"That's My Pharmacist" Michigan Pharmacy Week Video Contest

Promote the importance of pharmacists to patients across Michigan by entering MPA’s Pharmacy Week video contest!

Contest Specifics:

• Student pharmacists, pharmacy residents and other MPA members are encouraged to create a one to three minute video highlighting the valuable role pharmacists play in patient health care.
• The theme of the video should center around the tagline, “That’s My Pharmacist.” This is also the theme of a nationwide message campaign MPA has developed and will be releasing in 2010 and 2011.
• Ideas for video content include patient interviews, recording in different pharmacy settings, pharmacist interviews, personal testimonials, etc.
• Entries should be in a flash or mpeg standard video format.
• Entries are due no later than June 1.
  

Award Recognition:

• Video will be prominently featured in Michigan Pharmacy Week materials
• Video will be actively promoted and available to all pharmacists in the state to use for Pharmacy Week celebrations and community outreach
• Video will be highlighted on MPA’s Web site and the Sept./Oct. issue of Michigan Pharmacist
• Video will be featured at MSHP Annual Meeting in November

Entry Details:
Entries should include:

• Video
• Information sheet including:
  • Video title
  • Names and contact information for video creators
  • Release forms for video participants (see sample)
  • Synopsis of video
  
  Entries may be e-mailed to Jill@MichiganPharmacists.org or a DVD can be mailed to:
  MPA Video Contest
  815 N. Washington Ave.
  Lansing, MI 48906
  
  
  Questions?
  
  • Contact MPA Director of Communications Jill Cobb at (517) 377-0240 or Jill@MichiganPharmacists.org
  • This contest is being brought to you by the MPA/MSHP Public Affairs Committee.

Mark Your Calendars for Pharmacy Day at the Capitol

Be sure to mark your calendar for the 2010 Pharmacy Day at the Capitol, Sept. 14 on the south Capitol lawn in Lansing. Each fall, Pharmacy Day at the Capitol provides a key opportunity for pharmacy professionals to educate legislators on the vital role they play in health care. Volunteers provide one-on-one demonstrations to Michigan’s lawmakers and information in a variety of areas, including blood pressure monitoring, immunizations, asthma inhaler usage, healthy lifestyle practices and blood glucose readings. Save the date for this important event and watch future MPA communications for additional information. Also, visit the photo gallery from the 2009 event.

More Than 1,300 Attend 2010 Annual Convention

The 2010 MPA Annual Convention & Exposition, held Feb. 26-28 at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, attracted more than 1,300 student pharmacists, pharmacists, technicians, academia and others. A variety of student events were held throughout the weekend, including the first Self-Care Challenge. Teams of three from each college of pharmacy competed in a Jeopardy-style game. The Self-Care Challenge winning team of Carrie Nelson, Valerie Franklin and Jessica Schultz from Ferris State University received a traveling trophy to display at their college.

On Saturday, the Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists (MSHP) sponsored a student luncheon. A pharmacy leader sat at each table during the lunch to provide students the opportunity to network with professionals in the industry and ask questions about getting involved in the organization.

In addition, the Michigan Pharmacy Foundation hosted the adopt-a-student program once again, and is proud to announce that all 120 students were adopted this year. The MPA online forum was utilized to match up students with their “parents” prior to the convention, as opposed to matching them at the student social, which proved to be a successful change. Rather, the student social was a much more casual event, where students enjoyed light refreshments, mingled and played games.

A number of educational programming sessions were geared directly toward student members, including financial planning and the MPJE law review. Student pharmacists also assisted with presenting donation drive items to Mother Waddles Perpetual Mission during the convention’s Keynote Session.

If you attended the convention, please take a moment to complete a short survey online to assist MPA in improving student pharmacist activities at next year’s convention.

Also, check out this year’s photo gallery:

MSHP to Hold Fifth Annual Residency Conference

The Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists (MSHP) Residency Conference will be held June 7 at the Lexington Lansing Hotel. This day-long conference will feature several presentations on topics relevant to advancing residency experiences. MSHP President Terry Baumann will provide openings remarks, followed by the keynote session presented by Thomas Thielke, director of pharmacy at the University of Wisconsin. Pearl topics will close out the morning and then lunch will be provided. In the afternoon, attendees will hear two speakers, as well as participate in roundtable discussions on a variety of topics.

This program is designed for residency directors, preceptors, residents and students committed to improving the residency experience. Continuing education credit will not be awarded for this conference. Watch future MPA communications for registration information and further conference details.

