Student News

First Annual TSHP Residency Showcase

Marriages

Allison Lambert (2017) married Samuel Yates on May 23, 2015. Sam is a law enforcement officer and works for the city of Piggott, Akansas.

AACP Walmart Scholars

AACP and Walmart share the commitment to help colleges and schools of pharmacy ensure there are an adequate number of well-prepared individuals who aspire to join the faculties of our expanding programs across the country. The goal of this scholarship program is to strengthen the recipient's skills and commitment to a career in academic pharmacy through participation in programming and activities at the 2015 AACP Annual Meeting and Seminars.

The program provides $1,000 travel scholarships to 85 student/faculty pairs from AACP member institutions to attend the AACP Annual Meeting and the AACP Teachers Seminar in National Harbor, MD, from July 11-15, 2015. This momentous program continues to grow each year with Walmart's support and dedication.

This year, two UUSOP students were selected as Walmart Scholars along with their faculty mentors:

1. Samarth P. Shah (2015), Union University School of Pharmacy; Faculty Mentor: Jodi L. Taylor.
2. Lida A. Thimothy (2015), Union University School of Pharmacy; Faculty Mentor: Kim Jones.

Student Organizations

AAPS

The UUSOP student chapter of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) recently hosted Dr. Clinton Stewart from the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis. Dr. Stewart spoke to interested students on the topic of "Translational Research as a Career Path for Pharmacists."

Dr. Stewart is a full member of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (equivalent to a Full Professor in academia) at St. Jude and Professor of Pediatrics and Clinical Pharmacy at UT Memphis. Dr. Stewart received his PharmD degree from UT. His current research efforts include the use of preclinical models to enhance design of clinical trials of new agents in children with cancer and the use of pharmacokinetics as a method to optimize drug exposure in children with cancer.

APhA-ASP

Student Leadership Institute in Washington DC

Each summer, the American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) hosts the Summer Leadership Institute (SLI) in order to prepare chapter leaders for the upcoming year. This is done through a series of sessions in which attendees identify their leadership style, discuss team building strategies, develop communication skills, and receive updates on APhA-ASP activities. Chapter Leaders are also given the unique and exciting opportunity to visit Capitol Hill in order to discuss the bills regarding provider status: H.R.592 and S.314. This year's SLI was held July 10th through the 12th in Washington, D.C.

On Friday, July 10th, I was able to speak with Representative Trent Kelly of Mississippi (my home state) as well as Corey Schrodt, a staff member for Representative Stephen Fincher of Tennessee. As I was preparing for visits, I learned specific information about both Tennessee and Mississippi, information that illustrated how important provider status is in the southern region. For example, the area which Kelly represents, Mississippi District 1, is considered 100% medically underserved. Knowing that, I felt I could truly impact the profession by educating Kelly and Schrodt on the possible impact of provider status in their districts. The rest of the weekend was spent preparing for the year ahead through various speakers and activities. I was able to develop my leadership skills as well exchange ideas with chapter leaders from around the country. Prior to SLI, I felt I was capable to lead but was struggling to find the confidence and where to begin. However, after this experience, I feel that I have identified my leadership style and have learned how to properly apply it. I am beyond excited to bring what I have learned to our chapter. SLI is an experience that I will never forget, and I am looking forward to the year ahead!

Kayla Thornton
Pharm.D. Candidate, Class of 2018

PLS

PLS inducted seven new members:
Melissa Bien-Aime (2016)
Chris Buckley (2017)
Brittany Powers (2017)
John Puryear (2015)
Megan Robinson (2015)
Kelsey Turcotte (2017)
Robin Williams (2016)

Rho Chi

Rho Chi inducted 5 new members:
Stephanie Denise Morris (2016)
Leana S. Stigall (2016)
William Blake Butler (2017)
Christopher Stephen Gore (2017)
Nicholas Alan Smith (2017)

SCCP

SCCP elected the following officers for the 2015-2016 academic year:
President - Jasmine Paul (2018)
President-Elect - Dan Guinn (2018)
Secretary- Kayla Thornton (2018)
Treasurer - Anna Robinson (2018)
Student Liaison - Monica Barrett (2018)

The UUSOP will be represented in the ACCP Clinical Pharmacy Challenge this year by Chris Buckley (2017), Katherine Frieling (2016), and Sonia Pernia (2016). The competition begins in September 2015.

ASHP-SSHP

Student Advocate Training and Legislative Day
Melissa Bien-Aime (2016) attended ASHP's Student Advocate and Legislative Day earlier this year in Washington DC. She was able to meet pharmacy students from all over the country as well as spend time on Capitol Hill participating in lobbying efforts advocating for the profession of pharmacy. She and a member of APHA took part in an interview. During this interview she talked with the legislative correspondent for Senator John Isakson about how pharmacy students are trained in school and the many ways that pharmacists provide valuable healthcare services to patients. She also encouraged Sen. Isakson to votes yes on Senate Bill 314 which would give pharmacists provider status.

Council Appointment
Meghan Garrett (2016) was selected for appointment to the ASHP Council on Pharmacy Practice. ASHP appoints one student member to each of its five councils (Pharmacy Practice, Therapeutics, Education and Workforce Development, Public Policy and Pharmacy Management). These councils are the primary bodies that initiate ASHP policy on professional issues. This is great recognition of Meghan's student accomplishments and she will represent our SOP well in September during Council Week.

TSSP

MidYear Meeting
UUSOP students discuss current issues affecting pharmacy practice with Madison County Representative Jimmy Eldridge at the 2015 TPA MidYear Legislative Reception held at the Sheraton in Nashville, TN.

Annual Meeting
Christopher Buckley (2017), joined five other students from Tennessee schools and colleges of pharmacy as a student presenter during a new session at the July 2015 TPA Annual Meeting. The title of his presentation is Pumping Up Awareness about Adverse Effects of PPIs.