From building a foundation to delivering in the community
Sahar Soltani and Stephanie Tam are final-year PharmD candidates, and Precious Ulel is a third-year PharmD candidate, at the University of California, Irvine School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences.
The APhA–ASP Chapter at the University of California, Irvine was established in 2021 and has since demonstrated significant growth. What began as a small group has evolved into an active and organized organization dedicated to outreach, patient care, and student engagement, growing alongside the development of the school.
We have moved beyond building a foundation and are now making a consistent, meaningful impact in the community, which I will detail in this article. That commitment is what we believe led to us receiving the APhA–ASP Up-and-Coming Chapter Award at the 2026 APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition in Los Angeles this past March, and it is what will continue to drive us forward.
Significant patient care project growth
The chapter has demonstrated steady progress, increasing from 20 events in 2022–2023 and 15 events in 2023–2024 to 58 events, opportunities, and projects in 2024–2025, including 37 newly developed initiatives. This expansion signifies a transition from smaller, infrequent programming to a more structured and consistent approach to outreach and engagement.
One of the most significant areas of growth this past year was patient care. In 2023–2024, the chapter hosted only three patient care events and screened 57 patients. At the time, many of our efforts were still small and developing. Over the 2024–2025 year, however, the chapter grew into one of the most active organizations within the school in community outreach and clinical services. Outreach expanded to more than 20 patient care focused events, allowing student pharmacists to connect with hundreds of patients through screenings, immunizations, and public health education. Beyond direct patient care, the chapter also expanded its efforts to include advocacy and policy initiatives, professional development workshops, and meaningful collaborations with local organizations and health care professionals.
More to come
When the announcement was made at APhA2026 that our chapter had received the award, it felt like a defining moment that brought everything into perspective. Standing among chapters from across the country, there was a strong sense of pride in seeing our work recognized at the national level. More than anything, it highlighted the collective effort behind the chapter’s growth—from the dedication of our members to the vision that has continued to push us forward each year. It served as a meaningful reminder that the impact we are making within our community is being seen and that the foundation we have built is strong, purposeful, and still continuing to evolve.
It was such an incredible honor for the chapter to receive this prestigious award. Not only does it reflect how far the chapter has come in terms of building upon the steps of our founding board, but it also demonstrates the ambitious drive toward improvement each year and the consistent involvement and presence within the community. Being one of the newer chapters, the chapter recognizes this award as an achievement of consistent dedication and flourishing displays of innovation and leadership toward patient care.
As our chapter continues to grow as a national leader, its greatest achievements have yet to come.