Michigan Student Pharmacists Represented at APhA Annual Meeting

MPA was active at the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Annual Meeting & Exposition March 12-15 in Washington, D.C., hosting events and providing networking opportunities for student pharmacists. Through sponsorship by Michigan Pharmacy Foundation (MPF), students from each Michigan college of pharmacy were able to attend the Political Leadership Breakfast. Students in attendance through the MPF sponsorship included Janelle Turino, Kimberly Betters, Megan Hansen, Clayton Gilde, Charles Makowski, Claire Lee and Kim Claeys. Claire Lee also sits on the APhA Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) Policy Review Committee and represented Michigan as a delegate to the APhA House of Delegates. Students were also invited to a luncheon hosted by MPA at Finn and Porter restaurant on March 13.

Jennifer Lins, a P4 student pharmacist at the University of Michigan, was recognized in the 7th Annual One to One Patient Counseling Competition. Lins worked on a clinical psychiatric rotation in the summer of 2009 and was recognized for counseling a patient hospitalized for mania.

Photos from the APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition are available in the MPA online photo gallery. The 2011 event will take place March 25-28 in Seattle, Wash.

2010 WMSHP Scholarship

The Western Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists (WMSHP) is offering a nonrenewable scholarship for P3 student pharmacists. Two scholarships will be awarded in the amount of $1,000 to P3 students attending a Michigan college of pharmacy. The deadline to submit an application is March 31, 2010. For more information on scholarship criteria or to submit an application, visit the WMSHP Web site.

MPA Annual Convention & Exposition

The 2010 MPA Annual Convention & Exposition will be held Feb. 26-28, 2010, at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center. The convention provides more than 50 continuing education programs; an exhibit hall to network with pharmacy professionals and learn of new products and services; and a banquet and awards ceremony to honor leaders in Michigan pharmacy. Student MPA member receive a complimentary registration through Feb. 4; after that date, a fee of $10 will apply. Those interested in attending can register online or call the MPA office at (517) 484-1466.

MPA provides special programming for student pharmacists covering a wide range of topics. This year, some program topics of interest include financial planning and the Student Pharmacist Self-care Championship. There will also be special events for those attending from the three colleges of pharmacy, including the Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists (MSHP) Student Luncheon; a Student Social, where student pharmacists will be encouraged to support their college by wearing their school’s colors; and participation in the Adopt-a-Student program where they are “adopted” by pharmacy professionals to establish an ongoing networking relationship.

Student Pharmacist Self-Care Championship
MPA is proud to present the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations (NASPA) and the Nonprescription Medicines Alliance (NMA) Student Pharmacist Self-care Championship. Up to three teams from each college can compete head-to-head, with the winning team from each college of pharmacy advancing to a final round of questions, similar to how the game show Jeopardy is played. The winning college will receive a traveling trophy to exhibit at their college of pharmacy for the year.

The schedule for the 2010 competition is:

• FSU: Saturday, Feb. 27, 7:30-8:50 a.m., Nicolet Room A&B
• U-M: Saturday, Feb. 27, 7:30-8:50 a.m., Richard Room A&B
• WSU: Saturday, Feb. 27, 7:30-8:50 a.m., Joliet Room A&B
• Finals for winning teams: Saturday, Feb. 27, 1:20-2:50 p.m., Ambassador Ballroom 2&3

Since 2006, the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations (NASPA) and the Nonprescription Medicines Alliance (NMA) have partnered in a continuing education event which promotes interactive learning of self-care topics. MPA is now the 29th state to offer this competition to student pharmacists. To sign up your team, please contact La Vone Swanson at (517) 377-0231 or LaVone@MichiganPharmacists.org.

MSHP Student Pharmacist Luncheon
Join your classmates and future colleagues on Saturday, Feb. 27 from noon-1:20 p.m. in the Ambassador Ballroom #1 (Level 3) at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center. This luncheon is sponsored by the Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists (MSHP). A ticket is required, and pre-registration is necessary. Onsite registrations for this luncheon event will not be accepted. Make sure to mark this event on your registration form or online registration in order to attend. For student pharmacists that attended this event at last year’s Annual Convention, please note that the room has changed. By using the Ambassador Ballroom #1, MSHP will be able to seat all registered lunch guests in one room.

