MRM Region 4 recap: An opportunity to learn and connect
Yasmin Siwy is a third-year PharmD candidate at the Purdue University College of Pharmacy.
I joined APhA–ASP during my first year of pharmacy school but finally got to attend my first in-person Midyear Regional Meeting (MRM) the weekend of October 28–30, in Cincinnati. This was a valuable experience in learning more about the policy proposal process and other chapters’ resolutions focused on improving the pharmacy profession. Learning from the other students’ experiences and challenges fascinated me.
Valuable learning lessons
My favorite sessions were focused on debunking vaccine myths and learning about OTC trends. Due to the types of the COVID-19 pandemic misinformation delivered on various social media platforms, I believe learning how to communicate kindly and effectively with patients is critical because pharmacists are one of the most accessible health care providers. I am excited to share all the new knowledge I have learned on vaccine resources and statistics with my chapter and community at Purdue.
I learned more about the residency and postgraduate opportunities available in the Midwest at the career showcase and expo. As an out-of-state student from California, I am unfamiliar with the programs in my region. This was a valuable session for my professional development because it forced me to step outside of my comfort zone and share my story.
Understanding the policy process
Experiencing this meeting at a regional level made policy a lot more digestible, because I was overwhelmed with the information shared at the 2022 APhA–ASP House of Delegates during the Annual Meeting & Exposition in San Antonio this past March. My experiences at Annual Meeting and this past weekend at MRM have made me even more eager to attend APhA2023 in Phoenix!
The social benefits of MRM
I really enjoyed networking with other student pharmacists, and learning about the unique projects being implemented at their schools during the innovative programming poster session. While I was chatting with another student, we discovered we had mutual friends. Pharmacy really is such a small world!
After the sessions ended, we had some free time to walk around the riverfront park near the hotel, where I reconnected with people I met in San Antonio. This is one of my favorite moments from the MRM weekend, besides the warm weather, ice cream, and great company—what a perfect way to end my time in “The Queen City!”
Even though the meeting was only 3 days, I had the opportunity to network with students who share similar passions about pharmacy. APhA–ASP has given me and many other student pharmacists the opportunity to directly serve the community, using our knowledge and skills to advance the future of pharmacy.