Jennifer Barrio Managing Editor

/ Walmart RESPy winner for June, embodies the spirit of leadership—in his tenure at the Idaho State University (ISU) College of Pharmacy, he has developed many projects from an initial idea to a fully realized and funded program.

	As the founder and coordinator of “The Initiative: Taking Control of Diabetes,” Gower worked in conjunction with the Paul Ambrose Scholars Program to create and lead 6 weekly workshops for individuals with diabetes or prediabetes.

	In the workshops, which were broken into 2-week lessons, community members were given tools and strategies to help them better self-manage their condition. The topics covered included making better food choices, learning exercises and stretches to stay fit, and self-monitoring blood glucose. Students from other colleges at ISU, including those studying dietetics and exercise science, were involved in the project.

	Gower says, “Like with several other projects, it was a very important point that a multidisciplinary approach was taken to include other health care students and to give us more experience working as a team.”

	Gower took the lead on another interdisciplinary project by obtaining $9900 in grant money from the ISU Division of Health Sciences for “Diabetes Rural Outreach,” a program designed to provide support for the underserved population of rural Idaho. Together with other students from the ISU Division of Health Sciences, Gower worked in 2 counties to provide diabetes and cholesterol screening, blood pressure and diabetic foot checks, diet and nutrition counseling, and immunizations.

	In his work as a commissioned officer for the Indian Health Service through JRCOSTEP (Junior Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program), Gower also gained experience meeting the needs of the Native American population of southeastern Idaho. In addition to providing medication counseling to patients and education to fellow health care workers, Gower created a manual for future externs to guide them in fulfilling their duties.

	When reflecting on his extracurricular work, Gower says, “I have always at least encouraged fellow colleagues to seek to expand pharmacy’s reach and look for ways to improve our profession by doing more than the basics.”

	Gower, who just graduated from the ISU College of Pharmacy in May 2012, certainly seems ready to make a big impact in whatever practice setting he chooses.

Q Was there a moment when you knew pharmacy was right for you? 

 I admit that I developed some hesitation about whether I was making the right choice right about the time of pharmacy school interviews. But during my P2 year, I did some IPPE hours at the VA and loved the role that pharmacists played in that system—the hands-on aspect and critical thinking really impressed me.

Q What has been your most rewarding extracurricular activity, and why?

 I may have enjoyed The Initiative: Taking Control of Diabetes the most. It was great to get some feedback from the participants about how it helped them. One man, for example, said that the exercises he was taught helped relieve some troublesome leg pain he had been experiencing. Another reported that, based on the education regarding generic prescriptions he received, he talked to his doctor about changing to generics and now saves more than $100 a month on his medications. Hearing these sorts of things was really rewarding, and I enjoyed the chance to follow these participants along through the program.

Q What do you think is the most important issue in the field of pharmacy today?

I am certainly concerned about many things, from drug shortages to the surplus of pharmacy schools, but I am always a proponent for prevention. One thing that really needs to get the attention of the people is not getting diabetes, obesity, communicable diseases, etc, in the first place. I suppose that is an issue for health care in general, but a lot of what I have tried to do in my extracurricular work involves prevention. We as pharmacists and student pharmacists can play just as important a role as other health care providers.

	The Idaho State University College of Pharmacy offers both traditional and nontraditional PharmD programs. It consists of 2 departments: Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacy Practice and Administrative Sciences. For more information, visit www.pharmacy.isu.edu/live.

	The RESPy (Respect, Excellence, and Service in Pharmacy) Award is presented to the student who has made a difference in his or her community by demonstrating excellence in pharmaceutical care. For more information, please visit www.PharmacyTimes.com

Articles

Jeffrey Gower's varied experience includes developing innovative diabetes programs and working with the Indian Health Service.

Expanding Pharmacy's Reach

	On weekends, you may find May RESPy winner Allyson Greenberg studying at a coffee shop close to the campus of Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy— and she might just have an entourage.

	Greenberg has gotten a bit of a following among the regulars, who ask her questions about pharmacy and her experience studying to become a pharmacist. “My hope is that more people are becoming educated about the role of the pharmacist,” she says.

	Indeed, Greenberg’s involvement in the Collaborative Health Advocacy Team (CHAT) allows her to take the role of educator, coach, and medication expert. CHAT includes students of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and other health care professions who offer their expertise at local clinics to help educate and meet the health care needs of underserved populations.

	Greenberg’s focus is diabetes management, and through CHAT she discusses proper nutrition, exercise, and blood glucose monitoring with patients. She is even able to provide meters and supplies to those who need them.

