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  • snpha nationals group photo

    UHCOP SNPhA members and faculty advisors celebrate the multiple awards and honors earned at the National Convention July 27-31 in New Orleans.

  • student research poster winner

    SNPhA member Yashvi Patel earned first place in the Student Research Poster Competition for her project on

  • new and past snpha region 4 facilitators

    UHCOP SNPhA member Sarah Garcia-Plouch is congratulated for her appointment as 2023-24 Region IV Facilitator by her predecessor, David Foote. Garcia-Plouch was a national nominee for Rite Aid Community Leader of the Year and Chapter President of the Year.

  • 2nd place team of snpha csc

    SNPhA Chapter members Han Lieu and Yashvi Patel finished in second place at the Kroger Clinical Skills Competition.

Bountiful Catch in the Bayou State

UHCOP SNPhA Chapter Reels in Awards, Scholarships and Other Honors at National Convention in New Orleans 

August 23 — In the city known for turning bounty from the bayou into mouth-watering dishes, the University of Houston College of Pharmacy Chapter of the Student National Pharmacists Association (SNPhA) reeled in an amazing catch of awards, scholarships and other honors at the SNPhA/National Pharmacist Association National Convention July 27-31 in New Orleans, La. 

UHCOP’s SNPhA Chapter won six out of eight possible awards for its local programs in support of the organization's national initiatives: Bridging the Gap (networking/mentoring), Fighting Diabetes, Mental Health, Power to End Stroke, Project Keepsake (Chronic Kidney Disease) and Remember the Ribbon (HIV/AIDS).

The chapter held or participated in more than 150 events related to one or more of the initiatives throughout the 2022-23 academic year. Specific activities included:

  • Participation in educational outreach or screenings at health fairs and other venues;
  • Hosting presentations on pharmacy specialties and aspects of disease statement management, such as smoking cessation and lifestyle modifications in diabetes;
  • Training/workshops on such topics as kidney health and the Question Persuade and Refer (QPR) system for mental health as well as exam and skills check-off reviews; and
  • Volunteering or conducting book/bake sales and food/clothing drives for various community organizations. 

The chapter also was named as a top three finalist for the SNPhA/Rite Aid Chauncey I. Cooper Chapter Excellence Award in the Large Chapter category.

Pharm.D. students Bethany Bluitt and Connie Lau and Pharm.D. candidate Sarah Garcia-Plouch were awarded the Executive Leadership Endowed Scholarship, Dr. Bryan Donald Book Award, and Rite-Aid Endowed Scholarship, respectively.

Garcia-Plouch was nominated for Rite Aid Community Leader of the Year and Chapter President of the Year. In addition, she was appointed 2023-24 National Region IV Facilitator.

Pharm.D. candidate Yashvi Patel won first place for her poster presentation on identifying patterns and predictors of adherence in oral endocrine therapies among greater Houston's underserved population.

As one of the top eight finalists in the AstraZeneca MSL Simulation competition, Patel also presented the results of the DESTINY-Breast03 study to the Astrazeneca US Oncology Medical Affairs team.

In addition, Patel and fellow Pharm.D. candidate Han Lieu placed second in the national Kroger Clinical Skills Competition.

During the convention’s House of Delegates sessions, chapter delegate and incoming chapter president, Josiah Willingham, worked diligently to successfully pass the chapter’s resolution regarding the Affordable Insulin Now Act and encouraged SNPhA’s support in its goal to share its benefits with patients nationwide for equitable and accessible health care.