Make your MRM move today

Olunife Akinmolayan is a final-year PharmD candidate at the University of Findlay College of Pharmacy and a 2022–2023 APhA–ASP national member-at-large.

Hello, APhA–ASP pharmily! Your APhA–ASP National Executive Committee (NEC) is elated to let you know that student pharmacists will be back to live-action experiences throughout this academic year.

Let’s face it: a virtual medium is not the same as in-person. Although student pharmacists are adaptable and thrive during unique situations like a pandemic, meeting new people and having a shared in-person experience far outweighs the alternative.

So, for this upcoming year, we are grateful to have the opportunity to recreate Midyear Regional Meeting (MRM) moments for you in our 8 regions around the country. Our MRM moments will also nurture the invaluable connection between our chapters. During MRMs, distractions are limited and the urge to multitask is eliminated through meaningful dialogue surrounding important topics impacting the profession.

Branch outside of your network

NEC is confident that each MRM will create a safe space to engage in dynamic programming sessions that will expand your perspectives and elevate your professional development. For some of us NEC members, this will be our first in-person MRM experience, and we find solace in the privilege of meeting other passionate student pharmacists from our home regions.

We understand that nerve-racking feeling when traveling alone or branching outside of your current network, and we realize that that may never go away. But having the courage to do it anyway makes all the difference in crafting the future. It is on the other side of fear that you can find everything you have ever wanted.

Prepare to explore

A pro tip for having a successful professional meeting is preparing for a successful meeting. Inform all necessary parties that you’ll be embarking on this journey; that is, friends and family who should know the details of your traveling and accommodations.

In all your preparations, prepare to explore. Host cities for MRMs are especially selected to offer attendees new adventures with new friends and places to unwind after a productive day. It is important to use opportunities like these to foster valuable connections and in turn strengthen your membership.

Finally, try to brush up on policy and pharmacy trends before you go so you can contribute to the conversation at MRMs. With APhA–ASP MRMs being the only meetings held in the United States solely for student pharmacists, we are tasked with the responsibility of having constructive conversations that advance the profession of pharmacy. As student pharmacists, the profession looks to us for a glimpse into the future.

We’re excited to be back and looking forward to creating that future with you this year. Be sure to register for your region’s MRM now at mrm.pharmacist.com!