APhA2024 Adventures: Connecting with peers on Day 2

Tiffany Preda is a second-year PharmD candidate at the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science College of Pharmacy and the 2023–2024 Region 4 APhA–ASP Regional Delegate.

The 2024 APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition was an incredible experience filled with meeting inspiring student pharmacists and pharmacists from all over the country. As a first-timer, I was warmly welcomed by attendees, fellow regional delegates (RDs), Midyear Regional Meeting Coordinators (MRMCs), and national student officers whom I couldn’t wait to meet. Despite spending countless hours on Zoom with these individuals, APhA2024 provided the perfect opportunity for finally meeting face-to-face!

Since I’m serving as the Region 4 APhA–ASP RD, my weekend was a whirlwind of activities including caucuses, kickoffs, regional meet and greets, ceremonies, topic talks, and participating in the APhA–ASP and APhA House of Delegates (HOD). The meeting days on my Google calendar were jam-packed with amazing activities and opportunities I will speak of for years to come.

I was particularly excited for Saturday (March 23), as I looked forward to finally having the opportunity to connect with my fellow peers from Region 4.

Region 4 pride

Starting the day with a delicious caramel iced coffee and a few munchkins from Dunkin, I felt energized for the day ahead. Co-hosting a meet and greet with Lainey Jones, Region 4 MRMC, was a highlight of my Saturday since we had been planning our icebreakers and presentation for way too long. It needed to be just right for our fellow Region 4 team. Region 4 consists of all the schools in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin, so we knew we were going to have a full house.

We had organized some fun icebreakers, games, and networking activities to bring our region together, and I can say with the utmost confidence it was an absolute success. We had people from all schools mingling and getting to know each other! My favorite icebreaker was the “Get to know you bingo,” where everyone needed to try and find a person to sign a square on their bingo card that matched the given prompt. The icebreaker was enjoyable to watch as it fostered new friendships and connections. After we exhausted all the activities, we decided a Region 4 picture was needed, so we made our way into the hallway and captured the best Region 4 picture ever, a testament to our new shared camaraderie.

Taking it to the House

Following the meet and greet, it was time to help set up the APhA–ASP HOD in the ballroom. Each chapter delegate got their own seat and name card with provided information on the proposed policies brought up by the RD.

As an RD, it was gratifying to represent both my region and my school as a chapter delegate. The RDs had been working on our proposed policies since January, and to witness the culmination of months of collaborative efforts was immensely gratifying. Nicole Larroza, Region 7 RD, had been my partner throughout the whole process. We developed the proposed resolution, 2024.4 Financial Planning Education: “APhA–ASP advocates for the inclusion of financial planning education early in the curricula of schools and colleges of pharmacy to equip student pharmacists with the essential knowledge and skills needed to manage personal finances proactively and responsibly.” Our resolution received some spirited questions and commentary during Friday’s Open Hearing on Proposed Resolutions and New Business, but we had no doubt that it would pass during the first HOD session.

After we finalized the HOD setup, the chapter delegates started to line up to receive their voting clicker and find their seats. Once APhA–ASP Speaker of the House, Mark Nagel, commenced the session, a sense of anticipation filled the room, as we all sensed it was going to be a good session. Emotions ran high as reports were delivered by the APhA–ASP Communications Standing Committee, APhA–ASP Policy Standing Committee, and the APhA–ASP International Standing Committee. Witnessing the unwavering dedication and tireless efforts of these individuals throughout the year was truly inspiring.

Additionally, a special moment of recognition was reserved for our exceptional APhA–ASP President Victoria Lyle, who received the prestigious Dennis and Patricia Worthen Presidential Award. It was a true reminder of the remarkable contributions she made within our organization.

After emotions settled, it was time to delve into the heart of the matter: voting on the proposed resolutions. This involved a thorough discussion of any amendments, accompanied by commentary and support from chapter delegates. The atmosphere of the HOD was charged with intensity as chapter delegates engaged in passionate exchanges over proposed amendments. The sense of anticipation only heightened as the amendments and resolutions were put to vote. I found myself holding my breath as my policy appeared on the projector screen. With overwhelming joy, I can proudly say that all of our proposed resolutions successfully passed, marking a significant achievement for us as RDs.

The envelope, please!
After the conclusion of the first HOD session, we enjoyed a little break from the chaos before preparing for the APhA–ASP Awards Celebration. The dresses alone should have told you what kind of night awaited us. Recognizing our accomplishments as student pharmacists holds immense value: it serves as a reminder of the impact we can have not just on ourselves, but also on our communities, schools, and the profession as a whole.

Below, you'll find the names of the esteemed recipients honored during the 2024 APhA–ASP Awards Celebration.

OTC Medicine Safety

• National Winner: Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences–Boston
• First Runner-up: East Tennessee State University
• Second Runner-up: University of Maryland

Operation Substance Use Disorders

• National Winner: University of New Mexico
• First Runner-up: East Tennessee State University
• Second Runner-up: Oregon State University

Operation Diabetes

• National Winner: University of Pittsburgh
• First Runner-up: University of Maryland
• Second Runner-up: The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Operation Diabetes is supported by Health Mart by McKesson.

2022–2023 Division AAA APhA–ASP Chapter Achievement Award

• Winner: Lipscomb University
• First Runner-up: Harding University
• Second Runner-up: University of Nebraska Medical Center

• Winner: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
• First Runner-up: South Dakota State University
• Second Runner-up: University of California, San Diego

2022–2023 Division A APhA–ASP Chapter Achievement Award

• Winner: University of Minnesota
• First Runner-up: University of Wisconsin–Madison
• Second Runner-up: University of Missouri–Kansas City