AMERICAN PHARMACISTS ASSOCIATION - ACADEMY OF STUDENT PHARMACISTS

Region 1

P O S T A N N U A L N E W S L E T T E R

Apr

i l

20

13

L O s A n g e l e s , C a - M a r c h 1 - 4

Los Angeles , CA

ANNUAL MEETING AND EXPOSITION

ind information about patient care projects, advocating for your profession, and tips on

how you can become the next Up and Coming Chapter! You can learn what it was like to be a candidate for the National Executive Committee and meet the members of our new NEC.

It was wonderful getting to see all of the familiar Region 1 faces at APhA2013! Whether it was in the APhA-ASP House of Delegates, during a Patient Care Project session, or up on the big screen for PharmFlix, Region 1 was represented very well by our 18 schools.

We look forward to seeing many of you again at the Summer Leadership Institute and the Midyear Regional Meeting!

Deadlines and Important Dates!

Operation Self-CareA session was held on Friday, March 1st to complete the transition to Operation Self-Care. A planning guide will be coming during the summer of 2013 and information will be provided at SLI! Find information about MCPHS’s Operation Self care on

Page 5.

Region 1 Caucus

The Region 1 Caucus was held on Sunday,

March 3rd. We had a lot of great discussion and feedback. It was so nice to see everyone there!

Chapter Leadership Workshop

On Saturday, March 2nd, Jim Hoar from Target presented on Holding Others Accountable in volunteer-based organizations. This session was interactive and very educational.

House of DelegatesThe APhA-ASP House of Delegates sessions were held on Saturday and Sunday. There was a lot of great discussion on both policies being brought forth, as well as the New Business Items. Both policies, 2013.1

and 2013.2 were passed in the APhA-ASP House of Delegates.

In this issue of the Region 1 newsletter...

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APhA 2013!

April 16th: APhA-ASP Webinar Series: Chapter Achievement Reports

April 22nd: Pre-Registration for SLI due

May 3rd: Final Registration for SLI due

July 12th-14th: SLI!

July 15th: Chapter Achievement Reports and PCP reports due

November 11-13th: MRM!

New York to Hollywood -- Running for National Executive Committee

o you remember those quotes and sayings on cards you received when you were graduating

from high school that read “it’s the journey not the destination?” This is the quote that comes to mind to sum up running for a National Officer position for APhA-ASP. As a junior and senior in high school, this quote didn’t seem to strike a chord with me, but I’ve realized how valuable these simple words are. The journey and the process of getting somewhere and the experiences you gain act as the game changing factors in the grand scheme of things, not the final result.

My experience running for National President-elect in Los Angeles, brought to light the real value and importance of the whole process of the journey, which has left me energized and ready to continue to play my part in advancing the profession.

Upon deciding to run for National President-elect about nine months before Annual Meeting, I had an idea of what it may be like but truly could not have anticipated how awesome the entire experience would be. I truly have to credit the APhA staff and this past year’s executive board for the wonderful experience.

I met so many incredibly motivated, aware, and bright student pharmacists who were full of ideas, questions, and eager to find ways to make their mark. From cocktail hour to the first roundtables session on Friday evening, meeting students and practitioners from all over the nation and hearing their ideas, thoughts, concerns, and what if anything they would want to see changed was both inspiring and motivating. I gained new perspective and a greater understanding of how I can best help and it helped me to further develop the ideas I already had in place and

challenge me to find creative solutions to better serve my peers. The conversations with students and practitioners alike helped to truly springboard project ideas, collaboration practices, and new ways to increase awareness in the community of what we as Pharmacists can offer. The more people I spoke with, new friends I made, and growing network I built the more excited I became for the future and what we were going to achieve.

Regardless of anything, I knew that this meeting would serve as the spring board to the future and help in fostering this generation of Pharmacists to reach new heights and shoot for the moon. I was so encouraged to see and know so many students and pharmacists getting out there, who were willing and ready to be the change and difference in the community, the healthcare team, and in the lives of patients.

I am often asked, what the best piece of advice I received before running for office at Annual Meeting was that

I could share with others. To answer, it was a piece of advice from a few people summed up including my faculty at St. John’s, friends, and family which was whatever you doenjoy every moment and focus on being in that moment. Don’t concentrate or even worry about what will happen, just have fun and be you. This was exactly what I did and I could not have had asked for a better experience.

The way I see pharmacy today, opportunity is truly endless and the future is wide open especially in the exciting time we are in now. If I could offer advice to my fellow students it would be to think outside the box, ask why not, don’t settle, and dream big as the opportunities to grow and continue to build are endless. We as student pharmacists ought to stand as one voice in looking towards the future, and it was an amazing feeling to be a part of that at Annual Meeting. I knew it didn’t end at Annual Meeting, but it began there.

