Wegmans School of Pharmacy Celebrates Profession Through Events, Activities

In October, Wegmans School of Pharmacy joined a nationwide effort to shine the spotlight on the pharmacy profession during National Pharmacy Week. Designed by the American Society of Health-system Pharmacists, the celebration was an opportunity to educate the public about the role of pharmacists as members of the health care team and advance the profession. The week also coincided with the American Pharmacists’ Association’s designation of October as American Pharmacists’ Month.

Throughout the month, the School participated in several efforts to raise awareness of the profession. Dr. Matt Zak and Dr. Kelly Conn served as the College’s First Friday Lecture speakers, discussing the importance of medication adherence, facts about the flu vaccine, and proper medication disposal to members of the College’s 1948 Society. On Tuesday, Oct. 15, pharmacy students, led by Pharmacy Fellow Dr. Joy Snyder, provided flu immunizations to attendees of Project Homeless Connect, an event that offered services and resources to the hundreds of people living in shelters or without homes in Rochester.

“These commemorations are a great way to raise awareness of how pharmacists serve our community,” said Dr. Christine Birnie, dean of the School. “The School of Pharmacy was engaged in a range of activities, both on campus and in the local community, to celebrate and educate others about the profession.”

The celebration of the profession swung into action on Sunday, Oct. 20, with the PDC Health Fair at Koinonia Fellowship, where pharmacy students offered blood pressure screenings and answer questions about medications. Members of Fisher’s chapter of the Student Society of Health-system Pharmacists also walked in the American Cancer Society’s Breast Cancer Walk at Frontier Field, raising $1,435 for the organization.

Among other activities held during the week, students in Fisher’s chapter of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy hosted a talk with Andrew Verderame, partner, U.S. Regulatory and Development Consulting Services with PharmaLex, who discussed topics including regulatory affairs and the strategic consultancy services his company provides to clients.

Pharmacy students also used the week as an opportunity to educate the campus community about over the counter, prescription, and illicit medication principles. And, they partnered with the Monroe County Sherriff’s Department to host a Drug Take Back event where the community could properly dispose of unused medication. 

The celebration closed with the APhA Pinning Ceremony, which honored the newest inductees into Fisher’s chapter of the American Pharmacists Association.