	As clinic coordinator for CHAT, Greenberg has helped the program expand to 2 more locations in the past academic year. Keeping the needs of the Chicago-area population in mind, Greenberg organized a presentation at one of the clinics called “What Is Your Diabetes IQ?” that was delivered in English, Spanish, and Polish simultaneously.

	“One of the benefits of CHAT is having the opportunity to educate the general public of how useful the pharmacist is on the interdisciplinary team when managing chronic disease states,” she says.

	In addition to educating patients, Greenberg has also helped instruct her colleagues on best practices. At the 2011 American Association of Diabetes Educators Annual Meeting, for example, Greenberg copresented the preliminary outcomes of the Illinois component of the Ten City Challenge with a presentation titled, “Taking Control of Your Health— Diabetes Self-Management Program.”

	Greenberg’s colleagues describe her as professional, organized, and extremely passionate about pharmacy and patient care. Whatever practice setting Greenberg chooses after graduation, she is sure to put these skills to good use.

 The CHAT program is beneficial to students, but even more beneficial to patients. At one of the clinics that I attended monthly for 1 year before starting our Chicago clinic, we had a patient who came to our session each month to learn about diabetes. This patient would bring her 3 children and take the bus to attend our class. After 1 year of consistently attending our group, the patient became educated and achieved consistent glycemic control, resulting in reduction in medications. It was rewarding for me to see her progress, but it was more exciting to see how proud the patient was of her more diligent lifestyle for her entire family.

Q. Was there a moment when you knew pharmacy was right for you?

 During my first quarter of pharmacy school, I remember sitting through a lecture in which I learned about the ways the community can utilize their pharmacists. Many people are not aware that students complete many courses not only to specialize in drugs, but also to learn about the pathophysiology of different disease states. It is important to know your pharmacist. By building this rapport, it is more likely a patient would share valuable information regarding their health so that the pharmacist can provide the best health care.

Q. What do you think is the most important issue in the field of pharmacy today?

 I think one of the most important issues in the pharmacy profession is our lack of recognition as a health care provider. Because our education has evolved to include the doctor of pharmacy degree, pharmacists can offer cognitive services to patients and be an asset to other health care professionals as their medication expert. The pharmacist can act as a coach to help empower patients to control their lives with a chronic disease.

Q. What do you think is the most important quality for a pharmacist to possess?

 Communication skills. Without skills to communicate to patients and other health care providers, it doesn’t matter how much information we know, it will never reach anyone.

	Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy’s PharmD program provides students with enhanced experiences in the biomedical, pharmaceutical, and clinical sciences. The Chicago College of Pharmacy offers a full-time, traditional PharmD program that is completed in 6 years.

	Brought to you by Walmart & Pharmacy Times

	The RESPy (Respect, Excellence, and Service in Pharmacy) Award is presented to the student who has made a difference in his or her community by demonstrating excellence in pharmaceutical care. For more information, please visit 

Education Leads the Way in Diabetes Management

/Walmart RESPy award winner, is a third-generation pharmacist who is poised to merge family traditions with the new realities of pharmacy.  

	Daly’s grandfather graduated from University at Buffalo (UB) School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in 1953 and opened an independent pharmacy in Blasdell, New York. Today, it is run by Daly’s parents, who are both 1979 UB graduates. Daly will follow in their footsteps when he graduates this year from UB with a PharmD—but the joint MBA he will also receive marks his decidedly modern approach to pharmacy practice.

	Daly has already begun exploring what business training can mean for a community pharmacist. He was the founder of a 3-person team of pharmacy students who entered the Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition for 2 consecutive years. The team took fourth place its first year and received national recognition for a third place finish in its second year. The experience taught him a lot about what it will mean to be a pharmacist-entrepreneur.

	“To be able to blaze new frontiers and start new business ventures, a pharmacist needs to be passionate to put in the time to start up,” Daly says. “This bold characteristic will separate an entrepreneurial pharmacist from the pack.”

	Legislation is another key interest for Daly. He helped lobby for the right of pharmacists to immunize in the state of New York and worked to help make New York the 43rd state to adopt a collaborative drug therapy management law. He has served as president of the Student Pharmacists Association of Western New York as well as president of the student chapter of the Pharmacists Society of the State of New York. 

	After graduation, Daly will complete a PYG1 community pharmacy residency at Moose Pharmacy in Concord, North Carolina. The residency will allow him to witness firsthand the intersection of pharmacy and business, and help further prepare him to be an entrepreneur and a community leader. 

