APhA-ASP Focuses on New Operation Heart Initiative
Student pharmacists tackle cardiovascular disease and promote awareness and prevention
By Jamie Lea Elsner
April 8, 2011
In the United States, with the dramatic increase in obesity and sedentary lifestyles, cardiovascular disease has emerged as a major public health issue. Currently, more than 81 million adults have one or more forms of cardiovascular disease. Coined America’s number one killer, cardiovascular disease is the cause of one out of every three deaths. Operation Heart, the American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists’ (APhA-ASP) latest initiative, is focused on promoting awareness and measures to reduce cardiovascular risk and fight cardiovascular disease. Operation Heart’s goal is to make the community aware of the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and to demonstrate how simple changes, such as modifications in diet and exercise, can reduce the risk of heart disease.
The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy’s Operation Heart committee kicked off its campaign in February with a celebration of American Heart Month. The operation’s inaugural event raised awareness through participation in the American Heart Association’s National Wear Red Day. Each year on the first Friday of February, businesses, students, hospitals, and other organizations join together and “Go Red” to help raise awareness and funds in the fight against heart disease in women. On February 4, Operation Heart recruited School of Pharmacy Dean Natalie D. Eddington, PhD, FAAPS, along with 105 students, faculty, and staff to wear red. Of these, 60 participated in the National Wear Red Day photo.
On February 16, Operation Heart held a training session with Kristin Watson, PharmD, an assistant professor of pharmacy practice and science, which educated students on the impact of prevention measures on cardiovascular disease. Watson and Operation Heart challenged students to monitor their sodium intake over a one week period in order to demonstrate the challenges faced by cardiovascular patients. It served as an education effort to provide students with experiences to share with their future patients as well as to assist them in being more empathetic with patients’ reluctance to modify their lifestyle.
On February 26, in support of a heart healthy and active lifestyle, Operation Heart hosted its first fundraiser with an athletic theme. More than 40 students, faculty, and supporters gathered at Patterson Park’s Ice Skating rink to raise money and awareness for cardiovascular disease. “Regular exercise like ice skating has been shown to help lower blood pressure, reduce feelings of stress, lower body weight, and improve self-esteem,” says Justine Beck, a third-year student pharmacist. “It has also been demonstrated that happier people are less likely to develop heart disease. Operation Heart’s ‘We All Skate to the Same Beat’ Ice Skating event lasted just under two hours but provided participants with the chance to achieve all of the benefits that exercise offers.”
Cherokee Layson-Wolf, PharmD, an assistant professor of pharmacy practice and science and APhA-ASP chapter advisor, said “the ice skating event was different than any other type of outreach or fundraising event we’ve had. Having it on a weekend also allowed me to have my family come. Finally, it was another fun type of physical activity to help support heart health.”
Thanks to the generous support of faculty and students, and sponsors such as Target and Outback Steakhouse, Operation Heart raised more than $200 for the American Heart Association! Andrea Benvenuto, a second year student pharmacist, said that she “hadn’t been skating since I was a little kid. Despite falling in the first 30 seconds of being on the ice, it was such a fun time! I hope we have the opportunity to do it again next year!”
Dr. Roopa Pastakia of Target praised the fundraising event as “a very innovative and fun way to earn money for a good cause.” Lisa Holt of Target stated that “the best way to describe the event was just fun! I haven’t ice skated in years, and it was great to do so with some great professionals all while raising money for a great cause. I can’t wait until next year! On a personal level, the American Heart Association is an organization I’m very passionate about supporting.”
With the spring semester half over, Operation Heart still has great plans in the works. Future efforts will include a heart healthy bake sale as a collaborative effort with the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy to raise more money for the American Heart Association and participation in health and wellness fairs throughout the community, where they will distributing heart healthy low sodium, low cholesterol recipes. Operation Heart also has plans to collaborate with McCormick® in order to provide salt free spice alternatives in exchange for salt as part of a Take Back the Salt initiative and hopes to collaborate with the School of Pharmacy’s Patients, Pharmacists, Partnerships (P3) Program to provide blood pressure wallet cards for P3 participants.
“Through Operation Heart, students have the opportunity to work within the community to encourage lifestyle modifications, make the community aware of associated risk factors, and provide education as well as prevention measures regarding heart disease,” says Taura Holmes, a third-year student pharmacist and chair of Operation Heart.
Taura Holmes and Katie Brant co-authored this article.