September 28, 2017

October chosen as American Pharmacist Month in Indiana

Walker pharmacists Michelle Higgins and Olivia Walker, students in Purdue’s School of Pharmacy, with the proclamation of October as American Pharmacist Month in Indiana. (Photo contributed) Download image

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has named October as American Pharmacist Month in Indiana, thanks to a little push from two Purdue University students.

Michelle Higgins and Olivia Walker, both students in Purdue’s College of Pharmacy and members of the American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP), were instrumental in securing the proclamation.

Walker, the current president of APhA-ASP, was inspired by the initiatives other members were taking to advance their profession while attending the Summer Leadership Institute this summer in Washington, D.C. After deciding to pursue a pharmacist month in Indiana, she consulted Higgins, who serves as APhA-ASP’s policy vice president and has more legislative experience.

“The proclamation details the multitude of services that pharmacists can provide, as well as core advocacy components that we, as pharmacists and student pharmacists, take to heart for the well-being of our patients,” Higgins said. “This action is just one example of how we as students can help advance our profession and change the way that other health care professionals and the public view pharmacists.”

The Purdue Chapter of APhA-ASP has just over 200 members. Their mission is to be the collective voice of student pharmacists, provide opportunities for professional growth, improve patient care, and envision and advance the future of pharmacy. 

Writer: Kayla Zacharias, 765-494-9318, kzachar@purdue.edu  

Sources: Michelle Higgins, higginm@purdue.edu

Olivia Walker, owalker@purdue.edu

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