Julia Lazzaris is a final-year PharmD candidate at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, and Anneliese Harp, PharmD, is a PGY1/MS HSPAL resident at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, OH.
The University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy is a proud recipient of the 2023–2024 APhA–ASP Chapter Policy and Legislative Award at the 2025 APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition in Nashville this past March. The recognition celebrates “Pitt Pharmacy’s” strong commitment to advocacy, leadership, and student engagement in policy throughout our training. This recognition was a validating reminder that our voices matter and that collective effort could shape the future of the profession.
Forging new relationships
To kick off the year, the chapter created a leadership team with a vision that emphasized strategic continuity and intentional collaboration across local, regional, and state levels and between our 22 student organizations. Along with faculty, we further embraced partnerships with the Allegheny County Pharmacists Association (ACPA) and the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association (PPA), and approached a new relationship with the city of Pittsburgh mayor’s office.
Student leaders created a seamless network of support and communication between the organizations by regularly meeting with our faculty, who were also working on collaborative projects and our student organizations. This infrastructure amplified advocacy efforts, allowed for consistent messaging, and enabled students to take ownership of their role as policy advocates. Most importantly, it cultivated an environment where advocacy was not a side project, but a core part of the student experience.
Bringing policy to life
In 2023–2024, our chapter hosted 72 events and led five key initiatives that brought policy to life. We raised $1,772 through a Patagonia fundraiser for advocacy, collected 93 items for the Birmingham Free Clinic, launched the ACPA Mentorship Academy with 10 student pharmacist pairs, created medication safety pamphlets for kids to be distributed the next school year, and sent cards to children in hospitals. Events like pharmacy law jeopardy, the Bill of the Month display, ECAPS advocacy letter-writing, and the Election Hype-Up each engaged students while highlighting key legislation including the Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act, Narcan Affordability Bill, and Lower Cost, More Transparency Act.
One of the year’s most memorable moments was Capitol Hill Day in Washington, DC, where 15 students traveled together to advocate for the future of pharmacy. Throughout the day, students had the incredible opportunity to participate in seven congressional meetings—one with the office of Sen. Bob Casey, Jr. (D–PA) and six with members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Students shared pharmacist perspectives to expand practice, improve care, and inspire national change.
That same energy carried over to Harrisburg, PA, for Pennsylvania’s Legislative Day, where 122 students conducted 93 legislative meetings in a single day, as a part of the PPA’s annual Legislative Day—an incredible display of collective action and professional passion.
The chapter also championed collaboration and inclusivity, partnering with groups like the Student National Pharmaceutical Association and the Birmingham Clinic to ensure diverse health topics were addressed. One standout success was obtaining a mayoral proclamation for Pharmacy Appreciation Week from Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, signaling local recognition for the vital role of pharmacists.
A legacy of leadership
This national award was not just a celebration of past accomplishments; it was a catalyst for continued growth. Our student pharmacists proved that advocacy has no hierarchy. Whether first- or final-year, every student pharmacist played a role in advancing the profession, and together, we built a legacy of leadership that will echo for years to come.