Student Organization hosts blood drive
The UI College of Pharmacy Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) hosted a Blood Drive at the college on April 25th. Twenty-nine people donated blood which included a large number of first time donors. UI pharmacy student William Planton is pictured donating blood and was featured in the April 26th edition of the Daily Iowan. The blood drive is sponsored by the DeGowin Blood Center, which collects blood for the UI Hospitals and Clinics.

Pharmacy students honored for "operation immunization"
The University of Iowa College of Pharmacy chapter of the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) recently won an award for its participation in Operation Immunization, a campaign promoting immunization education and the implementation of immunization services in pharmacies.

The APhA-ASP chapter at the UI received a plaque and a check for $250 at the APhA annual meeting, held March 16-19 in Atlanta. At the meeting, each chapter from around the nation that participated in the Operation Immunization campaign was presented with a certificate of recognition for its efforts, and regional winners were announced. UI pharmacy students who coordinated the local initiative were Ann Schwemm and Erin Berry. ASP president Megan Leloux attended the conference to accept the award for Region 5, which includes ASP chapters in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.

UI Pharmacy Students Named To National Honor Society
Twenty-one University of Iowa College of Pharmacy students accepted membership into the Rho Chi Society at an annual spring initiation banquet March 30 in Coralville. The Rho Chi Society was established in 1922, and is a national academic honor society recognizing excellence among pharmacy students.

As the fourth chapter established in the United States, the UI's Delta Chapter began in 1923. Students ranking in the highest 20 percent of their class are eligible for membership after having completed six semesters of scholastic work applicable toward their pharmacy degrees. Graduate students must have at least half of their coursework completed and maintain a grade point average of 3.5 in order to be nominated.

The following UI pharmacy students have been selected: Fadi Alkhateeb, Rebecca Baker, Mary Claassen, Rachael Collins, Andrew Dorsey, Lynne Dunlay, Christopher Frosaker, William Halls, Paul Heid, Michael Hirsch, Karma Huffman, Kara Jacobi, Chris Konradi, Tram Anh Nguyen, Minh Ngo, Amanda Rohlf, Kyle Rotert, Kyle Ruble, Ann Schwemm, Bryna Somers, and Lindsey Tieden.

Students participate in ui health fair

The 2007 University of Iowa Student Health Fair, "Choose Health," was held February 28th, on the main deck of the University of Iowa Field House. College of Pharmacy students particpated by hosting health screenings and an informational booth. Students representing the Academy of Student Pharmacists conducted skin analysis and immunization information to fair goers. The health fair, sponsored by UI Health Iowa/Student Health Service and the UI Department of Health and Sport Studies, is free and open to the public.

Students Awarded at Senior Dinner Banquet

Kappa Psi Community Projects
The Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity held no smoking presentations, also known as the Smoking Cessation Program, on April 17th at the Coralville Central Elementary School in Coralville, Iowa. The program is designed to teach grade school students the effects of smoking and the dangers of starting smoking at a young age. The program includes games, factual presentations, and hands-on activities to teach various aspects of what smoking can do to their bodies. Kappa Psi also volunteered this spring at the Ronald McDonald House (left), as they helped to prepare dinner and dessert for the residents.

UI Pharmacy Students Named To Leadership Honor Society
Thirteen students in the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, were inducted as members of Phi Lambda Sigma, also known as the national Pharmacy Leadership Society, during an initiation ceremony March 27 in Iowa City. The students joined the UI's Beta Epsilon Chapter. Members are chosen by peer recognition. The mission of Phi Lambda Sigma is to support pharmacy leadership commitment by recognizing leaders and fosteirng leadership development.

The following students were selected: Gentry Baker, Brett Barker, Paige Berens, Sarah Bresemann, Rachael Collins, Jennifer Goings, Graziela Zanetti Kalil, Ashley Kessler, Erica Thienes Lee, Heidi Meier, Kelly Schueller, Ellen Sievers and Nathan Votroubek.

Established in 1965 at Auburn University, the society become national in 1968. The UI's chapter current student president is Ju Ann Khaw, and the faculty advisor is Karen Farris, associate professor of clinical and administrative pharmacy.

College of Pharmacy participants included Adam Harris, Ann Schwemm, Kierstan Hanson, and Tricia Bockenstedt. Adam and Tricia presented a poster presentation on the Academy of Student Pharmacists Operation Immunization program. Ann and Kierstan's poster presentation reviewed the Xicotepec Project, which included their spring break trip to Xicotepec, Mexico, and described their project in the underserved commmunity.

Pre-Pharmacy lathers up
The Pre-Pharmacy Club sponsored a "Pharmacy Practice Lab" event for pre-pharmacy students on March 27, 2007. The students, supervised by lab instructors Lucinda Harms, R.Ph., and Jeff Reist, R.Ph., and assisted by several Pharmacy students, made hand lotion during the session. This afforded the pre-pharmacy students an opportunity to learn more about pharmacy compounding and experience a lab sesssion simiar to one that is performed by pharmacy students. The Pre-Pharmacy Club is open to all students interested in attending the College of Pharmacy; the club is advised by Jennifer Bertrand, Ph.D.

pharmacy student receives scholarship
Jennifer Goings, a third-year student at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, is one of 40 pharmacy students nationwide to receive a National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Foundation Pharmacy Student Scholarship. This year, more than 460 pharmacy students from across the country applied for the scholarships. Selected students must be enrolled as full-time pharmacy students, have experience in chain community pharmacy and have a desire to pursue a career in chain community pharmacy. Students are evaluated based on their career goals, interest in chain community pharmacy practice and their credentials, including leadership activities and professional and community involvement.
Goings, from Waterloo, Iowa, is a student in the UI College of Pharmacy's doctor of pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program. She also currently serves as president of the college's class of 2008.