Karissa May is a third-year PharmD candidate at the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Pharmacy.
In my first year at the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Pharmacy, I chose to join the APhA–ASP Women’s Health Committee. As a new committee that was formed in 2019, there was a lot of room to cultivate this initiative into a valuable resource for our community. The committee created a new trifold to present at health fairs, attended events such as a menstrual product drive for the unhoused, and helped the committee chair with whatever she needed, such as creating educational materials to hand out to the community. Then, the following year, I was elected as the new Women’s Health/Operation Reproductive Health Chair.
Putting our mark on the committee
We began 2020 by holding a speed dating–style event during which anyone interested in joining a committee spoke to each of the committee chairs for a few minutes so they could identify their main interest area among the 8 national and local initiatives at the chapter. Student pharmacists then completed a survey preferencing their top choices in addition to describing their leadership experience and interest in the selected committees. Once the survey was submitted, the committee chairs gathered one evening and formed committees based on the responses. I felt as though this event was important because it paired students with the committee which matched their passions.
For my first contact with the newly formed committee, I shared my vision of spreading awareness on the topics of tampon taxes and disparities in health care, gave committee members a link to a GroupMe, and asked them to develop a few ideas before our first meeting. With the expectation set, my fellow members did not disappoint—they had innovative ways to engage with the committee in a way they could rally around and make their own. Some ideas were creating a social media campaign to educate on women’s health, devising a restroom campaign to promote self-love across the campuses, and teaming up with the Operation Immunization Committee to educate on the HPV vaccine. Armed with these plans, the committee developed a calendar for the upcoming year as a team so we could implement the ideas together.
One of the opportunities the committee planned was a visit to a middle school Girl Scout Troop meeting to share a presentation about mental health, stigmas regarding beauty, and female reproductive health. The committee created a PowerPoint together, and each member presented their own sections to the audience of 20 girls to build our communication skills. Another great experience that we shared was designing a billboard that was displayed over the highway to educate people on the importance of breast exams, reaching more than 4 million people.
Working toward a common goal
This year, as the chapter patient care vice president, I see many different types of committees being formed. When I look at each of the initiatives’ committees, which I oversee, the chairs who have the most success are leaders who delegate effectively. They strategically assign tasks to members based on their personal talents and passions, which allows the committee to be more involved and excited about what is going on.
Innovation is never achieved by one person, but rather by a team working toward a common goal. Any of the events I have been a part of could not have happened without the help of everyone involved. I am truly grateful for such rewarding experiences with incredibly amazing people!