Pharmacy Students Win Bid for Regional Conference

The University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy chapter of the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) recently won the bid to host the 2020 Regions III, IV, and V Annual Conference in Kentucky. The local student chapter hopes to welcome over 400 attendees, representing 29 states to Lexington, Ky. The conference will be held at the UK College of Pharmacy and the Hilton hotel in downtown Lexington.

Kip Guy, dean of the UK College of Pharmacy noted, “UK’s SNPhA chapter has been steadily growing with an increasing impact—hosting more volunteer events and positively impacting patients. Hosting the annual conference here allows UK faculty, students and pharmacists to share best practices while strengthening the impact of a national organization committed to serving the underserved.”

This year’s conference theme ENGAGE. EMPOWER. ELEVATE. will focus on the importance of collaboration between pharmacists and students throughout the profession, as well as the need to become life-long learners committed to transforming patient-centered care. UK SNPhA members are excited to show students from across the country the innovative health care that takes place every day in Lexington and throughout Kentucky. "We hope conference attendees will be energized throughout the weekend and encouraged to effect change in their own communities," said UK SNPHA president, Kellen Greenwell.

Conference offerings will include professional development workshops for student pharmacists centered around career preparation, financial literacy, interview skills, and residency preparation. In addition, seminars with a focus on cultural humility training and serving special population, allowing students to hear from a patient-led panel of experts and discuss the role of healthcare professions in advocating for patient care. Additional topics include examining the role of pharmacists in addressing the opioid epidemic and discussion around public policy and healthcare. While still in planning stages, the local chapter hopes to secure options for continuing education on topics like advancing the profession through advocacy and the legal and ethical questions for pharmacists when using marijuana for pain or disease management.

The annual conference will also host a scientific poster session, as well as clinical skills competition, which will take place in the state-of-the-art patient labs at the College of Pharmacy. The local SNPhA chapter will also host a Murder Mystery event at UK’s Spindletop Hall to allow a networking opportunity for SNPhA members and the members of the National Pharmaceutical Association (NPhA), sponsors, and local pharmacists.

Registration for the 2020 Regions III, IV, and V Annual Conference opens this fall.

University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy SNPhA Executive Board

President: Kellen Greenwell

President-elect: Ariana Williams

Vice President: Olivia White

Secretary: Jasmine Browning

Treasurer: Dillon Thompson

Historians: Peyton Davis & Adam Kiser

Conference Planning Chair: Stephanie Dean

Conference Planning Vice-chair: Annie Roch