SOP’s SNPhA chapter hosts regional meeting
More than 350 members of the Student National Pharmaceutical Association are expected to convene in Richmond this weekend as VCU School of Pharmacy’s chapter welcomes the organization’s Region I and II Meeting to the Omni Richmond Hotel.
Founded in 1972 as the student affiliate of the National Pharmaceutical Association, SNPhA is an educational service association concerned about pharmacy and health care-related issues and minority representation in pharmacy and other health professions.
Regions I and II comprise about 40 schools and colleges of pharmacy. The Feb. 28-March 2 meeting theme will be “Interprofessional Care: Leading Into the Future.”
“Regional meetings are an opportunity for us to share our experiences as pharmacy leaders in the community,” notes VCU chapter president Nellie Jafari. “As we learn from others at the conference, we will be able to implement new strategies to improve our service and commitment to patients.
“It also provides student pharmacists an opportunity to network with experienced pharmacists who are already working in the field.”
The regional meeting will feature seminars, workshops, continuing education, residency exhibits and a clinical skills competition. Workshop topics will range from brand building to policy and advocacy, for which presenters will include the SOP’s Gary Matzke, director of pharmacy practice transformation initiatives, and VCU Pharmacy Practice Transformation Fellow Andrea Pierce.
SOP Dean Victor Yanchick will welcome attendees at the opening session, and Alan Dow will serve as plenary speaker. Dow is the university’s assistant vice president of health sciences for interprofessional education and collaborative care. SOP associate professor Brigitte Sicat will present a CE seminar on “Motivational Interviewing to Improve Patient Outcomes,” and assistant professor K.C. Ogbonna will present “Moving Beyond Warfarin – Are We Ready?” Clinical instructor John Bucheit will offer “A New Approach to Treatment of Hypertensive Urgency in the Outpatient Setting.” VCU School of Medicine professor Wally Smith will deliver the closing speech during the awards banquet ceremony.
While making plans for the meeting, the VCU chapter received word that its Prescription for Service Scholarship Competition video had been named Region I finalist. “Although you are getting ready to host regionals this year, it is amazing to see your leadership, passion and drive for the profession of pharmacy and for SNPhA,” wrote Joshua Blackwell, facilitator for national Region III. “Thank you so much for all of your amazing work and once again, congratulations!”
The VCU video, which can be viewed by clicking here, won a $2,500 grant for the chapter, which it plans to use for an interprofessional clinic for patient assessment at Richmond’s Center for High Blood Pressure. “It is great to see the recognition for your creative effort and hard work,” said Tom Reinders, SOP associate dean for admissions and student services. “The real reward is knowing about how you plan to use the funds.”
The video, created by Jafari and Jaeau Obcemea, also will be in the running for a national award during the 2014 SNPhA National Conference, which takes place July 18-21 at Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel in Arlington.
SOP associate professor Leticia Moczygemba serves as advisor to the VCU chapter of SNPhA. To see “who’s who” in the chapter, click here. To view a video the VCU chapter made to highlight the Richmond’s attractions for meeting attendees, click here.
Categories Faculty news, Student news, Student organizations