Patient Care Committees

Operation Immunization provides opportunities for immunizations-certified student pharmacists to administer vaccines. The committee provides public education on the importance of vaccinations and the prevention of disease. Each year they vaccinate a majority of the UTHSC faculty, staff, and students against Influenza.

The goal of Operation Diabetes is to identify patients with or at risk for diabetes, provide basic diabetes care in the community, foster healthier lifestyle choices, and disease prevention. Students are involved in the project by providing patient education and glucose screenings at health fairs, local schools, and other community programs.

The purpose of Operation Heart is to promote heart disease awareness and educate our local community on the significance of hypertension as a silent disease and the risks associated with stroke and heart attack.  The project also strengthens clinical training by providing events at which first year students can practice interacting with patients through blood pressure and heart rate screenings and upperclassman can provide counseling on disease stage management as well as counseling on blood pressure and cholesterol medications.

The goal of the Heartburn Awareness Challenge is to educate patients on the signs, symptoms, and treatment of heartburn and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Students recommend to patients, possible lifestyle changes, over-the-counter medications, and prescription medications.  This provides an opportunity for first year students to counsel on lifestyle changes and symptoms, and gives upperclassmen the chance to counsel on medications and drug interactions.

Memphis

Chairs

Binoy Shah

Terrika Thornton

Vice-Chair

Mallory Baird

Project Breathe promotes awareness of asthma & COPD through health fairs and other community outreach activities. The committee offers disease and treatment education and emphasizes the importance of controlling asthma by preventing exercised-induced bronchospasm and limiting exposure to environmental triggers.

The Emergency Response Committee organizes the required Health Professional CPR Certification Course for incoming first-year students and also recertifies third-year students. The committee also certifies faculty & staff and other colleges with in the Health Science Center. The committee has additional events at health fairs and other community activities to promote CPR and emergency-response education.

The Medication Education Committee focuses primarily on patient counseling by inviting patients to bring a “brown bag” of their prescriptions, OTC medications, and any herbal supplements to have them reviewed. Students check for indication, efficacy, drug interactions, adverse reactions, and cost effectiveness. Patients are also encouraged to ask any questions they might have about their medications.

This committee promotes awareness about important health issues facing women and children including poison prevention, approved pediatric medication lists, heart disease, osteoporosis, and breast cancer. The goals of the committee are to inform women of their risk factors, provide disease and treatment education, provide pediatric medication counseling, promote awareness of poisonous household items, and work with local schools to promote poison prevention awareness. They accomplish this through participation at health fairs, walks to benefit Juvenile Diabetes and breast cancer and heart disease.

International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation primarily focuses on international relations by connecting student pharmacists from all over the world and promoting culturally-competent health care. The IPSF Committee organizes a variety of events primarily focusing on TB & HIV disease & treatment education. They also provide counseling on smoking cessation, raise money for international charities, and organize book drives to benefit students in underdeveloped countries. The committee chair attends local and national meetings. They connect with student pharmacists around the world by hosting foreign exchange students when they come to visit UTCOP.

Memphis

Chair

Mya Santos

Vice-Chair

Melissa Tsiu

The Health-Systems Pharmacy interest group provides information to student pharmacists considering a career in institutional or health-system pharmacy. Some initial activities for the committee include promoting membership in the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and working with the Tennessee Society of Health-System Pharmacists (TSHP) to promote careers in health-systems and invite featured speakers to campus. The committee chair also facilitates the Clinical Skill’s Competition held every year.

Memphis

Chair

Anna Newcomb

Vice-Chair

Sherin Jacob

The Community Pharmacy interest group provides information to student pharmacists considering a career in community pharmacy. In addition to attending the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) Meeting, the group also invites featured speakers to come and present topics on campus. Some of the state’s most highly-regarded community and independent pharmacists have presented topics ranging from community pharmacy residencies to managing your own business. Community Pharmacy also focuses on healthcare related issues commonly encountered in the community pharmacy workplace. These include various screenings and education on disease prevention and management. This committee strives to act as an extension of local community pharmacies by addressing a wide range of healthcare issues.

Memphis

Chairs

Christian Jones

Vice-Chairs

Marisa Campbell