	“According to the Gallup Poll we are the second most trusted profession behind nurses,” Daly says. “It is time we start leveraging this honor and using it to our advantage to acquire more leadership roles in the community.”

What has been your most rewarding extracurricular activity?

	The 2012 Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition, by far. This was an opportunity in the pharmacy school that lent itself to the skills I acquired at the business school. I was able to bridge the 2 skills sets together and greatly augment the product as a part of a 3-person team. Our second year, since we placed in the top 3, we were able to present our plan nationally in front of a diverse crowd of professionals. It was a great experience, probably the best of my academic career.

What do you say to your colleagues to encourage them to participate in pharmacy legislation efforts? 

Mark Schroeder, former member of the New York State assembly, once said, “If you don’t stand up for yourselves, no one else will.” The message was clear and simple: positive change only comes through action. If you choose not to act, whatever conditions you may find yourself in will persist or get worse. It is important for students to remain open minded about politics. Policy and regulation dictates what environments ourpractice settings will adopt. It is extremely worthwhile to communicate your views to your own legislature or representative in Congress, because the people who dis- agree with you also do so on a consistent basis. Political advocacy is a process of communication, collaboration, and perseverance. Now more than ever advocacy is needed because the extra effort makes a huge difference at the end of the day. 

What is the most important issue in the field of pharmacy today? 

Getting reimbursed adequately for the cognitive services of a clinical community pharmacist. I believe this will be the future growth of our profession and is an area that will solidify our position and value in the health care profession. It is why I am pursuing a community residency. I concentrated in marketing in business school, and the profession of pharmacy can do a much better job in marketing itself overall for these services. We need to show our skills, market them accordingly, and create business models that are sustainable. The future will rebrand the role of the clinical community pharmacist, and I want to play a role in this.

	The University at Buffalo (UB) School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences was founded in 1886, and is the only pharmacy school in the State University of New York system. Encompassing the departments of pharmacy practice and pharmaceutical sciences, the school offers professional, undergraduate, and graduate programs. More information can be found at 

Advancing the Business of Pharmacy

	“I love to build relationships and help people out any way I can,” says Brandyn England, a 2013 PharmD candidate at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy and March’s Pharmacy Times/Walmart RESPy Award winner. “Pharmacy is the perfect profession to do both. The small town feel is very important to me, and I love how pharmacists can make a difference in a town of 500 or 500,000.”

	England has already spearheaded several innovative patient care projects that are making a significant difference in patients’ lives. One of his largest efforts has been a project with Easter Seals Arkansas to provide health screenings for adults with special needs. Working with the knowledge that special needs patients receive fewer physician visits than the general population, England and other students conducted baseline screenings for hypertension, elevated cholesterol, obesity, and diabetes. They followed up with the patients twice during the 5-month project to monitor their patients’ progress toward healthier living.

	A native of rural southern Arkansas, England has also worked to increase access to health care for farming families. Because these patients often have to travel long distances for health care and have difficulty keeping appointments during normal business hours, England organized a diabetes screening event at a farm supply store at which 50 farmers and their families were screened and received diabetes education.

	England has also helped organize health screenings for the homeless population of Little Rock, set up a health fair at a local mall, and participated in numerous community-based health care initiatives. Taken together, these events show England’s dedication to patient care and his ability to meet individuals where they are, both literally and figuratively, to provide them with the best possible health care.

How did you get involved with Easter Seals?

 Every year, the P1 class does a community project. As a class, we chose to help the Easter Seals’ Adult Services Center by fund-raising and doing some painting during spring break. During the check presentation, one of their administrators asked our professor what the 2nd and 3rd year students do. He told her about our health screenings and patient care activities, and she asked if we could come do a screening for them. At that time, I had just been elected as patient care coordinator for our APhA-ASP chapter, and I had already built a relationship with the people at Easter Seals. From there, we worked with them to set up the 5-month series of screenings.

 Was there a moment when you knew pharmacy was right for you?

 It was after my first year of school during my community rotation when I knew for sure that pharmacy was right for me. I rotated in a town of about 3500 people where there were only 2 pharmacies. My preceptor was “a good ole boy” and the whole community loved him. He talked to everybody and always went beyond what was expected to help the customer. He is an extremely respected man and would do anything to help someone out, even with non-pharmacy problems. After seeing how he interacted with people and managed his pharmacy, I quickly realized I would be happy making that my future livelihood as well.

What do you think is the most important issue in the field of pharmacy today?

 I believe that tightening reimbursement rates have become a serious issue for many pharmacies. With certain plans now only reimbursing pharmacists for cents on the dollar, it has made many pharmacists put their thinking caps back on in order to come up with additional ways to make ends meet.

