APhA–ASP Operation Heart, to me, is a way to promote heart health and raise awareness of cardiovascular disease. I have always been interested in and passionate about cardiology, since it was a big part of my childhood. My dad, a cardiologist, introduced me to the field at a very young age with his patients and the cases that he would encounter. I also used to always find stents lying around all over his office and was curious about them. He is the reason I chose to run for the Operation Heart chair position and possibly pursue cardiology as a future career. He is also the reason why heart health is something I am very passionate about, and I want to advocate for its awareness.

The need for blood donations is common knowledge in the medical field and general public alike. Approximately 36,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the United States alone and are vital for a myriad of medical procedures and emergencies.¹ This is nothing to speak of the equally critical need for platelets; with only 3% of age-eligible people donating blood yearly,¹ the supply of available blood can be described as tenuous at best, even though blood transfusions are the most common medical procedure performed in hospitals.² It should, then, not be shocking that in the last year blood donation dwindled, resulting in a decrease in the backlog of available stored blood. While normally there is a week’s supply, many blood centers now have enough for just 1 or 2 days.³

Last year, the APhA–ASP House of Delegates passed Resolution 2021.2, titled “Medication-Assisted Treatment in Vulnerable Patient Populations.” The resolution highlighted the academy’s desire to encourage an increase in access to—and funding for—widespread implementation and utilization of medication-assisted treatment programs for patients suffering from opioid use disorder, specifically in vulnerable patient populations. This was a timely decision given that the most recent data from 2019 estimates that more than 1.4 million people in the United States struggle with a substance use disorder.

Well-being is a term you hear a lot. You probably understand what it means in your personal life, but do you want to apply the principles of well-being in your academic and work life? Two ways to accomplish this are to examine your stress level and have your workplace concerns and suggestions heard.

Starting pharmacy school can be an exciting time, but it can also be overwhelming. Classes are more intense than those taken as an undergraduate, and there is a push to be heavily involved in student organizations. This can leave students spreading themselves too thin.