Pharmacy Perspectives - Spring 2010 - 3

COMMUNIT Y SERVICE

Learning	by doing

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mbracing	the	mantra	“It’s	not	what	 you	know,	but	what	you	can	do	with	 that	knowledge	that’s	important,”	 pharmacy	students	learn	by	doing	 and	provide	thousands	of	hours	of	 community	service	every	year	to	Colorado		 residents	through	the	School	of	Pharmacy’s		 experiential	program.		 From	teaching	elementary	students	about	nutrition,	compounding	and	the	difference	between	 candy	and	medicines,	to	performing	blood	pressure	checks	at	health	fairs,	to	Skyping	with	junior	 high	students	about	medications	and	their	effects		 –	pharmacy	students	obtain	knowledge	and		 experience	in	some	of	the	most	unique	places.	 And	it	all	starts	their	first	year.	 “I	never	imagined	that	teaching	third	graders	 about	nutrition	would	help	make	me	a	better	 pharmacist,	but	after	my	experience	I	believe	it	 will,”	says	first-year	student	(P-1)	Thoai	Nguyen.	 “We’re	so	used	to	answering	questions	in	a	technical,	scientific	manner	for	our	classes	that	we	lose	 sight	of	the	fact	that	we	will	be	talking	to	patients	 in	the	future.	This	helps	us	think	like	a	patient	 and	talk	to	them	on	their	level,”	adds	Nguyen.	

Fellow	first	year	student	Brenda	Karanja	echoes	 Nguyen’s	sentiments,	“Kids	ask	every	question	 imaginable	which	helps	us	think	on	our	toes.		 We	have	to	engage	in	conversation,	lesson	plan,	 lecture,	and	work	as	a	group	with	our	classmates	 –	all	very	valuable	skills.	On	top	of	that,		 we	have	to	understand	the	science	behind		 nutrition	and	the	impact	of	diet	on	diseases.		 It’s	challenging	and	rewarding	to	see	the		 excitement	in	the	children’s	eyes.”	 The	two	are	assigned	to	Paris	Elementary,	one		 of	three	schools	that	the	School	of	Pharmacy		 has	taken	under	its	wing.	All	three	schools	–		 Montview,	Paris	and	Park	Lane	–	are	located	in	 Aurora,	close	to	the	Anschutz	Medical	Campus.	 Paris	Elementary	teacher	Carla	Burneson	says,	 “Our	third	graders	can’t	wait	for	Thursdays.”	 Burneson	says	the	P-1s	provide	one-on-one	attention	to	the	youngsters	and	encourage	them	 to	try	new	foods	that	may	or	may	not	be	part	of	 their	current	diet	at	home.	“Their	favorite	part	is	 creating	the	recipes.	Some	are	adventurous	and	 others	not	so	much,	but	the	pharmacy	students	 are	patient	and	encouraging.”	This	program	 exposes	the	youngsters	to	different	foods	and	 different	ways	of	eating.	It	helps	children	and	

their	families	make	incremental	changes	especially	 when	it	comes	to	snacks,	which	can	have	a	big	 impact	on	future	eating	habits.	 Nguyen	says	“Because	of	the	rise	of	diabetes	and	 cardiovascular	disease,	pharmacists	are	focusing	 on	preventive	care.	How	better	to	influence	diet	 related	diseases	than	through	changing	eating	 habits?	And	in	order	to	change	those	habits	you	 have	to	start	young.”

Third-year pharmacy student, Vanessa Hennes, assists a third grader with a project

“This helps us think like a patient and talk to them on their level.”

Thoai Nguyen and Brenda Karanja, P-1 students, are enjoying their experience teaching third graders

Spring 2010

3



Pharmacy Perspectives - Spring 2010

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

Pharmacy Perspectives - Spring 2010
Contents
Learning Through Service
Community Service
On-the-Job Training
A Tribute
Alumni News
Perceptor Profiles
Pharmacy Perspectives - Spring 2010 - Learning Through Service
Pharmacy Perspectives - Spring 2010 - 2
Pharmacy Perspectives - Spring 2010 - Community Service
Pharmacy Perspectives - Spring 2010 - 4
Pharmacy Perspectives - Spring 2010 - On-the-Job Training
Pharmacy Perspectives - Spring 2010 - 6
Pharmacy Perspectives - Spring 2010 - A Tribute
Pharmacy Perspectives - Spring 2010 - 8
Pharmacy Perspectives - Spring 2010 - Alumni News
Pharmacy Perspectives - Spring 2010 - 10
Pharmacy Perspectives - Spring 2010 - Perceptor Profiles
Pharmacy Perspectives - Spring 2010 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ucdenver/pharmperspectives_2019graduation
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ucdenver/pharmperspectives_2019winterspring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ucdenver/pharmperspectives_2018summerfall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ucdenver/pharmperspectives_2018graduation
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ucdenver/pharmperspectives_2018winterspring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ucdenver/pharmperspectives_2017summerfall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ucdenver/pharmperspectives_2017winterspring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ucdenver/pharmperspectives_2017graduation
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ucdenver/pharmperspectives_2016fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ucdenver/pharmperspectives_2016graduation
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ucdenver/pharmperspectives_2016winterspring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ucdenver/pharmperspectives_2015summerfall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ucdenver/pharmperspectives_2015graduation
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ucdenver/pharmperspectives_2015winterspring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ucdenver/pharmperspectives_2014summerfall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ucdenver/pharmperspectives_2014graduation
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ucdenver/pharmperspectives_2014winterspring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ucdenver/pharmperspectives_2013summerfall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ucdenver/pharmperspectives_2013graduation
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ucdenver/pharmperspectives_2012fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ucdenver/pharmperspectives_2012winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ucdenver/pharmperspectives_2011fall
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ucdenver/pharmperspectives_2010fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ucdenver/pharmperspectives_2010grad
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ucdenver/pharmperspectives_2010spring
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