Celebrating Pharmacists: Pharmacist Care Day in Pittsburgh

In recognition of American Pharmacists Month, UPMC Health Plan pharmacists collaborated with the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy and Rx Partners to host a free Pharmacist Care Day on October 8, 2025, at the UPMC Health Plan’s Pittsburgh Neighborhood Center. The event demonstrates UPMC Health Plan’s ongoing commitment to delivering whole-person care by meeting individuals where they are—offering accessible, community-based health services that address both clinical and social needs.

Pharmacist Care Day featured a wide range of services designed to support health and wellness. Student pharmacists from the University of Pittsburgh administered flu vaccines to 102 attendees, and licensed pharmacists conducted 17 health screenings, including blood pressure, height/weight/BMI, cholesterol, glucose, and bone density assessments, all available to attendees at no cost, regardless of insurance status. Pharmacists also offered medication reviews, distributed safe medication disposal bags, and provided education on medication reconciliation, deprescribing, and clinical recommendations.

The event also served as a gateway to broader community support through the Neighborhood Center’s resources. Several attendees engaged with staff and were referred to collaborating community organizations such as UPMC Pathways to Work, Career Link, Davis Consulting Solutions, Hosanna House, Jewish Family and Children’s Services, Pittsburgh Poison Center, UPMC Family Hospice, UPMC Magee’s Strong and Sure class, Mission of Mercy, and Just Harvest for SNAP assistance. Three individuals also interested in employment and job training resources met with a UPMC Pathways to Work counselor, and 3 others connected with the Neighborhood Center’s Family Engagement Specialist to get support for family members while on-site for their flu shots. In response to urgent food needs expressed by several attendees, food boxes and food bucks were distributed to provide immediate support.

The event’s success was reflected in the enthusiastic feedback from attendees. Many praised the event as both well-organized and good for the community. The presence of mascots added a fun and welcoming atmosphere, while the purple bus parked outside piqued curiosity and drew in passersby. The Pittsburgh Poison Center, a free 24/7 resource staffed by expert pharmacists and nurses, made a “large” impression with its Mr. Yuk mascot, promoting poison prevention and center services. Some attendees were encouraged to join by friends or family already at the event, highlighting the power of word of mouth and community connections. One attendee shared that she had long wanted a bone density screening but hadn’t found a convenient opportunity—until a family member called her from the event, prompting her to come down and finally complete the screening.

“Pharmacists are one of the most highly accessible, trusted health care professionals in our community who are essential to helping people manage multiple medications and chronic conditions. Having such a great event like this to celebrate the crucial work that they do and to promote healthier lives of the members in our communities is what this day was all about,” one of the event organizers, Vanessa Campbell, PharmD, director of clinical pharmacy at UPMC Health Plan, said.

“At the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, we teach our students how to deliver whole-person care to improve the health and well-being of the world around us. Pharmacist Care Day gave our students a chance to live that mission by vaccinating people from the community at the UPMC Health Plan Neighborhood Center. At the event, our students learned how to be better pharmacists while they positively impacted the health of the community through vaccination. That’s what community partnerships are all about,” Lucas Berenbrok, PharmD, MS, BCACP, faculty and director of the Community Leadership and Innovation in Practice (CLIP) Center at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, said.

UPMC Health Plan’s Neighborhood Centers in Pittsburgh and Erie serve as vital hubs for health and wellness, especially in historically underserved communities. Events like Pharmacist Care Day demonstrate how embedding pharmacists into care teams and community spaces can bridge access gaps, promote preventive care, and foster meaningful connections between individuals and the resources that support their overall well-being.