Student Pharmacists Advocate for the Profession on Capitol Hill

Participants in Effective Leadership and Advocacy course visit legislators to push for pharmacy’s inclusion in health care reform

By Brittany Farrugia
October 29, 2009

On October 13, 28 student pharmacists from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy joined several students from the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Pharmacy at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC to advocate for the pharmacy profession with their respective legislators. The Hill visits were organized as part of the School’s Effective Leadership and Advocacy course, which is co-taught with VCU. University of Maryland student pharmacists visited ten legislative offices, including those of both Maryland senators.

Before the trip, students participated in classes and in a conference call with the American Pharmacists Association to learn more about the unified message that pharmacists are sharing with elected officials and policymakers in regards to health care reform. The student pharmacists discussed the importance of including pharmacists in Medication Therapy Management provisions in proposed health care reform bills, as well as including pharmacists in the pay structure for these programs. The students also researched their own pharmacy-related issues and were able to add their personal opinions and experiences to the discussions.

Justin Bakhshai, a third year student pharmacist at the University of Maryland, described his experience as “a wonderful opportunity to develop leadership skills while facilitating the advancement of our profession.”

At the end of the day, students from both schools met for a dinner reception sponsored by Walgreens. Six faculty members from Maryland and VCU facilitated students’ opportunities to learn more about their fellow classmates and to practice their networking skills. Etiquette was the focus of the dinner, as students learned the proper way to conduct themselves at a professional social event and the proper etiquette for eating a meal in a professional setting.

“Prior to the experience, many of us were nervous, intimidated, and unsure of our advocacy potential,” Bakhshai said. “At the end of the day, however, we felt a sense of accomplishment and had an understanding on how small efforts such as these can greatly further the future of the profession.”