 Do you have a funny pharmacy story you would like to share?

 During the Easter Seals screenings, we made a discovery we called “femaleinduced hypertension.” Our screening team consisted of 10 girls and 2 guys. During the first screening, many of the male residents were recording some high blood pressure numbers, to the extent that I asked the facility director if he thought we were making them uneasy. He laughed and said, “You probably aren’t, but a few of those girls may be.” I quickly realized what he was saying. Nearly every guy who was getting screened had the biggest grin on his face! Apparently, they were trying to make a good impression for the ladies. We documented all the hypertensive readings, and I came back a few weeks later just to check on those individuals. PT 

	Pharmacy Brandyn England The RESPy (Respect, Excellence, and Service in Pharmacy) Award is presented to the student who has made adifference in hisor her community by demonstrating excellence in pharmaceutical care. For more information, please visit www.PharmacyTimes.com. 

	The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy was established with the 1951-1952 academic year. Today, 4 years of professional study lead to a PharmD degree that helps students meet the college’s mission of preparing pharmacy leaders to address community health and provide innovative health care. 

Embracing the Small Town Pharmacy Model

Elizabeth O'Hara puts patients at ease with her compassionate, and sometimes humorous, approach.

	Elizabeth O’Hara, a 2012 PharmD candidate at the South Carolina College of Pharmacy, stands out for her unique view of patient care and her tireless efforts on behalf of those less fortunate. 

	Before the current academic year even started, the February Pharmacy Times/ Walmart RESPy winner had already logged 430 volunteer hours since matriculation. This compassionate young student has spent many of those hours helping the homeless population in the community surrounding the school’s Charleston, South Carolina, campus. O’Hara has offered her pharmacy expertise at the Harvest Free Medical Clinic, Crises Ministries, and the CARES Clinic. 

	Recently, O’Hara has become interested in a program called Operation Safety Net, a street medicine program led by Jim Withers, MD. She invited Dr. Withers to campus to speak to pharmacy students and others who are interested in providing health care to the underserved. She is working to establish Operation Street Health, a spin-off of the program for Charleston, in which health care providers will seek out members of the homeless population and provide them with dignified, nondiscriminatory care.

	This past summer, O’Hara attended the Patch Adams MD & Gesundheit! Institute School for Designing a Society, a 3-week educational program focused on making positive changes, including in the health care system. In the program, O’Hara learned principles of clowning and found that there can be a place for humor in pharmacy.

	“Silliness and humor are incredibly powerful tools for care providers,” O’Hara says. “The addition of a simple clown nose creates the space for love to sneak into patient interactions. As a pharmacist, I know I can practice in a compassionate and caring way that fulfills a need I have to care for those around me.”

	Although love might not be a word that one is accustomed to hearing in reference to patient care, this unique outlook clearly defines O’Hara’s empathetic and compassionate approach to pharmacy.

Why did you decide to become a pharmacist?

 When my dad was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 2004, it was our family pharmacist that played the critical role in his care by being the glue that held a complicated and confusing health care puzzle together. Our pharmacist took the time and energy to ensure that my family understood my Dad’s treatment, and was always there to comfort my Mom when she felt overwhelmed. It was then that I knew I wanted to become that person who is trusted and available to help anyone needing advice or comfort.

 That’s easy—working with the homeless. Through the relationships I’ve built with the placeless persons in the world, I’ve realized that those people we often see as most different from ourselves are often more similar than we’d ever imagined. This realization has allowed me to see every person as a brother, sister, mother, or father, and has become a driving force behind my career goals. The assumption is always that one “helps the homeless,” when in actuality, they have helped me become the person I’m proud to see in the mirror.

What are your long-term professional goals?

 After graduation, I hope to take a job with Indian Health Service in Alaska or pursue a PYG1 in ambulatory care. I plan to spend 2 to 3 years paying off my student loans so that I will have the flexibility to pursue my long-term goal of working with underserved populations. Ideally, I would like to devote my time to free health clinics and street medicine programs in the pursuit of designing a more equitable health care system for all people.

What is the most important quality for a pharmacist to possess?

 The most important quality for a pharmacist to possess is the ability to communicate in an empathetic and compassionate way to both our patients and the health care team. Too often in our system members of the team are left unsupported, and subsequently more likely to experience burnout and compassion fatigue. If pharmacists take a leading role in creating better relationships through communication, we can begin to build a health care system that is based on the solid foundation of compassion and care. PT

	The RESPy (Respect, Excellence, and Service in Pharmacy) Award is presented to the student who has made adifference in hisor her community by demonstrating excellence in pharmaceutical care.

