Pharmacy Perspectives - Spring 2010 - 3
COMMUNIT Y SERVICE
Learning by doing
E
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
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