Jasmine Walia and Olivia Hinojosa are final-year PharmD candidates at the University of the Incarnate Word Feik School of Pharmacy.
APhA–ASP chapter leaders at the University of the Incarnate Word Feik School of Pharmacy value the positive impact student organizations can have on the personal and professional development of our members. We strive to create engaging events that empower students to become leaders in the field and build upon the legacy of professionalism embedded in our school’s culture.
This was an incredible challenge during the 2020–2021 academic year, given the extensive restrictions placed on student leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our chapter officers were creative in finding ways to keep members involved through virtual platforms, and it was important to assess what projects and events would best prepare members for success as they embarked on their pharmacy journeys.
This creativity led us to receive the APhA–ASP Chapter Professionalism Award at APhA2022 in San Antonio this past March. Here’s how we did it!
Career prep
One area of professionalism that we addressed was exposure to different pharmacy career paths. The chapter communications team created a monthly social media series called On R(x)otation in which members heard from final-year PharmD candidates about their unique APPE rotations. The series featured sites in ambulatory care, inpatient psychiatry, federal agencies like the Indian Health Service, and many more. The chapter also used this series to learn from current pharmacists and gain advice on how to successfully navigate the transition into the workforce.
We also collaborated with the school’s Career Readiness Committee to host an alumni panel to discuss experiences in which they demonstrated adaptability in the workplace and how students can develop this skill while in school. Panelists spoke on challenges they’ve faced and how they reframed their mindset toward positive thinking and resiliency in their everyday lives.
Advocacy at the state capitol
Another major focus for our chapter was participation in Texas Pharmacy Association (TPA) activities. Chapter policy officers worked diligently to keep students informed on legislative advocacy efforts and enable them to get involved. As a result, more than 80 chapter members attended TPA’s Pharmacy Day at the Capitol, where they met virtually with state representatives to educate them on topics pertaining to the pharmacy profession.
Showing care and compassion
Lastly, chapter officers hosted events to cultivate compassion and serve our community.
One event was the Spanish Patient Counseling Competition, which was held in partnership with the school’s National Hispanic Pharmacists Association chapter. With a large population of Spanish speakers in South Texas, we wanted to encourage students to practice communicating pharmacy education in a different language to ensure those community members receive the best care possible. This was a great chance for many of our students to step out of their comfort zone and meet the needs of their future patients.
We also supported volunteer efforts students could safely participate in, like the Valentines for Veterans drive-in event, in which students wrote more than 50 handwritten messages of encouragement to deployed troops and veterans.
A strong team
Receiving this recognition would not have been possible without the dedication of our chapter officers. We found that we were most successful when we worked together and kept our members’ best interests at heart. Through collaborating with new practitioner mentors, school alumni, the state board of pharmacy, and local community organizations, we expanded the network of professionals for our members. We found it especially helpful to speak to these representatives to identify areas of professional growth for student pharmacists so that we could tailor our events to strengthen those areas and prepare our members for life after graduation.
Additionally, our officers discussed their experiences as APhA–ASP members and what opportunities we wanted to implement for learning and growth. This helped us in the brainstorming process as we designed future events. Taking time to reflect on the chapter’s progress is vital to the success of the organization.
We hope in sharing our experiences, we can inspire new ideas for your chapter as others have done for us!