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Student Pharmacist is YOUR online publication featuring must-read articles written by APhA-ASP members. Catch-up on all the latest every Tuesday & Friday! Want to submit an article? Contact the SPM Staff.

Understanding the meaning of “Sleepless in Seattle”
Jamila Negatu
/ Categories: Student Magazine

Understanding the meaning of “Sleepless in Seattle”

Jordan Scott (left) couldn't fit all his thousands of APhA2019 friends into one photo, so he took a pic with fellow APhA-ASP Regional Member-at-large Clayton Melson instead.

By Jordan Scott

I could feel the excitement in the air as everyone awaited the clock to reach 9:30 am. It was a cool, clear Thursday morning in Seattle, a city now filled with the enthusiasm and eagerness of student pharmacists, patiently awaiting what had been pitched to them as the most memorable experience of their professional academic journey. For someone like myself, who had yet to attend an APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition, the anticipation and curiosity of what to expect over this weekend built exponentially.

As the APhA–ASP Open Hearing began, APhA2019 was officially underway. The following is a recap of my amazing Seattle journey.

Exciting policy discussion

I sat on the open hearing stage as part of the APhA–ASP Reference Committee, looking out into a crowd of passionately engaged student pharmacists, in awe of their investment in these resolutions that impact the profession. This moment did not last long as I vigorously worked to coherently convey the emotions of these students on paper.

“Embrace Your Calling,” a theme resonating with student pharmacists across the country, was finally coming to a cumulative completion as thousands of student pharmacists gathered to celebrate 50 years of student advocacy and leadership within APhA. APhA–ASP National President Nimit Jindal had not only created a presidential theme for students to hashtag and add to their social media, he had created a movement that was challenging students to put words into actions across the country. The active concern and participation for the proposed resolutions in both the Open Hearing and House of Delegates proved that student pharmacist members of APhA–ASP recognize the importance of their voice for the future of the profession. They did not simply just stand by and vote “yes” to every resolution proposed, but rather recommended amendments, voiced their opinion, and helped to actively shape the future of the profession.

Of all the adopted resolutions, the one proposed by the APhA–ASP National Executive Committee (NEC) proved to be the most crucial. The NEC proposed that APhA–ASP take a supportive stance in the creation of safe work and learning environments for pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians. This included, but was not limited to, access to counselors and other mental health professionals for victims of fire-arm related violence. In the wake of recent tragic events at Mercy Hospital in Chicago, the entire Academy recognized the importance for immediate action in standing up for the profession. Not only was this resolution passed in the APhA–ASP House (see full text below), but following an authoritative final speech from Nimit, this resolution (submitted as an “Urgent New Business Item”) was eventually passed in the APhA House of Delegates, affirming the idea that immediate support for creating safe environments for pharmacists was essential.

The APhA–ASP Houses debated and passed the following resolutions at APhA2019:

2019.1 — Addressing Professional Burnout

APhA–ASP recommends that all pharmacy practice settings and educational institutions develop and implement programs targeted at the prevention, identification, and reduction of professional burnout in the pharmacy profession, including among pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians.

2019.2 — Amendment to APhA–ASP Resolution 2015.4 - Increased Access to Opioid Reversal Agents

1. APhA–ASP supports state and federal legislation to increase access to opioid reversal agents.

2. APhA–ASP encourages pharmacists and student pharmacists to provide public education about opioid reversal agents, including proper administration in situations of opioid-related drug overdose.

3. APhA–ASP encourages all schools and colleges of pharmacy to incorporate opioid reversal agent training as a requirement prior to completion of the pharmacy program. APhA–ASP recommends this training includes a live, hands-on component, identification of high-risk patients, and recognition of the stigma surrounding opioid use disorder.

2019.3 — Role of Pharmacists and Pharmacy Education in Patient Care Involving Cannabis

1. APhA–ASP encourages standardization of federal and state regulations regarding the legality of cannabis and any cannabis-derived products.

2. APhA–ASP supports the standardization of cannabis-derived products in order to optimize patient safety and to ensure clinical efficacy.

3. APhA–ASP encourages all colleges and schools of pharmacy to expand curricula on cannabis and any cannabis-derived products, including pharmacologic effects, adverse drug reactions, interactions with other medications and current pharmacy law regarding cannabis at both a federal and state level.

4. APhA–ASP encourages the expansion of postgraduate education regarding cannabis and cannabis-derived products, including relevant pharmacy law at both a federal and state level, in order to better serve our patients.

5. APhA–ASP supports pharmacists keeping an updated patient profile regarding use of cannabis and any cannabis-derived products to ensure proper patient care.

6. APhA–ASP supports continued research, development, and implementation of clinical guidelines to inform appropriate therapeutic use of cannabis-derived products to improve patient care.

2019.4 — Creating Safe Work and Learning Environments for Student Pharmacists, Pharmacists, and Pharmacy Technicians

1. APhA–ASP strongly believes that all student pharmacists, pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians should be safe in their work and learning environments and be free from firearm-related violence.

2. APhA–ASP strongly recommends that schools and colleges of pharmacy, residency programs, and employers should develop programs to increase readiness in the event of an active shooter.

3. APhA–ASP strongly believes student pharmacists and pharmacists should be trained to recognize and refer patients at high risk of violence to themselves or others.

 

 

4. APhA–ASP encourages student pharmacists, pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians who are victims of firearm-related violence to seek the help of counselors and other trained mental health professionals.

Unique opportunities to learn

If someone left Seattle telling you there was not a single session they enjoyed, then they are lying to you. APhA2019 not only provided students the opportunity to voice their opinion in the House of Delegates, but there was no shortage of continuing education and chapter workshops tailored to every individual. From industry and biotechnology, to new member and Chapter President workshops, students were hastily running from conference room to conference room, attempting to try and take in as many sessions as possible.

Oftentimes, I found myself overwhelmed and conflicted; torn between two, sometimes three different sessions at the same time. This is definitely a good problem to have. The opportunity to provide live education on cutting edge research and technology gives students the unique ability to learn about topics not covered in the classroom.

My thousands of friends and me

The APhA–ASP Awards Ceremony was both glamorous and captivating, paying homage to the past 50 years of amazing work by the students of this Academy. As the gold sparkled and the music boomed through the speakers, students cheered for each other as chapters from every region were recognized for their hard work and commitment to patient care. It is truly a unique experience to be in a room surrounded by what feels like thousands of your closest friends.

Students from all over the country are drawn together by one common thread: a membership in an organization concerned about advocating for the future of pharmacy. It is moments like these where all I can do is look around in awe and be thankful for the opportunity to travel and share these lifelong memories with some of my now closest friends. When I started pharmacy school, everyone talked about how hard the course work would be, how many exams you will take, and how stressful things can become. What no one told me were the places, people, and experiences a career in pharmacy would introduce into my life. These components not only shape you as a better pharmacist, but as a better professional.

I now feel equipped with a nationwide network of colleagues, armed with the same common goal: to improve patient care through pharmacy.

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