Close to one thousand Colorado high school and post-secondary students participated in this year’s Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) State Leadership Conference.
The conference highlights many professions in healthcare and includes skills competitions, presentations, and exhibits. The University Of Colorado Skaggs School Of Pharmacy was front and center hosting multiple symposiums, several presentations from students and faculty, and an exciting exhibit booth that featured a compounding and over the counter (OTC) overdose activity.
CU Pharmacy faculty member, Morgan Payne, PharmD presented on the multiple identities of a pharmacist, complete with a fashion show demonstrating some of the many different paths of pharmacy: cardiology, pediatric, oncology, research, veterinary, and ambulatory care.
Faculty member Jacci Bainbridge, PharmD, FCCP, shared some of her research on medical marijuana, while faculty members Jennifer Petrie, PharmD, Sue Finstrom, alumna Julia Rawlings, PharmD, and fourth-year student Megan Wary assisted with judging the pharmacy practice competition. Instructor Finstrom also hosted a pharmacy mixology activity.
Second-year students Nedra Chijioke and Armen Fstkchian conducted a workshop on antibiotic resistance and infectious disease, and third-year students Dianne Kitt, Mackenzie Poole and Wendy Serrano presented on painkillers.
For the first time ever, CU Pharmacy also handed out Pharmacy Skills Toolkits to school advisors. The kits included a gowning demonstration kit, acetaminophen challenge/OTC overdose kit, and a prescription drug abuse awareness kit.
This year’s health poster contest was also pharmacy focused with the topic being drug disposal and CU Pharmacy faculty and staff serving as judges.
CU Pharmacy will also be at HOSA's International Leadership Conference coming up this June in Dallas, TX.
