American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy award recognizes student-led outreach programs
The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) School of Pharmacy was recently selected to receive the 2010-2011 Student Community Engaged Service Award by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP). UMKC was one of only four pharmacy schools in the nation to receive this award, which recognizes student-led community engagement projects. This is the second time that the School and its students have received this prestigious award, and the third consecutive year that the School has received one of AACP’s national community service awards.
In receiving the 2010-2011 Student Community Engaged Service Award, AACP recognized Clinical Associate Professor Crystal Obering, Pharm.D., and School of Pharmacy students Jennifer Sass, Ashley Harbison, Jacquelyn Constable, Kristin Ripperger and Eamon Darbandi for their contributions to the UMKC Health Sciences Wellness Fair.
The UMKC Health Sciences Wellness Fair (HSWF) was first conceived in the summer of 2008 by a group of students wanting to make a difference in the lives of the patients in the local neighborhood. Students, faculty and staff from the UMKC Health Sciences Schools (Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy), along with volunteers from UMKC’s community partners, offer a variety of services, such as blood pressure, bone health and cholesterol screenings, in addition to educational information about depression, Alzheimer’s disease and smoking cessation. To date, more than 1,100 patients have been served by the HSWF and over $40,000 of in-kind supplies have been acquired to offer services and screenings at no cost to the patients participating in the HSWF. The 2011 UMKC HSWF is scheduled for April 9, 2011.
“Congratulations to the entire team, and to Dr. Obering for her leadership on this project,” said Russell B. Melchert, Ph.D., dean of the School of Pharmacy. “This award brings a tremendous amount of prestige and recognition to our outstanding pharmacy program here at UMKC. I also congratulate all the faculty, staff, and students who have worked tirelessly in support of the Health Sciences Wellness Fair and our other community engagement projects.”
In addition to receiving a commemorative prize, the winning pharmacy colleges and schools will receive $10,000 to be used exclusively to support the expansion of the recognized program or new community engaged service projects at the school. Other prizes include a $5,000 financial stipend administered to participating students to be used for enhancing or sustaining the recognized program or for travel support to attend and present their projects at professional meetings.
A student representative and faculty advisor from each of the schools will be honored with a Steuben Glass Star Stream during the 2011 AACP Annual Meeting and Seminars, July 9-13, 2011 in San Antonio, Texas. Joining UMKC in receiving the 2010-2011 award are the University of Colorado, University of Oklahoma and the University of Southern California.
About the UMKC School of Pharmacy
Founded in 1885, the UMKC School of Pharmacy is the only public school of pharmacy in the state of Missouri. The School offers professional practice (doctor of pharmacy-Pharm.D.), non-practice bachelors (B.S.) and graduate (M.S. and Ph.D.) degrees. The School of Pharmacy is committed to providing an atmosphere that promotes life-long learning by helping students develop both the knowledge and skills needed to be a pharmacy professional in an ever-changing health-care environment. For more information about the UMKC School of Pharmacy, visit pharmacy.umkc.edu. You can also find the School of Pharmacy on Facebook and follow the School on Twitter.
About the University of Missouri-Kansas City
The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 15,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. UMKC engages with the community and economy based on a four-part mission: life and health sciences; visual and performing arts; urban issues and education; and a vibrant learning and campus life experience. For more information about UMKC, visit www.umkc.edu. You can also find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and watch us on YouTube.