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Continued on Page 3...

By Praneeta NagrajSt. Johns University

Your New National Executive Committee! As soon as I got back to New York from

Hollywood, I made sure to keep the fire going and the ball rolling. I know I gave running for office my best shot but also knew regardless of the results, my work was not done yet. I re-grouped, re-focused, and asked myself, how can I continue to make an impact and continue to help foster a generation of future pharmacists? I decided to start with my chapter at St. John’s University and what I could do to help my peers and community. All within the 5 hours of landing back in New York I began to brainstorm and write out various ideas and why those who weren’t involved in pharmacy organizations not involved and what I could to help. I recalled conversations from all the students I met and their own complaints, thoughts, and then planned out an entire year’s worth of new event ideas, collaboration projects, and ways to really get the entire College of Pharmacy and greater community together. Some ideas included a social/mixer night with faculty, study skills/time management workshops to help students be able to make time to get involved, and various other events. I am in the works of working with this year’s executive board in working to successfully implement as many ideas as we can to really make a bigger presence and greater impact.

As Mother Teresa once said, “I alone cannot change the world, but can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” How will you make your mark in the profession and create ripples? Maybe you will garner a petition that goes to Congress, or help to educate patients so they actively choose to lead healthier lives, or perhaps, become a pioneer and create your own niche in a new and undiscovered field of pharmacy.

Take a risk and ask constantly, “what can I do to help inspire, advance, and help my fellow class mates, this profession, and the greater community as a whole. “ We stand at an exciting point in time for pharmacy and healthcare as a whole, and the ball is truly in our court, so what will your next move be? We are at a crucial point as we fight to be recognized as providers by Congress and to solidify our role within the community and as a crucial part of the healthcare team. In the midst of the new healthcare reform, we must continue to show how we are an invaluable asset in bettering patient health. I am greatly looking forward to the rest of the year, and am eagerly looking forward to next year’s Annual meeting in Orlando! I hope to see you all there!

New York to Ho!ywood, continued...

National PresidentBrandi HamiltonUniversity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

National President-electNicholas CapoteThe University of Tennessee Health Science Center

National Member-at-large Joshua Cahill D’Youville College

National Member-at-large Brian Donahue Mercer University

Speaker of the HouseJT FanninUniversity of Florida

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From Region 1!

By Gabr iella PepeNortheastern University

This past March, I was fortunate enough to be able to attend APhA’s Annual Meeting in Los Angeles. It was invaluable experience that I firmly believe everyone should have. When I first arrived, I would be lying if I said that I was not overwhelmed. The amount of people in LA was terrifying in comparison to Boston’s small atmosphere. I had no idea what to expect and therefore, went into the opportunity with an open mind. I tried to attend as many meetings as possible and really soak up the incredible amount of knowledge that was being handed to me so easily. At each meeting or seminar, I paid attention to what other student pharmacists were doing and how they implemented projects at their schools. It was inspiring to be in the same room with professionals my age who were making big impacts upon their communities. None of us are pharmacists yet, which, to me, can be intimidating. It makes me question how can I help those before I even graduate or have a degree. But these student pharmacists were incredible and their goals were not accomplished with grandiose projects. Some outreach programs were simple gestures that made a large influence upon patients. It really gave me ideas and hopes as to what my chapter could achieve in the upcoming years. Furthermore, I was able to attend the meeting as my Chapter Delegate and represent my Chapter. It was an amazing opportunity to be a part of something that could change the face of pharmacy. I was amazed that my vote had the power to help pass legislature. I loved being able to hear about pharmacy legislature and how the process worked. As a result, this experience made me want to become more involved with pharmacy law and learn more about this area of my profession. Overall, I enjoyed my time in LA at the Annual Meeting. I think that as my first time, I had the best experience than anyone could imagine. I met great people, I learned more about my profession, but even more, I fell in love with APhA-ASP all over again. It made me realize how great this organization is. It inspired me and made me understand how much I truly believe in everything that APhA-ASP represents. Being at that meeting made me so incredibly proud to be a student pharmacist and I cannot wait to attend future meetings.

First Timer’s Experience

at APhA2013

“APhA2013 was an invaluable experience. Going to a national conference is something that totally transforms your outlook on the profession. Between the networking, professional development, and leadership opportunities, the possibilities to expand your role as a pharmacy student were endless. The meeting gives you a confidence and burning desire to do great things and I would recommend the same experience to each and every pharmacy student.”

National Award Recipients

from Region 1!

