Name, Office
SPARC Goals Facilitate advocacy efforts on the chapter level Enhance communication between the APhA ASP Policy Standing Committee and individual chapter members Update chapters on important legislative events that have the potential to impact the profession of pharmacy
American Pharmacists Month Event Spotlight: DEA Drug Take Back Day Call for Submissions: Chapter Spotlight
October is American Pharmacists Month (APhM) History Theme and purpose Preparing for APhM Ideas for your chapter Media outlets Resources
National Pharmaceutical Week proposed by Robert J. Ruth, a pharmacist from Asheville, NC, at the 1924 APhA Annual Meeting First celebration on October 11 17, 1925 American Pharmacists Month launched in 2004 In 2005, U.S. President George W. Bush acknowledged the important role pharmacy professionals play in the lives of Americans
Recognize the commitment to patient care and contributions to health care made by pharmacists in all practice settings Motivate your colleagues Educate your patients Engage and Inspire your community
Start planning early! Who is your target audience? Colleagues in pharmacy, the community, patients, other health care professionals, lawmakers How will you advertise your events? Select media outlets to tell your story
Incorporate your pharmacy colleagues Find out how your state pharmacy association plans to observe APhM Hold a faculty and staff or alumni appreciation breakfast at your school or college of pharmacy Host a celebratory lunch or social event for all student pharmacists Encourage local pharmacists join your efforts by holding a health fair and displaying APhM décor
Target your community Schedule a patient care project program (e.g. Operation Immunization) and promote APhM Visit a local high school and talk to students about careers in pharmacy Choose innovative locations: airports, theaters, sporting events, flee markets Multilingual advertisements
Target your lawmakers Invite your members of Congress to visit your school or college of pharmacy Ask your patients to share their experiences with pharmacists and student pharmacists with their legislators Encourage your elected officials (e.g. mayors, city managers, and state governors) to designate October as American Pharmacists Month
Media Outlets: Billboards, newspapers, morning talk shows, radio talk shows Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube Facebook: Post our daily pharmacy facts Twitter: Share what your chapter is doing for APhM using the hashtag #APhM2012 Youtube: Post videos on the APhA ASP account showcasing how your chapter is advocating during APhM
Tools for communicating newsworthy events to the media Pitch letters News releases Media advisories (or media alerts) Media kits
Order merchandise to promote your APhM events, thank your patients, recognize your colleagues, or sell as a fundraiser http://aphanet.source4.com/b2c/sites/aphanet/i ndex.asp APhM Planning Guide Tips for generating media interest Patient education resources http://www.pharmacist.com/americanpharmacists month 2012
2012.3 Proper Medication Disposal and Drug Take Back Programs 1. APhA ASP encourages the implementation of standardized guidelines for the proper disposal of unused or expired medications 2. APhA ASP supports state and federal regulations that allow pharmacies to take back unused or expired medications 3. APhA ASP encourages pharmacists and student pharmacists to serve as a source of information for the public on the proper disposal of unused or expired medications.
September 29 th, 2012 Purpose is to allow general public to safely dispose of unwanted or unused prescription medication How to get involved Serve as a resource to educate the public on proper medication disposal Assist law enforcement in collection efforts Grassroots Advocacy
Resources: http://www.smarxtdisposal.net/ http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/ta keback/ http://www.fda.gov/drugs/resourcesforyou/consumer s/buyingusingmedicinesafely/ensuringsafeuseofmedic ine/safedisposalofmedicines/ucm186187.htm
Next month, we are spotlighting You? Tell the Policy Standing Committee what policy and advocacy events your chapter is doing. We will select one chapter to spotlight in each SPARC (you ll be famous in front of all the other APhA ASP chapters). You could even find yourself on the APhA ASP Facebook page!
Join the Policy Standing Committee Thursday, September 13 th 9:00PM EST Learn how to easily advocate for your profession during American Pharmacists Month, the upcoming election season, and throughout the year! You can also find these webinar slides under Chapter Officer Resources on pharmacist.com
Your Regional Delegate is: Regional Delegate RD@email.edu
Athena Brand, Chair, University of Texas athenalvbrand@gmail.com Autumn Bagwell, Vice chair, Samford University adbagwel@samford.edu Regions 3 and 5 Kayli Hall, University of Nebraska Medical Center khalla@unmc.edu Regions 1 and 2 Mika Bhakta, University of the Pacific b_bhakta@u.pacific.edu Regions 6 and 8 Catlin Goodfriend, University of Washington ctolzman@uw.edu Regions 4 and 7