Amarjeet Sohi, city councillor, gets his blood pressure taken by a pharmacy student
Pharmacy students went to City Hall to share their knowledge about the risks of heart disease by hosting a free blood pressure clinic on Wednesday, March 11, 2015.
The students assessed and advised approximately 100 people during the clinic including Edmonton city councillor, Amarjeet Sohi, who stopped by to get his blood pressure taken.
Supervised by alumnus Kit Poon, BSc '04 and current PharmD student, Sabrina Choi, the students from all years of the BSc program worked with members of the community to provide assessment and education about the risks of cardiovascular disease and heart healthy habits as well as raise awareness for the important role pharmacists play in health care delivery.
The blood pressure clinic was just one of many activities on the calendar for the Alberta Pharmacy Students Association (APSA) during national Pharmacist Awareness Month (PAM), which takes place in March.
Dan Burton, third-year pharmacy student and APSA vice-president CAPSI, believes PAM is not only a wonderful way to give to the profession but also a chance to give back to the community. Burton says, "Pharmacists are an integral part of the healthcare system and are the most accessible healthcare professional. With our expanded scope, we have a tremendous opportunity to utilize our education and training to the fullest extent. In turn, the level of care we provide to our patients only continues to get better."
In addition to panel discussions, symposiums and social gatherings, APSA is also hosting another public clinic on diabetes and nutrition at West Edmonton Mall (near Chapters) on Friday, March 27, 2015, from 1 - 4 p.m.
For Helen Marin, second-year pharmacy student and APSA vice-president external, organizing these events for PAM is a labour of love. "To bring awareness to our profession is important, but to help the community and educate our patients on how we are the most accessible healthcare profession and the many ways we can work towards improving their health is key," says Marin. "We genuinely care for our patients and we want to improve not only their health but also their well-being and quality of life."
In addition to the students' activities, the City of Edmonton will celebrate pharmacists on Thursday, March 19, 2015. The High Level Bridge will be lit in blue and gold (ASPA colours) to honour PAM and the APSA students' commitment to their profession.
More information on APSA's activities can be found on their website.