Bringing pharmacists together at Wisconsin conferences
Lauren Glaza, Rachel Hawley, and Michael Nome are third-year PharmD candidates at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Pharmacy.
In March 2023, our APhA–ASP Chapter at the University of Wisconsin (UW)–Madison School of Pharmacy—known as the Wisconsin Society of Pharmacy Students (WSPS)—participated in and won the Innovative Programming Award competition at the 2023 APhA Annual Meeting and Exposition in Phoenix. Chapter President Michael Nome and Chapter President-elect Lauren Glaza represented WSPS and Region 4 to present our innovative program, Conference on Conferences.
During the presentations, we were inspired by the programs implemented by each region and are grateful to have shared the process behind Conference on Conferences with other student pharmacist leaders.
Evolving programming, same goal
Conference on Conferences is a student-led event designed to support student pharmacists who may feel intimidated attending local or national conferences early in their careers. The first conference was hosted by the WSPS executive board members in 2016 and has since become an annual event. It brings together Wisconsin student pharmacists and practicing pharmacists to learn, network, and grow as professionals.
The programming for Conference on Conferences has evolved over the years in response to various factors. In 2020–2021, Chapter President Tuyet Nguyen and the WSPS Executive Board planned the first virtual Conference on Conferences due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021–2022, Chapter President Rachel Hawley wanted students to feel confident for the return of in-person networking. She, along with the executive board, added a trivia cocktail hour and comedic skits to illustrate conference best practices and to further prepare student pharmacists’ conference etiquette.
This past year, we were honored to have Laurie Plewinski, PharmD, a health-system pharmacy administration and leadership resident at UW, as the keynote speaker. Our board members took the stage with skits to illustrate “what not to do” at a conference, eliciting laughs while emphasizing essential tips such as perfecting the “elevator pitch” and displaying what not to wear. Despite modifications over time, the core programming has remained, consisting of a keynote speaker and roundtable networking sessions.
In gratitude
As we reflect on our journey, starting from the idea to host a mock pharmacy conference to our Region 4 recognition at the 2022 APhA–ASP Midyear Regional Meeting to now receiving the National Innovative Programming Award, we cannot overlook the efforts of those who paved the way for our success. We sincerely thank Heather Stoner, Connor Hansen, Hannah (Hecht) Hansen, Katie Sherman, Tuyet Nguyen, and Rachel Hawley, who played pivotal roles in developing and adapting Conference on Conferences. We could not have achieved this feat without their guidance and expertise.
We want to thank our WSPS community of enthusiastic student pharmacists and dedicated practicing pharmacists for their wholehearted contributions to the ongoing success of Conference on Conferences. Our experience in Phoenix reminds us of the positive impact that creativity and innovation can have, empowering student pharmacists to reimagine and shape the future of our profession.
We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the APhA staff, the 2022–2023 APhA–ASP National Executive Committee, and the APhA–ASP National Award Standing Committee for creating a forum where student pharmacists from all corners of the country can showcase their innovative ideas. This opportunity will continue to play an integral role in advancing the growth of our profession.
For more information on the APhA–ASP Innovative Programming Award, and the regional and national phases, click here.