Student to Immunize President as Part of American Pharmacists Month

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 5, 2011) − As part of the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy's participation in American Pharmacists Month, UK President Dr. Eli Capilouto and College of Pharmacy Dean Tim Tracy will receive their flu shots from UK pharmacy students. Last week,  third-year pharmacy students held a drawing to see who would have the opportunity to immunize the president and dean.

The winning students were Leanne Hewlett, who will immunize the president, and Doug Deitemeyer, who will immunize Dean Tracy.
 

"I never imagined I would be chosen for this event; however, I honestly can say I wanted to receive this honor very much," Hewlett said. "I am extremely excited to not only represent the College of Pharmacy in giving President Capilouto his annual flu shot, but also to raise awareness on campus of the importance of the vaccination process. I am overjoyed and very grateful for this experience."

The pharmacy students will also take medical carts throughout the college and offer an immunization to faculty members as a part of American Pharmacist Month.
 

"I'm thrilled to be giving the Dean his immunization," Deitemeyer said. "I'm proud to be part of a college that has a Dean willing to take the time to provide a public example for everyone's health."

Members of the UK Chapter of the American Pharmacists Association - Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP), are taking every opportunity to educate the public about what a pharmacist can do for them. In recent years, pharmacists have become heavily involved with the immunization process. Most all pharmacy's now offer influenza vaccinations to the public. Pharmacists are trained on how to administer the vaccine and UK's third-year pharmacy students were recently trained.
 

American Pharmacists Month is an initiative by the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), the largest professional association of pharmacists in the United States. The goal of the month-long observance is to educate the public about the pharmacist's role in improving medication use and advancing patient care.

The campaign is designed to encourage pharmacy patients to "Know Your MEDICINE, Know Your PHARMACIST," the theme and core message of Pharmacists Month. 
 

Kelley Ratermann, third-year pharmacy student and president of the UK APhA-ASP chapter said the student organization stays active in promoting the pharmacy profession and in community outreach. 

Members divide up into committees geared toward their specific area of interest in pharmacy, such as diabetes, immunizations, HIV, heart disease, heartburn and others.  “An important part of the mission of APhA-ASP is to provide student pharmacists with opportunities for professional growth while trying to improve patient care," Ratermann said. "We encourage student participation within all of our committees and promote involvement at local events so as to achieve this mission and ultimately try to make a positive difference in our patients’ lives.”

Other planned events for Pharmacists Month are:     

• American Diabetes Association Gala was held on Oct. 1. The Operation Diabetes Committee volunteered as servers and used the event to network with attendees to discuss diabetes and pass out informational brochures.
   
• 2nd Sunday - Oct. 9 from 2 - 6 p.m., Main Street, Lexington.  All committees will participate to promote health and wellness and staying active.
   
• Bluegrass Care Clinic, a medical clinic for Lexington's HIV patients, every Mon. - Fri. HIV-ABC Committee members attend patient visits and become 'adherence buddies' with the patients, encouraging them to stay compliant with their medications. Ratermann says the pharmacy students are instrumental in forming relationships with the patients.
   
• Moveable Feast delivers meals to patients who have been referred to them. Student pharmacists volunteer to deliver meals to patients that have been pharmaceutically tailored to each patient, i.e., the meals have been modified to address specific nutritional needs related to pharmaceutical side effects.
   
• Immunization drives at Good Samaritan Hospital and roving ‘cart services’ through University Health Service (UHS).
   
• Med Toss Drug Take-Back events, on Saturday, Oct. 29, where patients can dispose of expired medications at four different locations including:  Division of Police Roll Call Facility, 1165 Centre Pkwy; Kentucky-American Water, 2300 Richmond Road; Hamburg Walmart, 2350 Grey Lag Way; and Dunbar High School, 1600 Man O War Blvd.

Media Contact: Ann Blackford at (859) 323-6442 or ann.blackford@uky.edu