Student News
The UHCOP IPhO chapter partnered with the Johnson & Johnson Pharmacist Network Group to host an Industry Day at the JLABS @ TMC facility in the Texas Medical Center in March.
The 2018-19 IPhO Chapter Executive Board members were, standing, Lauren Eichinger, Kelvin Obimah, Truong (Anthony) Do, Andre Obimah and Ada Anugo; and, seated, Merisha Biju, Trang Pham and Jennifer Nguyen.
The IPhO Chapter and the college's Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy chapter co-hosted a roundtable event in January for students and pharmacists from industry and managed care.
Industrial Strength
IPhO Student Chapter Ranks 2nd in Nation After 'Top 5' Debut in Prior Year
October 11 — Hundreds of miles from the pharmaceutical industry's traditional critical mass of the East Coast, the UH College of Pharmacy Industry Pharmacists Organization (IPhO) continues to make its presence known, with its second consecutive "Top 5" ranking among student chapters nationwide. In fact, this year, the chapter jumped to the second highest in total points among its peers based on activities in 2018-19.
Announced at the inaugural IPhO National Student Meeting Sept. 27-28 in Florham Park, N.J., which drew nearly 400 students from 78 universities, chapter rankings are based on the evaluations of annual report contents — such as recruitment methods, industrial education and scholarly activities, leadership transition plan, fundraising, and goals of the upcoming year — submitted by each chapter.
Chapter's activities included touring Alcon Pharmaceuticals campus in Fort Worth, participating in the Industry Day simulcast at the Houston JLABS facility in collaboration with the Johnson & Johnson Pharmacist Network Group, and partnering with another student organization on a roundtable event to interact with pharmacists from industry and other nontraditional areas such as managed care.
In addition, the chapter also participated in its first VIP Case Competition in which chapter members partner with an industry contact to design a comprehensive drug development plan for a hypothetical drug. As part of taking the drug "from initial concept to approval and the marketing," the students must lay out the organizational structure and planning across such functional areas as clinical development, medical affairs, regulatory affairs and marketing.
"We are incredibly humbled by the recognition of our work to educate, connect, and prepare our members for a career in the pharmaceutical industry," 2019-20 Chapter President Jennifer Nguyen, who also serves as a National Student Officer over Chapter Network Management. "UHCOP IPhO hopes to continue the momentum of our growth and is excited for the year ahead!"