Lessons learned through the APhA Communities
Madison Parrish is a third-year PharmD candidate at the Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy.
The APhA Care of Underserved Patients (CUP) Community creates a network of pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians from a variety of care settings who provide care to patients with complex needs. Being part of the CUP Community as its student liaison provides opportunities to exchange ideas and information, gain leadership skills, and network with others who share a similar passion. This Community consists of members who provide care for underserved patient populations and develop resources to empower health care professionals to provide patient-centered care.
Every patient deserves the best care
As a third-year student pharmacist, I am exploring the many pathways available within the profession, and ambulatory care is high on my list of potential career directions. During my undergraduate years, I was part of a service fellows program that operated under the guiding verse Micah 6:8: “to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly.” This verse has remained close to my heart throughout my journey in pharmacy school.
Through that organization, each member was given a picture of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, a reminder I still keep in my room today. To me, it symbolizes that titles do not make us better than the people we serve, nor do they make us greater than the colleagues we serve alongside.
Whether in a clinic, hospital, or community pharmacy, every patient deserves the best care possible, and it is our responsibility to provide that with humility and compassion.
This perspective is especially important in rural communities, where access to health care can be limited. Serving these populations requires not only clinical knowledge, but also the ability to connect with patients, understand their needs, and advocate for their well-being.
Discover what APhA’s Communities have to offer
While I do not yet know exactly where I will practice after graduation, I am confident that the lessons I’ve learned from being part of this Community will shape me into a pharmacist who provides exceptional care for every patient.
Check out the APhA CUP Community and the 22 other Communities and join now at www.pharmacist.com/Membership/Communities.