Gi Eun (Jemma) Han is a final-year PharmD candidate at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS)–Boston. Ngoc Phuong Mai Le, PharmD, is a 2024 graduate of MCPHS and an incoming medical affairs pharmaceutical industry post-doctoral fellow at The University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill and United Therapeutics.
The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS)–Boston APhA–ASP Chapter executed and achieved multiple professionalism initiatives last academic year. Our hard work led to the chapter receiving the 2022–2023 APhA–ASP Chapter Professionalism Award at the 2024 APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition in Orlando this past March.
Here’s how we did it.
Experienced speakers provide inspiration
Throughout the year, the chapter promoted student pharmacist engagement at general meetings by inviting influential pharmacists from various career backgrounds to deliver guest speeches about their wealth of expertise, knowledge, and inspiration.
Informational sessions and panel events were organized to cultivate student pharmacists’ knowledge and experience. In the APPE/IPPE Student Panel, third-year and final-year student pharmacists described their personal experiences and shared their advice while on IPPE and APPE rotations, respectively. The Fellowship Info Session featured a fellow as the guest speaker, focusing on fellowship opportunities and strategies for applications, including application materials such as letters of intent, CVs/resumes, and letters of recommendations. In the International Student Panel event, three international alumni shared their unique experiences throughout the PharmD program as well as their current postgraduate pursuits.
The Pharmacy Alumni Panel Webinar Series provided insights from alumni who were involved in various areas of pharmacy, including industry, community, hospital, community, specialty, and nontraditional settings. The Professionalism 101 Series was also held to discuss tips for interviews, elevator pitches, CVs/resumes, and letters of intent.
Wide array of initiatives
The chapter also held various membership drives and social events on campus to promote APhA–ASP membership benefits. The most popular event was the Destress with Dogs event, where therapy dogs visited campus and interacted with student pharmacists to help them destress prior to the final exams.
In addition, the chapter advocated for the pharmacy profession through the Campus Life Fair and the Pharmacy Council Carnival, showcasing APhA–ASP and the daily impact that student pharmacists can make in patient care and policy as members. The chapter also hosted a pharmacy workshop for high school students at the Boston Area Health Education Center to broaden their knowledge of various pharmacy fields and the responsibilities of a pharmacist as well as increasing their interest in pharmacy and health care
Networking was also a priority throughout the year. Our networking events included the Northeastern & MCPHS Pharmacy Potluck, the Mentor–Mentee Program between pre-professional and professional-year PharmD students, and the Dining & Networking Etiquette Event to prepare student pharmacists with professional skills in formal work settings.
Promoting public health
The chapter also actively promoted public health by volunteering in the Boston Marathon and joining the ALS Community Walk. Student pharmacists also volunteered to help the senior residents at the Goddard House Assisted Living & Memory Support and engaged in interactive activities to learn about the impact of dementia through the residents’ artwork.
The excitement continues
The APhA–ASP Induction & Awards Ceremony was the major finale that celebrated the achievements of student pharmacists and introduced the new Executive Board, concluding the 2022–2023 academic year with success and excitement for years to come.
The chapter would like to express appreciation to the 2022–2023 APhA–ASP MCPHS–Boston Executive Board members and the chapter advisors for their dedication, passion, and support for our professionalism initiatives!