Up-and-Coming Chapter 2011-2012

Husson University School of Pharmacy

Chapter Professionalism Award 2011-2012

The University of Rhode Island

College of Pharmacy

Pharmflix Best Picture AwardWestern New England

University

Heartburn Awareness Challenge 2011-2012

National AwardMassachusetts College of

Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Generation Rx Region 1 Award

Long Island University

John A. Gans APhA Foundation Student

ScholarshipBenjamin Laliberte

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Jonathan Lee University of Connecticut

School of Pharmacy

From Heartburn Awareness Challenge to Operation Self Care

uring my two years as chairperson of the Heartburn Awareness Challenge (HAC), I realized that heartburn is

indeed an everyday concern. Naturally, our events should reflect everyday life. During numerous casual meetings, electronic or in-person, we brainstormed ideas to fit heartburn education into activities that we would normally partake in outside of APhA-ASP. We wanted to include heartburn awareness in places where we worked, in our hobbies, in our volunteer sites, and even in our classes.

Fortunately, I enrolled in an herbal elective last year and asked one of the guest lecturers to host an informational session at her private clinic and we were able to learn which herbal products helped to treat heartburn. One committee member worked at Target pharmacy. A sheriff from his district asked Target to speak about OTC products in a senior home. That member agreed with one condition: to include a heartburn Q&A session during the presentation. Another member volunteers at the YMCA and was invited to talk about teen drug abuse issues. I thought; why not create a new topic that is relevant and interesting to teens? With that thought in mind, we created a game starring a character called HAC-man. Points were distributed when teens answered heartburn-related questions correctly and healthy fruits would add bonus points. All the while, the heartburn ghosts were catching up to HAC-man. The kids at the YMCA loved the competition and were very eager to learn the answers so that they could gain more points.

Every year, a couple of friends and I participated in the Walk for Hunger. It is a 20-mile walk that raises awareness for hunger in Boston and raises money for the Greater Boston Food Bank. Each year I would stare at the backs of walkers’ creative T-

shirts, so we decided to create one about heartburn. We created shirts saying “Got heartburn? We can help” in the same font as the famous Hood motto. The design turned many heads and some walkers asked us questions about their heartburn. The best part was when the announcer saw a large group of our HAC members and shouted “heartburn awareness”!

Probably one of our more risky endeavors was the Shadows of Heartburn event at the Anime Convention. This annual event is something that some HAC members attend for fun, so I thought: why not involve heartburn education? The convention itself involved fans dressing up as their favorite video game or Japanese cartoon characters and holding meetings and events where they could share their passions. With a couple of HAC members, I dressed up and utilized business cards that had a logo on one side from my character’s game and information about food related to heartburn on the other. Whenever we took a picture with others, I would issue them a card and ask for a picture with the heartburn side viewable.

We can’t forget about mini-golf! Another one of our goals was to create hands-on props that could be passed down from coordinator generation to generation. The set we purchased was a “build-it-yourself ” model and we were able to modify it

into many different courses. Our heartburn template was a straight line to mimic an esophagus with danger foods as barriers. We would show patients our food selection and ask them what their favorites were. As many as they selected, we would place these barriers on the golf set. This made the bolus (ball) of food difficult to digest.

We noticed we talked a lot about food, and less about the pharmaceutical interventions. We counseled about cooking at home versus ordering food, drinking teas instead of soda, the appropriate number of times to chew food, and even proper sleep hygiene.

Our focus of heartburn awareness had shifted from treatment to prevention.

Essentially, when I look back at the events, our HAC looked more like a heartburn self-care project. The transition from HAC to Self-Care came naturally to us and even seemed anticipated. With the introduction of Self-Care, we have even more possibilities and are no longer limited to heartburn. We may now incorporate cough and cold, headaches, eczema, allergies, depression, muscles spasms, and the list is endless. Basically anything OTC is our territory, as well as anything considered alternative care.

As for the coming year, we will stay true to our principles. These are to welcome all creative brainstorming ideas, incorporate Self-Care into our daily lives, and create hands-on and memorable events. The only real difference is that now, we are permitted to incorporate information on topics other than heartburn.

As my herbal teacher says, all diseases stem from the stomach. In other words, we are ready for this new challenge.

DBy Nghiep Hua Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences - Boston

Are you going to be the next Up-and-Coming Chapter?

