Student Organization Updates

CPFI

The student chapter of Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International (CPFI) held a praise and worship session on the lawn of Providence Hall. The mission of CPFI is to encourage spiritual growth among fellow pharmacy students, faculty, and staff through Bible study, prayer, and fellowship to in turn be as a city on a hill that cannot be hidden and the light to a darkened world (Matthew 5:4). Faculty, staff and students alike gathered for a break from the stresses of daily life to offer up a period of song and prayer to our God. It was a wonderful time of renewal and reminded those present that who we serve is greater than anything that may be affecting us. He is capable of getting us through the trials of life. CPFI Vice President, Rebekah Littleton, sent out weekly emails of scripture and encouragement to every member of the UUSOP family.

SSHP

Fourth-year student members of Union's Student Society of Health-System Pharmacy (SSHP), Andy McLaughlin and Houston Wyatt, won the School-level Clinical Skills Competition and advanced to the national competition hosted at the recent American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) 46th Annual Mid-Year Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. The competition allows students to demonstrate their ability to think critically and create a therapeutic care plan for a unique patient scenario. Students from 115 schools and colleges of pharmacy were represented in the competition. More than 20 Union faculty members and students attended the meeting participating in various continuing education and networking opportunities with pharmacists and students from across the country. Fourth-year pharmacy students attended the Residency Showcase, making connections with residency directors and employers from a variety of PGY-1 programs.

NCPA

The student chapter of the National Community Pharmacist Association (NCPA) recently hosted a canned food and toy drive to benefit the families and children at the Dream Center. The Dream Center is a local Christian organization that provides housing for women and their children while the mothers find jobs to get back on their feet. Students collected a total of 90 canned food items and 306 toys throughout the first few weeks of November, which were delivered to the Dream Center in mid-November by NCPA members.

APhA-ASP

Operation Heart
A mission of the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists is to improve healthcare in our community through patient-care projects. One project in particular is called Operation Heart. Operation Heart is designed to improve public health by helping patients understand, identify, and manage their risk for cardiovascular disease. At the West Tennessee Health Fair, APhA-ASP members helped patients better manage their medications for heart disease, encouraged healthy lifestyles, and provided education on cardiovascular disease and its associated risk factors. Services provided include checking blood pressure, body mass index, and blood glucose measurements. Other health initiatives included the provision of dietary or weight counseling and smoking cessation information. Students reached more than 250 people through this event. Other local events included the March of Dimes March in Humboldt on October 22, 2011, and the West Tennessee Heart Walk on November 5, 2011.

Generation Rx Project
The mission of the Generation Rx project is to raise awareness among a variety of individuals, such as pharmacists, pharmacy students, healthcare providers, parents, and students about prescription drug abuse. APhA-ASP has participated in several events to educate such individuals. To reach elementary, middle, and high school students and parents, APhA-ASP set up a table at several local high school football games and gave out information about prescription drug abuse. The group also assisted with the FDA National Take Back Day by helping the Jackson-Madison County narcotics department properly dispose of prescription drugs.

A Generation Rx themed continuing education program was hosted by APhA-ASP for local pharmacists, nurses, pharmacy, nursing and undergraduate students. APhA-ASP student members, chapter advisor Dr. Kim Jones, and featured guest speaker Byron Maxedon, a Narcotics officer for the Jackson Police Department, presented "A Prescription to Prevent Prescription Drug Abuse." Presentation attendees received one hour of live continuing education credit. APhA-ASP will provide several other educational opportunities in the upcoming months.

Flu Immunization Clinics
APhA-ASP has hosted thirteen different flu clinics this fall around the Union and Jackson community. To date, APhA members have treated 541 patients providing influenza, pneumococcal, and zostavax vaccinations. Kroger, SuperD, Walgreens, and Dyersburg City of Public Works are just a few of the places APhA-ASP members have reached out to in order to try to get as many patients in the West Tennessee community immunized against the flu. Students have also organized flu clinics at Area Relief Ministries and the Dream Center, two charitable organizations in the Jackson area.

TSSP

In July 2011, members of TSSP attended the Tennessee Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting in Kingsport, TN.

Attending the Exhibitions.	OTC Competition Team with Coach Dr. Cindy Fisher.
TPA Group Photo.