The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy APhA–ASP Chapter celebrates its success at APhA2019 in Seattle.
By Stanley Dowell
We bide by three pillars at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) College of Pharmacy APhA–ASP Chapter: advocate for the profession of pharmacy through policy efforts, serve patients across the state of Tennessee, and develop student pharmacists within our chapter to be the best pharmacists upon graduation. We try to base everything we do off these pillars and develop a chapter theme for the year to coincide with the APhA–ASP national theme. Our chapter’s theme for 2017–18 was “It Starts with One,” where we focused on developing individual members’ talents and on how each member could contribute to the Academy.
UTHSC’s efforts were rewarded with the Chapter of the Year recognition while celebrating 50 years of APhA–ASP at the 2019 APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition in Seattle.
Unique advocacy campaigns
Focusing on professional development and advocacy efforts were key. During our fall membership picnic, the Policy Committee encouraged chapter members to register to vote and hosted a letter writing campaign. The committee hosted our first ever Trivia Night and raised money for “Back the PAC” while educating trivia goers on how the profession is advanced forward through legislation. The chapter’s campaign also included a Valentine’s Day fundraiser, where students, faculty, and staff could send each other candy and cards for PAC donations. Finally, we hosted “Pharm on Tap,” where new practitioners and student pharmacists networked in the relaxed environment of breweries and taprooms to discuss the residency process and their future career choices.
A huge accomplishment our Policy Committee and IPSF team took part in was collaborating with students and faculty from all disciplinaries at UTHSC to make our campus smoke free. Data were collected from medicine, dental, and nursing students and student pharmacists to show how a smoke- free campus was important to members of the community. Ad campaigns were created through social media and flyers to promote the cause and gain more attention on campus for the movement. The data were ultimately brought to the UTHSC Board of Trustees, who voted to officially enforce smoke-free policies across our health science center.
Patient care program success
Another large part of our chapter’s success lies in patient care. This year, our chapter was awarded regionally in Operation Diabetes, OTC Medicine Safety, and Generation Rx and nationally in Operations Heart and Immunization. Our chapter’s members served more than 19,000 patients across the state.
Operation Diabetes participated in a Memphis Redbirds minor league baseball game. Chapter members educated the entire crowd when asking selected children on a field trip to the game to name a healthy activity over the microphone between innings. Our OTC Medicine Safety Committee began hosting mini-health fairs at elementary schools and after-school programs throughout Shelby County, educating students on various topics ranging from OTC medicine safety to the importance of exercise. Our Generation Rx Committee hosted a Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) Awareness presentation at a local gym in the fall. They educated patients about appropriate NSAID doses, especially in combination products.
We also implemented a new patient care grant competition. The “RxEACH” grant was an incentive for chapter members to submit their own ideas for patient care projects. The winning submission was given $500 to create their event. “Punch to Prevent” with Operation Heart won the grant, which entailed partnering with 9Rounds, a 30-minute kickboxing gym, to demonstrate that five 30-minute exercise sessions weekly can reduce one’s risk of cardiovascular disease. We even advertised for the event on a local news segment.
With Operation Immunization, our chapter provided more than 10,000 influenza vaccines. We wanted to expand our scope in vaccines, so we collaborated with University Health Services to provide the new Shingrix vaccine to UTHSC faculty and staff in Knoxville. Because Shingrix is a two-dose series, this event created an opportunity for student pharmacists to provide longitudinal care.
Awards belong to all chapter members
Beyond policy, patient care, and development, our chapter appreciates its members. At the Fall Membership Picnic, chapter members were given the chance to “Dunk-a-Dean.” The Executive and Assistant Deans volunteered to be in a dunk tank and student pharmacists attempted to dunk them all while grilling out and playing games. Our members were also treated at the end of the year to the Member Appreciation Banquet. The banquet was held at the Memphis Zoo, where faculty led casino games and a live band performed while student pharmacists danced the night away!
Along with 2017–18 Chapter President Kara Provence, I would like to emphasize this award belongs to every chapter member. There are not enough words of appreciation and thanks for our incredible Executive Board and APhA–ASP Chapter Advisors.