Meridian and Pocatello student pharmacists receive multiple national awards

MERIDIAN—The Idaho State University College of Pharmacy student organization has received three of the American Pharmacists Association’s highest annual awards.

The chapter consists of student pharmacists from ISU-Meridian, Pocatello and Anchorage, Alaska and is part of APhA’s Academy of Student Pharmacists. 

Several ISU students and their chapter advisors traveled to Nashville, Tennessee, in March to participate in the annual APhA-ASP meeting and exposition where they were awarded first place nationally for their efforts in the Operation Immunization program, national second runner-up for the Over the Counter Medication Safety program, and national third runner-up for the Generation Rx program. 

Between 2016-2017, ISU student pharmacists provided heart disease screening and education to more than 1,300 people, and provided diabetes screening and education to more than 1,500 people.

Operation Immunization is another outreach program, designed to increase public knowledge of immunizations while providing adult immunizations in an effort to increase the number of adults receiving them.   

Nate Reed, of Pocatello, and Bekah Dunkley, of Meridian, are third-year pharmacy students and the Idaho State Pharmacy Association representatives for the APhA-ASP. 

 “For Operation Immunization, the APhA-ASP takes into account how many immunizations were performed in the community, along with student presentations at high schools and other places in their communities,” Reed said. 

With more than 3,500 immunizations provided to people in the Pocatello/Chubbuck area between 2016 and 2017, the ISU College of Pharmacy student chapter is No. 1 in the nation. Reed says they are administering mostly flu shots, but they do other types of immunizations as well, and most of the medication costs are sponsored by other pharmacies.

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