	The South Carolina College of Pharmacy (SCCP) was formed in 2004 through the integration of the Colleges of Pharmacy at the University of South Carolina (USC) in Columbia and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston. The first class of students for the SCCP was graduated in August 2010. The SCCP offers a 4-year PharmD as well as graduate programs on both the USC and MUSC campuses. 

Bringing Dignity and Humor to Pharmacy

Renee Advincula is motivated by the impact she has on patients' lives and health.

/ Walmart RESPy winner of 2012, Renee Advincula, dazzled our prestigious panel of judges with her emphasis on patient care and her dedication to advancing the profession of pharmacy. A 2013 PharmD candidate at Mid— western University Chicago College of Pharmacy, Advincula is involved in a wide variety of extracurricular activities that serve patients as well as the Chicago community. She has worked with Kappa Psi to raise money for prostate cancer awareness, volunteered with the Chicago Women’s AIDS Project and the Illinois Caucus on Adolescent Health, and organized a health fair for 120 students at Young Women’s Leadership Charter School in Chicago. 

	Advincula has also worked extensively in the health-system setting, having volunteered both at the Rush University Medical Center for 3 years and in the pediatrics department of the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center. After graduation, she plans to complete a PGY-1 program in a hospital and a PGY-2 residency focusing on infectious disease.

	Advincula’s efforts with the Collaborative Health Advocate Team (CHAT) and her creation of the Medication Adherence Program—2 projects run through Midwestern’s chapter of the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhAASP)&mdash;stand out as her most inspired and inspiring work. 

 asked Advincula about her experience with these programs, and her answers reflect a passion for the field and a concern for patients that is truly deserving of recognition.

Was there a moment when you knew pharmacy was right for you?

 I was given the opportunity to teach at a Spanish-speaking diabetes class through CHAT, which provides monthly diabetes education to newly diagnosed diabetics in underserved populations in the Chicagoland area.

	During our first meeting, I met a woman who was waiting patiently with her 2 young children. She spoke minimal English, so I approached her and began to speak in Spanish. She was newly diagnosed with diabetes and a first timer at the clinic. During this first meeting, she realized her life was about to change. I explained that while change can promote fear, it also provides the opportunity to transform a person’s perspective so they no longer feel victimized by their circumstance.

	As the months passed, I noted an alteration in her outlook. She was determined to lose weight, modify the eating habits of her family, and maintain a positive direction. Together, we properly maximized the use of her glucose test strips through testing on certain days and times during the week. Her glucose readings went from a baseline of over 200 mg/dL in the mornings to under 100 mg/dL in only 3 months after embracing lifestyle modifications. After 4 months, she lost 15 lb and decreased her dose of metformin.

	The extremely timid woman who I first met was now a completely different person. She sat me down and revolutionized my perspective of the impact pharmacists have in our community. She said, “Your group has made me feel comfortable coming to our sessions because I do not feel judged. I come every single month with my children and commute 50 minutes on the bus just to be uplifted. When I come to these sessions, I feel free. I feel free from the burden that my diabetes caused me in the beginning and know that I can change and live a long life for family and kids. I have you all to thank for that.”

	I had an epiphany about why I am entering into this profession. It is not because I want to wear the amazing white coat, have a PharmD after my name, or earn a decent salary in the future. It is because of patients like this woman who change themselves for the better.

What is your most rewarding extracurricular activity?

 The Medication Adherence Program is a relatively new program geared towards serving the underserved population of the Chicagoland area. The goal is to bridge the relationship between consumers and pharmacists so that we can help minimize medicinal errors while improving patient satisfaction. Student pharmacists give a 2-part medication adherence presentation, followed by a 1-on-1 student pharmacist/patient counseling session.

	The process of creating and implementing the Medication Adherence Program helped teach me the value of time management and how to work collaboratively with student pharmacists, mentors, and other health care professionals. To see my idea evolve into a project in which student pharmacists are able to hone and utilize skills taught in the classroom and apply them to direct patient care is invaluable. When both students and come out of the session better than they entered, I know that I have done my job. 

	The RESPy (Respect, Excellence, and Service in Pharmacy) Award is presented to the student who has made adifference in hisor her community by demonstrating excellence in pharmaceutical care. 

	Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy PharmD program provides students with enhanced experiences in the biomedical, pharmaceutical, and clinical sciences. The Chicago College of Pharmacy offers both a full-time, traditional PharmD program that is completed in 6 years. 