School of Pharmacy’s SNPhA Attends NPhA Annual Conference in Las Vegas

University of Maryland Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) Gains Wealth of Experience at the National Pharmaceutical Association’s (NPhA) 65th Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada

By Nkem Nonyel
August 23, 2012

The School of Pharmacy’s Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) was one of the many SNPhA chapters represented at the National Pharmaceutical Association’s (NPhA) 65th annual conference in Las Vegas in July. Donations from members of the Maryland Pharmaceutical Society (MPhS) helped ensure that sixteen students from the chapter were able to attend.

The conference offered SNPhA members the opportunity to further develop their professional and leadership skills through continuing education, networking, and other activities designed to introduce new trends in health disparity, minority health care, and general pharmacy practice.

“As a first time attendee of the NPhA Annual Conference, it was incredible to see other committed, enthusiastic, and focused young individuals, like myself, from various schools of pharmacy across the country,” said Olajumoke Amuwo, a second year student pharmacist at the School of Pharmacy.

The conference featured two inspiring keynote presentations by Farrah Gray, PhD, a motivational speaker, and Reuben Shaffer, vice president and chief diversity officer for the Kroger Company, in addition to a number of professional and educational activities in which all SNPhA members had the opportunity to participate.

Among the educational activities available was a joint NPhA/SNPhA continuing education session entitled “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: T-minus 18 Months, and Working; the Road to Implementation.” This thought provoking session explored the purpose, scope, and key principles of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including its implementation progress, both in private and government programs. Also discussed were the legal challenges and outcomes, including regulations and the impact of recent litigation, associated with the implementation of ACA as it relates to the practice of pharmacy.

All students who attended the conference also had the opportunity to discuss residency, internship, and other career opportunities with leading pharmacy experts, including representatives from Rite Aid Pharmacy, Walgreens, Walmart, Target, Kroger, and Kaiser Permanente. As chapter president, this writer participated in both the Rite Aid Leadership Academy and President’s Luncheon hosted at the conference, and was one of 40 student leaders who received a certificate of participation from the Rite Aid Leadership Academy.

During the conference’s business session, the chapter submitted and defended two proposed resolutions concerning patient education and patient counseling. Both proposals were voted upon and passed by the SNPhA House of Delegates. Members Franklyn Osakwe and Claudia Dubois, fourth year student pharmacists at the School, also represented the chapter in the conference’s clinical skills competition.

“I set three goals before attending this conference: to network as much as possible, gain knowledge of what it takes to become a national officer, and to learn how I can be of help in improving my chapter and better representing the School of Pharmacy on a national level,” said Nchinda Ngeche, second year student pharmacist. “My participation met all of these goals and also gave me the opportunity to discuss health care facility concerns, issues, and best practices with my peers and colleagues.”

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