Olgaaurora Rodriguez is a second-year PharmD candidate at the University of Arkansas for Medical Services College of Pharmacy.
On October 11, 2022, the student pharmacists and faculty at the University of Arkansas for Medical Services College of Pharmacy were invited to bring their favorite Hispanic dish to share and enjoy together. The goal of this event was to create an atmosphere that would allow APhA–ASP members and nonmembers to learn about Hispanic heritage via traditional Hispanic dishes. This goal was met and surpassed.
Getting to know our members
This was the first event of its kind for our chapter. We are really happy that we took the risk, because the rewards were numerous. Not only did the event achieve its original goal of helping student pharmacists learn about Hispanic heritage through Hispanic dishes; it also turned into a social event that allowed first-year PharmD candidates to meet and connect with their fellow upperclassmen. The event also served as a social affair at which students could take a break from studying and enjoy a nice lunch.
My role as Vice President of International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation in the National Hispanic Heritage Month Potluck was to plan, prepare, and carry out the event. The planning process consisted of discussing the logistics of the event (e.g., cost and location) with the chapter’s executives. In preparation for this event, the location was reserved in advance, and the event was announced via email and the college of pharmacy event calendar. On the day of the event, the event room was decorated with colorful Hispanic decorations, paper plates, utensils, and refreshments.
Students were encouraged to bring a recipe card so that anyone would be able to recreate their Hispanic dish. The recipe card also allowed individuals with allergies or other food restrictions to be aware of each dish’s ingredients.
Personal story
I was glad to get to know some of the chapter members better at the event. I enjoyed seeing all the members and nonmembers come together to enjoy and learn about Hispanic dishes. A few of the participants learned what flan is and from which Hispanic country it comes from. The overall atmosphere of the event was wonderful and I received a lot of positive feedback!