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APhA Student Pharmacist Scholarships Available

Applications are now available for 10 student pharmacist scholarships through the APhA Auxiliary/APhA Foundation Student Pharmacist Scholarship Program. The program recognizes full-time pharmacy students who help shape the future of their profession by maintaining active involvement in their school's APhA-ASP Chapter. The scholarships are $1,000 each. Deadline for applications is Dec. 1, 2009. For more information and to apply, visit APhA Foundation's Web site.

Student Pharmacists Participate in Vaccine Awareness Presentations


At a June East Paris Business Association meeting, Ferris State University student pharmacists Melissa Brockway and Janeane Wilson participated in a shingles and Zostavax® vaccine presentation with pharmacist Patti Smeelink of East Paris Pharmacy. Information on the disease and vaccine was given, and members were encouraged to share this information with residents of the community.

Student pharmacist interns Nkem Obiaga and Dan Nawara also provided general information about shingles to the residents of Porter Hills Retirement Community and answered questions regarding the vaccine. These Ferris State University student pharmacists collaborated with staff at Porter Hills to acquire transportation for residents to East Paris Pharmacy in the Grand Rapids area where the shingles vaccine is administered. In addition to promoting vaccination awareness, the interns were accompanied by Kristen Rider, a certified pharmacy technician who is experienced in diabetic shoes and Jobst support stockings offered at the pharmacy.

What are you doing to improve patient care in your community and through your college of pharmacy? Send us your story, and we will publish it in one of MPA's publications!

Participate in Pharmacy Day at the Capitol Sept. 15

The eighth annual Pharmacy Day at the Capitol will be held on the south Capitol lawn, Tuesday, Sept. 15, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This day provides an opportunity for student pharmacists to educate legislators on the important role pharmacists play in Michigan's health care system by demonstrating their clinical skills and patient care role.

Student pharmacists are especially invited to participate at Pharmacy Day at the Capitol. You will have an opportunity to personally meet lawmakers and visit the House and Senate office buildings to share information. After the event, students are also invited for a recap session at Karoub & Associates.

Be sure to let us know you will be coming and participating. Volunteer online!

Student MPA Applications on Campus

This year, student pharmacists will be able to join Student MPA simply by filling out an application for membership either using the brochures located on campus, distributed by faculty at various meetings, or by going online to MichiganPharmacists.org and renew or join. Remember that there are two categories for dues, a one-year membership for $10 or the $25 membership for the complete time you're enrolled in pharmacy school.

Students Meet in Lansing to Plan 2010 Convention Activities

On July 20, 13 Student MPA volunteers met with MPA Chief Executive Officer Larry Wagenknecht, Chief Operations Officer Dianne Miller and other MPA staff members to offer suggestions and insights into the planning for the student programming for the 2010 MPA Annual Convention & Exposition, being held at the Detroit Marriot at the Renaissance Center Feb. 26-28.

Working their way through a packed agenda were Danielle Brownlee, Shawn Depcinski, Dan Hedgcock, Emily Jacobs, Lindsey Simonetti, Jennifer Cena, Jody Gembarski, Steve Hsueh, Rachael Ng, Claire Lee and Cathryn Poll.

Adopt-a-Student Brainstorm
The group identified three main goals of this program.
  • MPA Goal of Program = Establish a system where students are able to go to banquet at no cost as benefit of SMPA membership
  • Parent Goal of Participation = Support student as an alumni, network, recruit and establish an ongoing relationship
  • Student Goal of Participation = networking with pharmacists
Discussion then followed providing suggestions for improving the process next year.

Student Reception
The students suggested making the student reception even more casual with little structure so people could come and go. Other ideas included staying at the hotel, a Euchre tournament, placing one person from each school in charge of an activity, a hotel bar package, DJ, karaoke and others.

MSHP Student Luncheon
Last year, there was an overflow in the MSHP Student Luncheon attendance, with more than 100 compared with the 60 or so from previous years. The group suggested that it needs to be communicated to students if their RSVP is not accepted, remove the online registration link when the luncheon is full, advertise that it is focused on health-system/residency and clarify who gets into the student luncheon in advance.

Student Challenge
MPA staff discussed a new Student Program that they would like to offer at the Annaul Convention: the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations (NASPA) and the Nonprescription Medicines Academy (NMA) Student Pharmacist Self-care Championship. MPA would become the 29th state association to offer this program to students. The game is based on the popular format of Jeopardy featuring teams from the colleges of pharmacy. Each school competes against each other with the winning team moving on to compete against the winning teams from the other colleges. At the end of this round, the team with the highest score will win the traveling trophy and bragging rights for a year.

The group also brainstormed other options for student programming at the Annual Convention and how MPA could meet the needs of students.

Following the meeting, many of the students and staff joined MPA President Jim Vander Linde for a Lansing Lugnuts baseball game.

Thanks to all the students for volunteering their time to make the 2010 MPA Annual Convention & Exposition a success.

Do you have suggestions on activities at the 2010 Annual Convention? Share it with Student MPA liaison La Vone Swanson.