Student Social
Student pharmacists are invited to stop by this informal reception from 7-10:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 26. Enjoy drinks and appetizers, and network with fellow student pharmacists from the other Michigan colleges of pharmacy. The theme this year is “school colors,” so be sure to wear your college apparel. All registered members of Student MPA are invited to attend free of charge. A fee applies to nonmember student pharmacists. Pre-registration is necessary.

Michigan Pharmacy Foundation (MPF) Events
Adopt-a-Student Program
MPA was provided feedback from student pharmacists regarding the Adopt-a-Student program. Major changes in the process have been put in place to make the process much easier. All student pharmacists wishing to be adopted must follow an outlined process. See the post below for instructions on how to sign up to be adopted.

Continental Breakfast
Early risers, start your day off right by having breakfast provided by MPF. A continental breakfast will be available from 7-9 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Collection Drive
MPF will be holding a special “Because We Care” collection drive for personal care items to be donated to a shelter in Detroit during the Annual Convention. Watch future MPA communications for additional details. A press conference with the selected charity and others will be held during the Keynote Session on Saturday, Feb. 27.

Other Suggested Programs
Friday, Feb. 26

• Special Exhibit Hall hours for student pharmacists, 1-2 p.m., Renaissance Ballroom
• Opening Session, 4:30 p.m., Ambassador Ballroom

Saturday, Feb. 27

• Keynote Session, 9-10:20 a.m., Ambassador Ballroom

Sunday, Feb. 28

• New Delegate Briefing, 8:30-9:15 a.m., (if you are a new student delegate to the House of Delegates you should attend this meeting prior to the House of Delegates Session)
• House of Delegates Session, 9:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m.

MPF Adopt-a-Student Program

The Michigan Pharmacy Foundation (MPF) Adopt-a-Student program will be held at the MPA Annual Convention & Exposition Feb. 26-28, 2010. MPA was provided feedback from student pharmacists regarding the program. Major changes in the process have been put in place to make the process much easier. All student pharmacists wishing to be adopted must follow the process outlined below.

Student Instructions for Adopt-a-Student Program

Please follow these steps to sign up for adoption through the MPF Adopt-a-Student program.

1. You must register for the convention. Register online or call the MPA office at (517) 484-1466. Registration for Student MPA members is complimentary. After Feb. 4, registration is $10.
   
   
2. Visit MPA's Online Forum. Create a forum post under the "Students Needing to Be Adopted" section with the following specific information. This is necessary to facilitate the adoption process.
   
   • First and last name
   • E-mail address
   • College and year
   • Practice area preference
   • What day you plan to arrive at the Convention (Friday or Saturday)
   
   
3. You must then sign up to volunteer at the Convention. This is a requirement to be adopted. Registration to volunteer is available online. Volunteer options include moderating or monitoring continuing education sessions, greeting convention participants and more.
   
   
4. When a parent contacts you on the forum, be sure to correspond with them to get to know one another and arrange to meet up at the convention. (Note: you can sign up to be notified when anyone replies to your post. Look for this option when you make your original post or when you look at the post itself)

If you have any questions about this process, please contact La Vone Swanson at LaVone@MichiganPharmacists.org or (517) 377-0231. If you have questions about the forum itself, contact Jill Cobb at Jill@MichiganPharmacists.org or (517) 377-0240.

Wayne State University Team Wins Student Clinical Skills Competition

The 2009 Student Clinical Skills Competition was held at the MSHP Annual Meeting Nov. 6 in Novi. Winning teams of clinical skills competitions held at each Michigan college of pharmacy were presented with an award honoring their efforts. The overall winners of the competition were Jennifer Hagopian and Lindsay Lessl from Wayne State University. These winners advanced to the national competition at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting Dec. 6-10, 2009, in Las Vegas. Congratulations to the team from WSU and all other student pharmacists who participated in last year’s competition!

Save the Date: 2010 MPA Legislative Day, March 24, 2010

Participants at the annual MPA Legislative Day will have an opportunity to visit with their legislators, attend a committee hearing or take a tour of the state capitol building. The afternoon will provide for a discussion pertaining to the importance of the 2010 elections with invited guests Mark Brewer and Ron Weiser, chairs of the Michigan Democratic Party and Michigan Republican Party, respectively. Michael Wissel from the Health Regulatory Division of the Michigan Department of Community Health will also be providing a regulatory update for participants. Live continuing education credit will also be offered to participants. For more information, visit MPA’s Web site or contact MPA Professional Practice Assistant Nick Norcross at (517) 377-0251 or Nick@MichiganPharmacists.org.