Pharmacy Perspectives - Spring 2010 - 2

COMMUNIT Y SERVICE

Dean’s	message
“Our growth is a testament to the increasing role that pharmacy is playing in health care.”
Welcome to the spring 2010 issue	of	Pharmacy Perspectives, a	 publication	that	provides	insights	into	the	many	ways	in	which	the	 University	of	Colorado	Denver	School	of	Pharmacy	serves	our		 community.	Since	1911,	the	school	has	grown	from	two	students	 and	one	faculty	member	to	nearly	600	students,	58	faculty		 members	and	900+	preceptors! Our	growth	is	a	testament	to	the	increasing	role	that	pharmacy	is	 playing	in	health	care,	spanning	the	spectrum	from	pharmaceutical	 research	to	community	service.	Today,	our	faculty	are	finding	ways	 to	ensure	that	emerging	biopharmaceuticals	are	safe	and	effective,	 exploring	how	botanicals	help	prevent	cancer,	and	improving		 vaccine	delivery	so	patients	can	live	better,	healthier	lives. We are not just in research laboratories; we are in communities. Students	and	faculty	members	have	donated	thousands	of	hours		 annually	to	the	citizens	of	Denver	and	the	state	of	Colorado.	Our	 students	receive	direct	patient	care	experience	in	clinics	serving	 urban	and	rural	populations	and		 underserved	communities	–	often		 providing	critical	screening	tests,		 medications	and	patient	counseling	–	 under	the	watchful	eye	of	preceptors. We	can	all	take	pride	in	these	achievements	and	many	others,	as	well	as	our	 standing	as	one	of	the	leading	pharmacy	schools	in	the	country	recognized	 for	its	innovative	educational,	advanced	 clinical	care	and	nationally	ranked	research	programs,	and	the	 many	contributions	of	our	students	and	faculty	toward	improving	 the	health	and	well	being	of	the	communities	in	which	we	live. In	these	pages	you’ll	read	about	some	of	the	programs	that	are		 providing	our	students	with	real-life	clinical	experiences	while	 making	a	difference	in	the	lives	of	thousands	of	Coloradans. With	best	wishes	for	an	enjoyable	and	relaxing	summer	season, Ralph	Altiere,	PhD		 Dean	 University of Colorado, School of Pharmacy

Volunteering
For	second-year	pharmacy	student,	Sara	Varnado,	 volunteering	at	the	National Western Stock Show proved	to	be	an	invaluable	experience.	“This	gave	 me	an	opportunity	to	interact	with	a	lot	of	people,	 use	my	skills	and	gain	confidence	in	my	abilities.” For	two	weeks	in	January,	the	School	of	Pharmacy	 together	with	the	Colorado	Area	Health	Education	 Center	Systems	and	the	University	of	Colorado	 Anschutz	Medical	Campus	partnered	to	provide	 free	adult	and	child	health	screenings	during	this	 year’s	stock	show.	 Forty-eight	volunteers	from	the	school	along	with	 122	additional	volunteers	from	the	Anschutz	 Medical	Campus,	helped	screen	2,401	adults	and	 1,376	children.	Youth	ages	2-18	participated	in	the	 interactive	Heart	Smart	Kids	cardiovascular	risk	 assessment,	and	parents	were	provided	a	tip	sheet	 outlining	areas	for	improvement.	Adult	participants	 were	offered	a	variety	of	tests	including	free	onsite		 screening	for	blood	pressure,	blood	sugar	and	 body	mass	index.	In	addition	to	these	tests,	 farmers,	ranchers	and	uninsured	adults	were		 offered	a	blood	cholesterol	test	as	well.	 Of	the	more	than	2,400	adults	screened,		 29	percent	were	farmers	or	ranchers	and	23	 percent	were	uninsured.	According	to	Varnado,	 “For	many	participants,	this	was	the	closest		 they’d	come	to	seeing	a	doctor	in	years.”	 Varnado	–	who	consistently	volunteers	for	health	 fairs	in	order	to	get	experience	and	test	her	skills		–	 believes	this	was	such	a	valuable	service	for	both	 patients	and	students	that	she	enthusiastically	 recommends	it.

Second-year pharmacy student, Sara Varnado, volunteering at the National Western Stock Show

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UC School of Pharmacy
http://www.nationalwestern.com
Pharmacy Perspectives - Spring 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pharmacy Perspectives - Spring 2010
