Students from all three UMKC School of Pharmacy campuses brought home recognition and awards from the American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists midyear Region VI meeting Nov. 1-3 in Dallas.
Four students were recognized with individual leadership and service awards, and the school received regional chapter awards for outstanding service in three different patient care projects, Operation Diabetes, Operation Immunization, and Over-the-Counter Medicine Safety.
Thirty-one students from UMKC attended the regional meeting.
Lisa Cillessen, Pharm.D., clinical assistant professor and APhA-ASP advisor, congratulated the students and their faculty and staff mentors for their efforts.
“These good works enhance the student academic coursework and further their professional development while promoting advocacy and patient care initiatives,” Cillessen said.
Zachary Hitchock, Springfield, was elected as a Region VI Delegate for 2019-2020. Jessica Barberis, Columbia, was recognized as UMKC chapter Delegate and Salon Patel, Kansas City, as chapter representative to the organization’s nomination committee.
Gage Dixon, Kansas City, Barberis and Hitchcock each received the Regional Student Recognition Award for their work on behalf of the organization at the campus level.
The organization’s chapter awards are given to recognize achievement and efforts of students and faculty in APhA-ASP programs that raise awareness and provide services that improve community health.
In Operation Diabetes, UMKC student pharmacists served as counselors at an American Diabetes Association day-camp for children ages 6-14 with type 1 diabetes. They helped campers safely engage in camp activities while collaborating with medical staff in managing glucose values throughout the day. Throughout the 2018-2019 school year, the students educated 2,679 patients on diabetes, what it is, risk factors, prevention and complications.
Operation Immunization recognizes extraordinary contributions pharmacists provide to improving the vaccination rates in their communities. UMKC’s student pharmacists vaccinated 846 patients throughout Missouri and provided individual interaction with more than 5,400 patients about the importance of vaccinations. UMKC chapter members also created a billboard to promote the importance of HPV vaccines in preventing cervical cancer.
The school received the Over-the-Counter Medicine Safety award for efforts in educating 5th and 6th graders on the safe use and storage of over-the-counter medications. Instruction includes teaching the students to read and follow medicine labels and directions, and knowing the difference between candy and medicine. The UMKC student volunteers also provided education for parents and caregivers keeping over-the-counter medicines safe around children. During the 2018-2019 school year, student pharmacists provided the education to 481 fifth and sixth grade students and 363 parents/caregivers.