Advocacy Education

UHCOP Students Among 200-plus at APhA-ASP Summer Leadership Institute in Washington, D.C.

While many college students across the nation spent their summers catching up with friends (or sleep), two UH College of Pharmacy students and their peers from across the U.S. traveled to Washington, D.C., to not only enhance their knowledge of pharmacy-related policy issues and polish their advocacy savvy and leadership skills, but also present their positions to elected officials and Congressional staff members.

The trip was part of the July American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) Summer Leadership Institute, an annual program designed to boost the effectiveness of local chapters through workshops and other activities focusing on topics such as team building and communication presented to local chapter leaders.

Kaycie Rathburn, 2017-18 president-elect of the UHCOP APhA-ASP Chapter, said her favorite part of the experience was being able to meet directly with members of the Texas Congressional delegation.

"We opened minds and made a difference," Rathburn said. "It made me so inspired to come back to UHCOP and grow our policy involvement."

Ngan Nguyen, who will serve as vice president of Patient Care in the UHCOP APhA-ASP Chapter in the 2017-18 academic year, said she was re-energized to advocate for some of the pharmacy profession's long-standing legislative priorities.

"Additionally at SLI, I was reminded about the importance of incorporating fun into my leadership style, the strength of storytelling, and the power of being united as student pharmacists on Capitol Hill," Nguyen said.