Joseph Miles Azurin is a third-year PharmD candidate at the Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy.

Robyn Turner is a third-year PharmD candidate at The University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy. In March, she received an APhA Student Leadership Award at the 2024 APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition in Orlando, FL.

Attending conferences as a student pharmacist for the first time can be intimidating, so attending an international conference as a student pharmacist may seem nearly impossible. This year I have served as the national contact person on the APhA–ASP International Standing Committee (ISC). I truly want to demystify the idea of an international conference and all the logistics that are involved so that student pharmacists can feel more empowered and assured in approaching these opportunities.

When I was starting pharmacy school, I never imagined the huge impact it would have on my personal growth and professional trajectory. Prior to my journey, I was someone who would rarely go past the confines of my comfort zone. Public speaking and leadership roles seemed like distant aspirations and a nearly impossible feat. However, as I immersed myself in my studies, built connections with my peers, and joined campus organizations, I discovered many avenues for growth that allowed me to amplify my strengths and potential.

My journey with APhA–ASP began during my first year at the University of Cincinnati (UC) James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy, where I started out as a chapter policy vice president (PVP). My vision for what I wanted to accomplish that year as a PVP was fairly cloudy in the beginning, but I knew I wanted to stick to a few general themes that I was passionate about: expanding access to care and helping improve the quality of patient care being provided by student pharmacists. Passion is something that I think is incredibly important for anyone considering or participating in any advocacy or policy role, and it’s what makes the work enjoyable because you’re the one helping to create the change you want to see happen.