The SNPhA legislation/professionalism chair works to advocate for student pharmacists and the general profession of pharmacy. Our government and its policies shape the way healthcare professionals practice on a day-to-day basis. In order to take better care of our patients, pharmacists have to fight to be recognized as providers and showcase the value we can bring to helping others. Legislation/professionalism serves to educate patients, legislators and other healthcare professionals in order to advocate for the profession of pharmacy and to improve healthcare for the patients.
Past Events
Midyear Review
Students heard from current residents and fellows about their experience with the application and interview process. They also learned what the environment is like at Midyear and the best ways to interact with pharmacy professionals at residency and fellowship programs.
Changes in Health Care Legislation
As a part of Phi Lambda Sigma's Advocacy Month, we collaborated with ISPOR and NCPA to bring an event on the current changes on healthcare legislation that affect pharmacists and pharmacy students in practice. Dr. Chris Yanoschak spoke about working with patients to understand the constant developments in legislation and how it can affect them.
Midyear Fright Night
DIA, SNPhA, and ACCP brought a panel of fellows and residents who shared their Midyear "horror stories" as well as the DO's and DONT's of Midyear, etiquette, interviewing, and dress.
Pharmacy Advocacy Month - “Ready Set ACTion”
To advocate for the profession of pharmacy, we asked non-pharmacy students at Rutgers University - New Brunswick and a practicing pharmacist to dispel some of the myths surrounding pharmacy while advocating for the various roles that PharmDs can play in healthcare.
Prescription Drug Abuse Roundtable
Generation Rx, CPNP, and SNPhA hosted a Prescription Drug Abuse Roundtable in order to open up a dialogue about the very prevalent issue. The panel had psychiatric pharmacists Drs. Maroney and Alipour, as well as Dr. Maroney's sister who is a social worker with Dr. Toscani who moderated the discussion.
2016 Election
Through the Healthcare Sector: We brought in speakers from NJPhA, a Rutgers fellow and faculty to discuss how the new election can impact our profession. We discuss the importance of provider status and how the government can hinder or allow this to move through the House and Senate.
Resident Spotlight/Match for Success
For students interested in pharmacy residency programs, 2 PGY-1 residents spoke about their experiences as students and residents. They gave their experience and advice on how to become an outstanding residency candidate as well as how to survive a residency.
JNJ Site Visit
Rutgers participated in the annual JNJ site visit in Horsham, PA where PharmDs at JNJ talked about where they started and how they got to the positions they are in now.
Open Discussion
Treatment Behind Bars: U.S. prisons and jails house more mentally ill people than psychiatric hospitals. Additionally, 65 percent of the U.S. prison population meets the medical criteria for substance abuse or addiction-- although only 11 percent receive treatment. In the face of growing healthcare costs and a growing population of inmates with special needs, how do we ensure fair treatment? Where will we find the resources to make sure our prison system can provide adequate health care? APhA, NCPA and SNPhA discussed these issues concerning prison healthcare.
Healthcare Provider Status and Letter Writing
The provider status bills, H.R 592 and S. 109, will enable Medicare beneficiaries access to pharmacist-provided services under Medicare Part B by amending the Social Security Act. SNPhA encouraged students to take control of their future as a pharmacist and encourage their legislators to act.