UNMC pharmacy students will participate in a variety of events in the coming days to commemorate October as American Pharmacists Month and this week as National Pharmacy Week.
The week will features activities such as a professional dress day — which will pit UNMC pharmacy classes against each other in an attempt to see who dresses most professionally — and a celebration of a proclamation recognizing pharmacists.
American Pharmacists Week — which has been celebrated every October since 1925 — is aimed at highlighting the profession and educating the public about important pharmacy developments. In 2004, the weeklong celebration was expanded to encompass all of October.
“American Pharmacists Week is always a special time for students in the College of Pharmacy because we get to celebrate the pharmacy profession and our future roles in patient care,” said Megan Nelson, a member of the College of Pharmacy Class of 2010 and publicist for the UNMC chapter of the American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists. “More importantly, it is a time to remind everyone of the importance of utilizing their pharmacist as their No. 1 resource on medications.”
Pharmacy week events kick off today with the professional dress contest. The four classes of pharmacy students will compete to see which one collectively appears most professional.
- On Tuesday, members of the Kappa Psi pharmaceutical fraternity will hand out pink ribbons commemorating October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
- A gathering at noon Wednesday in the Durham Research Center Auditorium will celebrate Gov. Dave Heineman signing a proclamation declaring the day as “Know Your Medicine, Know Your Pharmacist” Day.
- Pharmacy students are encouraged to wear UNMC or College of Pharmacy logos on Friday to show their pride in being UNMC pharmacy students.
- Also on Friday, about a dozen pharmacy students will head to Minneapolis for the American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists (ASP) mid-year regional meeting.
- On Nov. 7 UNMC pharmacy students will appear on the KETV Channel 7 midday show with John Oakey to promote their student activities and discuss proper medication disposal and plans for flu shot clinics.