David Lai, Class of 2014 & SHINE Co-director Heather Keith, Class of 2014, Mandy Moghrabi, Alumna '08 at the FASD seminar & London Drugs Manager with Chelsey Coley
(Edmonton) Student pharmacists organized and participated in events on and off campus for the 2013 Pharmacy Awareness week: March 4 - 9. The Alberta Pharmacy Student's Association (APSA) organized the events to showcase the increasing role pharmacists as they bring as health care providers.
The week kicked off with the Engaging Professionals and Students in FASD Awareness and Prevention webinar that attracted an international audience.
"The March 4 webinar was a key event for the Pharmacy Awareness Week," said Josh Torrance, APSA Executive Committee member.
The FASD knowledge mobilization program is part of the core curriculum for third-year student pharmacists.
Dr. Sharon Mitchell, Clinical Associate Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Gail Andrew, Medical Director for the FASD Clinical Services Pediatrics program at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital and Cheyenne, a young woman living with the disability, have presented the FASD program at multiple locations across Alberta over the past two years.
Sarah Brost and David Lai, student pharmacists, volunteer at the Student Health Initiative for the Needs of Edmonton (SHINE) clinic. Patients living with FASD are part of SHINES's target population. Sarah requested the March 4 seminar.
"I thought it would be a good idea to provide the FASD seminar to all students across a range of health professions as a means to educate them about special and underprivileged populations."
Two hands-on clinics also took place during the week.
London Drugs supported the half day Bone Density Clinic. Two Alumni volunteered to supervise the student pharmacist. Mandy Moghrabi, Class of 2008 and Lisa Ma Class of 2010 helped student pharmacists with questions as well as the equipment London Drugs provided.
"I think it's a good opportunity to help students with this real-life experience. They were eager to learn and caught on quickly," said Moghrabi.
The clinic was a first for the third-year students.
"I wasn't expecting as much variation when doing the scans. It was a good learning experience," said Heather Keith, Class Of 2014.
APSA also held blood pressure clinic offering advice at counselling & advice at Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute. The five-hour clinic had 135 people stop by for blood pressure counselling from the student pharmacists.
Sarah Brost and David Lai, student pharmacists, volunteer at the Student Health Initiative for the Needs of Edmonton (SHINE) clinic. Patients living with FASD are part of SHINES's target population. Sarah requested the March 4 seminar.
"I thought it would be a good idea to provide the FASD seminar to all students across a range of health professions as a means to educate them about special and underprivileged populations."
Two hands-on clinics also took place during the week.
London Drugs supported the half day Bone Density Clinic. Two Alumni volunteered to supervise the student pharmacist. Mandy Moghrabi, Class of 2008 and Lisa Ma Class of 2010 helped student pharmacists with questions as well as the equipment London Drugs provided.
"I think it's a good opportunity to help students with this real-life experience. They were eager to learn and caught on quickly," said Moghrabi.
The clinic was a first for the third-year students.
"I wasn't expecting as much variation when doing the scans. It was a good learning experience," said Heather Keith, Class Of 2014.
APSA also held blood pressure clinic offering advice at counselling & advice at Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute. The five-hour clinic had 135 people stop by for blood pressure counselling from the student pharmacists.
Pharmacists' Scope of practice varies across Canada. Alberta Health Services encourages pharmacists to work to their full scope of practice, working directly with patients and other members of the health care team.
Alberta Pharmacists' Scope of practice:
- Prescribing - includes initiation of prescription medications
- Administration of drugs by injection: IM / SC / Intra-Dermal
- Order and access lab data
- Dispensing medications
First held in 1991, Pharmacists Awareness Week highlights how pharmacists to help the public enjoy better health.