Celebrating Pharmacists

Students Provide Screenings, Education, Immunizations and Overdose Reversal Drug to Showcase Pharmacy Profession

October 25 – In celebration of American Pharmacists Month and National Pharmacy Week, members of several University of Houston College of Pharmacy student organizations showcased the skills and knowledge pharmacists bring to the community during the Pharmacy Extravaganza on the UH campus Friday, Oct. 20.

The event was organized by the UHCOP Chapter of the American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP), with participation by the UHCOP chapters of the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA), Student College of Clinical Pharmacy (SCCP) and Vietnamese American Pharmacy Student Society (VAPSS).

Held in Butler Plaza, members of the student organizations educated over 300 students on health topics such as human papilloma virus (HPV), medication safety, smoking cessation, and kidney and heart health. Through SCCP’s Operation Naloxone, over 30 units of the opioid reversal medication Narcan (naloxone) were distributed. In addition, Pharm.D. students administered 14 seasonal flu immunizations and conducted more than 50 blood pressure and/or blood glucose screenings.

“The Pharmacy Extravaganza was the perfect way to celebrate October’s American Pharmacist Month and show UH that pharmacists are essential health care workers that truly care about the health and well-being of our students,” APhA-ASP President Tammie Lam said.

The event also drew a team of alumni pharmacists from Randalls Pharmacy, who provided the flu vaccine and served as preceptors for the students.

American Pharmacists Month was launched in 2004 by the APhA – the largest professional pharmacy association in the U.S. -- as a way to recognize pharmacists and their contributions to health care.