The University of Rhode Island’s American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists chapter has been a very successful program over the past few years. In APhA-ASP student pharmacists have the opportunity to work on their patient counseling skills, promote pharmacy legislation and much more. The core of the organization focuses on patient care projects-Operation Diabetes, Heartburn Awareness and Operation Immunization. At the 2009 APhA Annual Meeting and Exposition URI won Patient Care Awards for both Operation Diabetes and Heartburn Awareness for Region 1. This marks the second year in a row that URI has won the award for Operation Diabetes and the second time in 3 years that URI was awarded that title for Heartburn Awareness. In the past Operation Immunization has also been recognized for its efforts in helping pass legislation that allows pharmacists to immunize in Rhode Island. With the current pandemic involving H1N1 we will be promoting the importance of vaccinations as well as providing information to patients in the community. Last year, 20 student Pharmacists were trained as Immunizers, a number we hope to greatly increase this year. This year, we are looking forward to the Midyear Regional Meeting in Hartford, Connecticut in November as well as the next Annual meeting which will take place in Washington D.C. next March. URI will be hosting the Midyear Meeting in the fall of 2010-stay tuned for more information that in the upcoming year!

On October 12th, over 150 student pharmacists at the University of Rhode Island came to the Memorial Union to take part in the Career Roundtable sponsored by RIPA, RISHP, APhA-ASP and ASHP. At the event 18 Pharmacists interacted with students and answered questions about their field of Pharmacy for 2 hours.

Those in attendance were: Jeff Bratberg and Celia Macdonnell (Academia), Peter Ragosta and Brian Hughes (Corporate Chain Pharmacy), Dan Lefkowitz, Amanda Glover and Lisa Marzilli (Chain Community Pharmacy), Norman Campbell (Pharmacy Law), Scott Campbell and Tim Baker (Independent Community Pharmacy), Martha Roberts, Michael Muller, Shannon Levesque and Maggie Quillian (Hospital/Health Systems), Tara Higgins (Managed Care Pharmacy) Kelley Sanzen and Colleen Moffitt (Pharmaceutical Research/Industry) and Lynn Pezzulo (Consultant). APhA-ASP also won the Region 1-Regional Challenge Award for it's participation in this event. The award is based on the President's theme of "Many Paths One Purpose: Inspiring Student Pharmacists to Unite the Profession".

Much thanks to everyone that participated!