Pacific University School of Pharmacy Students Focus on Local Community Outreach

This school year, Pacific University School of Pharmacy’s American Pharmacists Association - Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) chapter focused on community outreach by providing blood pressure and blood glucose screenings at events in the community. The first event this school year was at the Downtown Hillsboro Farmers Market where the chapter screened 21 individuals. The students also engaged with the community by providing patient education on diabetes and hypertension, passing out educational flyers, and giving away prizes for a "spin-the-wheel" game. The chapter plans on continuing to participate at the Downtown Hillsboro Farmers Market once they return to Main Street this spring!

Our largest outreach event of the year occurred in February at the Annual Tet Festival, which is a Lunar New Year celebration hosted by the Vietnamese Community of Oregon (VNCO). Students screened and provided education to 47 individuals regarding their blood pressure and blood glucose levels. In addition to the educational flyers on hypertension and diabetes, students also distributed flyers regarding general vaccine information and how to read over-the-counter medication labels.

These events gave students an opportunity to further develop their patient care and communication skills outside the classroom, while helping to advocate for wellness and preventative care in our neighboring communities. The chapter is always looking for ways to make more consistent contributions to the community, so if you have ideas or are interested in serving as a pharmacist preceptor at these or similar events please contact us at adsa@contact.pacificu.edu.

- Sean Lee, PharmD Candidate '25 & Tiffany Bayudan, PharmD Candidate '25