The Husson University Chapter of APhA-ASP had the pleasure of accepting the National Up-and-Coming Chapter award at APhA2013 in Los Angeles. The chapter worked tirelessly during the 2011-2012 school year to strengthen several aspects of chapter operation. To aid in growing and developing the chapter, the executive committee set two primary goals of increasing active membership and developing solid patient care projects. Several objectives were set to accomplish these goals. To improve our patient care projects, we solicited interest in specific patient care projects from members and prospective members and were able to target activities in which our membership had particular interest. One of our local members had an interest in reaching out to the children of local recreation centers to teach them about heart health. As a result, Operation Heart blossomed into what is now an incredibly successful project, teaching the kids of the Brewer Recreation Center about the importance of staying active through exercise and eating a proper diet through healthy snack choices. At first, the Operation Heart committee had less than ten members. However, it did not take long for others to notice how

much fun people were having at the recreation center. Members instinctively started coming forward with creative ideas to implement with the kids and even more members simply wanted to participate. It is easy to understand why this patient care project developed so quickly and continues to be our most successful effort.In order to increase active membership, we moved our chapter meetings from bi-weekly to monthly. In doing so, we saw our average meeting attendance jump almost 100% to about 50 members. We felt this to be very important because chapter meetings are vital to growing as a chapter by maintaining continual involvement and keeping communication channels open with all chapter members, not just leadership. As more members attended the meetings, they were able to recognize the efforts of others and become motivated to get involved. For us, the key to motivating members to be active in the chapter was through direct communicating and sharing of successes. At the final chapter meeting of the year, we had members group together and complete a self-evaluation of the chapter. This allowed us to review activities and events well

received by chapter members, and evaluate other aspects for improvements. Listening to the membership and making the necessary changes based on its feedback brought our chapter closer together and increased involvement moving into this year. In fact, Operation Immunization has been extremely successful for our chapter this year!One of the most successful events of the year was a health fair held at our school that included collaboration from six of our patient care projects as well as the nursing, physical therapy, and occupational therapy programs. This collaborative effort with other health professions programs generated great publicity for the chapter in our community, and opened avenues for future collaborative programming with these programs. In conclusion, the success of our growing chapter was due to the commitment of all of our chapter members. We have built a strong foundation for continual development and growth and we look forward to hearing about the successes of future APhA-ASP chapters at the Husson University School of Pharmacy.

By Paul Morrow and Andy ExleyHusson University

How will you advocate for your profession?Learn how student pharmacists at Northeastern University advocate in Massachusetts

harmacy is in need of advocates! As the profession grows and adapts to the changes occurring in our

health care system, pharmacy must express its voice and ensure that it’s not left behind. A pharmacist’s potential to improve health outcomes is astonishing, but much of what we do goes unnoticed! Pharmacists need to show our value as a member of the health care team and prove that we can make a lasting impact in the community. The knowledge and capabilities of a pharmacist as well as the resourcefulness of the profession must be shared, and who else better to do that than the students who are learning and training to become pharmacists! We must tell the community about the potential of pharmacy and work to gain the respect and trust of others. Without people who believe in our ability to provide health care services, our profession will serve no purpose. We are essentially the future of pharmacy and need take a role in standing up for our profession.

The opportunity to show that we care about our profession has recently presented itself in Massachusetts. The New England Compounding Center tragedy that surfaced this past fall has opened up the door for pharmacy reform. It has essentially put pharmacy on the map, and not for all the right reasons. Now that the community is more aware, let’s show them what pharmacy is really all about! The Massachusetts Pharmacist’s Association (MPhA) realized this opportunity and has begun utilizing its large resource of pharmacy students to advocate for two bills that have

received Senator Sponsorship in Massachusetts. The first bill is H.2060, An Act Recognizing Pharmacists as Healthcare Providers and the second bill is S.995, An Act Authorizing Certain Pharmacy Interns to Administer Vaccinations. The push is on to get a lot of support for these bills before they are voted on at the State House. The enactment of both of these bills would be a huge stepping stone for pharmacy in Massachusetts and could potentially open the door for further recognition and advancement. It is incredible to see the response of the Northeastern pharmacy students, with close to 60 students expressing their interest in going to the State House to advocate for pharmacy!

Various meetings have been scheduled between March 28th and April 9th thanks to David Johnson, the Executive Vice President of MPhA. The meetings will give students the amazing opportunity to meet face to face with the Senator or Representative of their district and talk about these pertinent issues. It’s our chance to ask for their support and truly show them how much pharmacy means to us and our community. Thanks to Northeastern pharmacy faculty members Jenny Van Amburgh and Dr. Anita Young, students have been prepped and educated for these meetings. We are ready to take a stand for pharmacy! I hope all of you are too!

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Student pharmacists in Massachusetts went to the State House to meet with Senators and representatives to advocate for the profession of pharmacy.

By Matthew Schmidt Northeastern University

Midyear Regional Meeting 2014

Get Ready for.....

November 1st-3rd, 2013Washington D.C.

Details about lodging, registration and Chapter Challenges to come!