George Saied is a third-year PharmD candidate at the Union University College of Pharmacy.
The Union University College of Pharmacy (UUCOP) APhA–ASP Chapter had a successful and eventful 2022–2023 academic year with a wide variety of engaging activities and initiatives. We were proud to accept the APhA–ASP Chapter Operational Leadership Award at the 2024 APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition in Orlando this past March.
Here’s a recap of the activities that led to us earning this recognition.
A sweet membership week
The year began with our membership drive week, when prospective members were invited to several events that showcased the organization and its purpose, introduced them to current members, demonstrated opportunities they might see over the course of the year, and promoted regional and national opportunities. Events included a booth in our college’s annual student organization fair; a game called Guess the Quantity, which was set up in a central area of the college to challenge student pharmacists’ estimation skills and pique their curiosity about the chapter; a “Meet the Members” ice cream social; and a general chapter meeting.
We finished Membership Week on a sweet note with donuts for all. The chapter also held an ice cream social for pre-pharmacy chapter members and undergraduate students considering a career in pharmacy. This event served as an introduction to the organization for early and potential future members.
Special events throughout the year
Throughout the year, the chapter maintained consistent communication with members through the monthly “D.O.S.E” newsletter, which highlighted upcoming events and raised awareness for special events such as Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. The newsletter also focused on wellness by including healthy recipes and exercise suggestions.
The chapter also continued several events from previous years, including a popular Hitman tournament game in which student pharmacists, faculty, and staff competed against each other in a rock-paper-scissors showdown; the Spooktacular Pumpkin Carving Social, when attendees carved pumpkins and enjoyed s’mores; and Crocktober, a tasty fundraising and social event in which student pharmacists, faculty, and staff brought delicious homemade soups and chili, exchanged recipes, and voted for their favorite dishes. Other events the chapter maintained from previous years included Regional Inter-Faith Association soup kitchen service events, a Battle of the Student Orgs clothing drive for students at a local elementary school, a finals care package fundraiser, and a financial planning session with a representative from a local bank.
There were also many successful new activities, including mental health–related seasonal display boards such as “Pumpkins of Positivity” and “Speak it Into Eggsistence,” participation in a local church’s trunk-or-treat event, collaboration with other student organizations for the first UUCOP Fall Pharm Fest, and meetings featuring guest speakers on mental health topics such as burnout and mental health awareness.
What a year!
Executive committee meetings and general chapter meetings were held approximately once per month, and chapter leadership and advisers held three planning retreats throughout the year. These meetings keep us all on track and led to our success.
Overall, the 2022–2023 academic year was an incredibly successful year for our chapter, with both the continuation of previous chapter initiatives and establishment of new opportunities for chapter members.