board counterparts and build true connections with them. Most of them I can still count on til this day to step up to the plate if I needed them. The moment our team became a well functioning, selfless, dedicated, and appreciative group was at our in person leadership retreat that was sponsored by Walmart. So much was provided and poured into us as leaders. Unfortunately, the last few years the leadership retreat went unsponsored and virtual… until this past weekend! Eli Lilly and Company Foundation provided a 200k grant that supports several of the SNPhA/NPhA conferences as well as the SNPhA leadership retreat! This could not be possible without SNPhAdvocates, like the one and only George Okpamen, PharmD, MBA. He was the assistant executive director when I was on the board and truly gives back to the organization that gave so much to him. Thank you for making my dream to bring the leadership retreat back to an in person event, a reality. The officers have commented on the excellent programming, experiences, volunteer opportunities, and ability to CONNECT and bond with each other. They are ready to get to work for SNPhA! Shoutout to the team who made this possible! Lakesha Butler, PharmD, Yasmyn Knight, PharmD, Darryl Lewis, Optikool illusions, Jessie N R., Chelsea Sumner, PharmD, Rph, Brandon Jennings, PharmD, BCACP, DeRoyce Simmons and so many more. #SNPhA #NPhA #ConnectedForChange #EliLilly #TheLillyFoundation

This past weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Student National Pharmaceutical Association Leadership Retreat in Indianapolis. During this retreat, I gained valuable insights into my leadership skills and effective communication, while also engaging with the local community. I want to express my gratitude to Eli Lilly and Company and the Lilly Foundation for sponsoring this retreat. I would like to personally extend a warm thank you to George Okpamen, PharmD, MBA; Chelsea Sumner, PharmD, Rph; DeRoyce Simmons; and Ashley Mercier, PharmD for their guidance and support as I navigate my journey as a leader in pharmacy. Here are several key insights from the weekend: 1. Power in Your Voice I acquired valuable knowledge regarding the effective use of my voice through the PLS 5 Voices Assessment, which plays a significant role in enhancing communication within a team setting. I would like to express my gratitude to Brandon Jennings, PharmD, BCACP for providing resources to harness the power of my voice. 2. Tap Into Your Emotions I gained an understanding of the significance of empathetic leadership and emotional intelligence. I am thankful to Lakesha Butler, PharmD for emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and emotional regulation. 3. Privilege. Power. Platform. I wish to express my sincere appreciation to Jessie N R. for facilitating my self-reflection on the type of leader I aspire to be. 4. Know Your Passion I am grateful to Darryl Lewis for sharing his journey and highlighting the importance of embracing my passion to advocate for my community. 5. Pour Into Your Community I had the privilege of participating in Celebrate Science Indiana and connecting with students at Arsenal Technical High School. This experience allowed me to positively influence the next generation of healthcare professionals and to share my passion for the field of pharmacy. This weekend would not have been possible without the invaluable support of Robbie Christian PharmD., BCIDP; Yasmyn Knight, PharmD; Chelsey Strowbridge; E'Shay Winfield; Sarah Skaggs Gatewood; Sharmaine Cubelo, PharmD; Tatiana Hines, PharmD; and Tazche Turner. I extend my sincere gratitude to each of you. This weekend provided an extraordinary opportunity, and I am eager to apply the skills I have acquired throughout my professional journey. #SNPhA #ConnectedForChange #EliLilly #TheLillyFoundation

This past weekend, I had the honor of traveling with the Student National Pharmaceutical Association to Indianapolis. It was an incredible experience that enhanced my leadership skills and gave me the opportunity to give back to the community. A huge thank you to Eli Lilly and Company The Lilly Foundation for sponsoring this opportunity, allowing for personal and professional growth. I also want to extend my gratitude to George Okpamen, PharmD, MBA, Chelsea Sumner, PharmD, Rph, DeRoyce Simmons, and Ashley Mercier, PharmD for their words of encouragement and for illuminating the path to creating our own career journeys. Throughout the weekend, I learned to understand my 5 Voices, build trust, and empower others through their own voices. Thank you, Brandon Jennings, PharmD, BCACP for sharing valuable insights on improving my emotional intelligence and becoming a well-rounded leader. Additionally, I would like to thank Lakesha Butler, PharmD for helping me grasp the importance of empathetic leadership and connecting with my own emotions. I would also like to thank Darryl Lewis and Jessie N R. for helping me understand the importance of knowing your passion and recognizing their invaluable contributions to SNPhA. It was an honor to participate in the Celebrate Science Indiana and Arsenal Technical High School presentations. As a National Board member, I am committed to empowering the younger generation, as they are a vital part of our future. These experiences would not have been possible without the support of Robbie Christian PharmD., BCIDP, Yasmyn Knight, PharmD, Sharmaine Cubelo, PharmD, Chelsey Strowbridge, Sarah Skaggs Gatewood, Tatiana Hines, PharmD, and Tazche Turner. I am truly grateful to each of you. This weekend was an incredible experience, and I’m excited to apply the skills I’ve learned to better connect with the community and grow as a leader. #SNPhA #ConnectedforChange #TheLillyFoundation