Bryan Gomez is a first-year PharmD candidate at The University of Georgia College of Pharmacy.
A few months ago, I walked into the Region 3 Midyear Regional Meeting (MRM) alone—the only attendee from my college of pharmacy—and with a resolution I was passionate about in hand, feeling immensely as if I were in over my head. Having just begun pharmacy school 3 months prior, I could not fathom at the time that what was about to begin was an absolutely transformative weekend, complete with new friendships, an unexpected campaign for regional office, confidence-boosting educational sessions, vibrant discussions on how students imagined bettering the future of the profession, and an unwavering excitement to experience it all again in March at the 2023 APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition.
A look back at MRM
My MRM weekend kicked off with an invigorating welcome and reminder of the very real networking opportunities that exist within APhA. Our keynote speaker was Valerie Prince, PharmD, the APhA president-elect. Also in attendance were members of the APhA–ASP National Executive Committee and all 5 APhA–ASP national standing committees. It was in conversation and networking with these passionate colleagues and with the support of APhA staff that I was encouraged to—on a whim—run for regional office.
While I ultimately didn’t win my election, running for office was the best thing I could have done for myself at MRM. In the process of campaigning, I learned more about the APhA policy process and heard stories about past student successes; I met dozens of fellow student pharmacists and learned not only about how different APhA–ASP Chapters operate all around the country, but also about different student pharmacists’ strategies for success in pharmacy school.
I connected with friends—both old and new—who had infinite wisdom to share with a first-year student pharmacist, and I was motivated and inspired to passionately debate on the resolutions that other student pharmacists and I had brought to MRM. At the same time, I was in and out of various sessions and poster presentations, furthering my knowledge of counseling patients on vaccines, addressing OTC medicine misuse, and working on bringing project ideas from other schools back to my own chapter.
A glance ahead to APhA2023
I’ve been anxiously waiting for APhA2023 since I got home from MRM, and as it inches closer by the day, here are the 5 things I’m most excited about:
- Attending the 2023 Pain Institute. I’ll be starting my conference weekend early on Thursday with an 8-session summit on pain management, opioid use disorders, and substance use disorders. You should, too, if you’re interested in learning more about how we can support patients with chronic pain.
- Reconnecting with MRM friends and making new friends! Networking with others is the best way to brainstorm new ideas for your own APhA–ASP Chapter, and there will be a few thousand fellow student pharmacists in attendance with whom to chat and share.
- Voting on resolutions in the APhA–ASP House of Delegates. Having engaged in the policy process at the regional level, I’m excited to see what comes next and to use my voice to impact the future of my profession on the national level.
- Learning more. From sessions on naloxone and social determinants of health to prenatal medication management and addressing burnout, there are dozens and dozens of educational opportunities.
- Touring Phoenix! Exploring a beautiful city I’ve never been to before sounds like the perfect break from classes.
For more information, including a lineup of daily events, visit aphameeting.pharmacist.com. Be sure to register by February 10 so you can take advantage of early-bird pricing. See you there!