Congratulations to members of the CoP American Pharmacists Association – Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) Chapter, who recently hosted the 20th annual Pharmtoberfest Health Fair on UGA’s DW Brooks Mall.
Pharmtoberfest is a signature event that exemplifies the intersection of two core directions of the College’s strategic plan: Collaboration, and Teaching and Learning. While Pharmtoberfest is great fun, the event also allows the College to utilize its partnerships to help educate the University and Athens communities about health-related issues. Further, PharmD students engaged in Pharmtoberfest reinforce what they learn in the classroom by teaching attendees about various health topics, and providing services through immunizations and point of care testing.
Thank you to Kroger for sponsoring this event.
Held October 20th in recognition of American Pharmacists Month, Pharmtoberfest welcomed hundreds of students, faculty, and staff from UGA and the greater Athens community at the event. Officials from Kroger Pharmacy, long-time sponsor, were on hand to share details on career opportunities in the pharmacy field. “We also are grateful to personnel of the UGA Police Department, the University Health Center (UHC), the Department of Public Health, along with our fellow student organizations, who provided great health and safety information at various booths scattered throughout the greenway,” said Samantha Sharpe, a third-year student from Dublin, who chaired this year’s Pharmtoberfest. “Obviously, we are so appreciative to Kroger for their years of loyal sponsorship. They are key to making this event a reality.”
The overarching theme of Pharmtoberfest is to emphasize the dedication of pharmacists to patient care by showcasing the vast knowledge and skill set obtained through the PharmD curriculum. In addition to the screenings and immunizations offered at the health fair, there were more than 25 educational booths sponsored by different pharmacies, healthcare, and other safety and wellness organizations. The #FLUGA Clinic at UGA, operated by the College of Pharmacy and UHC, administered 131 influenza immunizations. Additionally, APhA-ASP members performed blood glucose and blood pressure screenings on 59 individuals. Several participants were screened for HIV by LiveForward and the Department of Public Health. The Student Oncological Advocates in Pharmacy (SOAP) also hosted a bone marrow donor drive, which resulted in 35 individuals being added to the registry. Other educational topics provided included alcohol education, heart health, the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine, stress management, and more.
Participants who participated in multiple components of the fair received free Chick-fil-A sandwiches. Free popcorn, cotton candy, and photo opportunities with Hairy Dawg highlighted the event. Kappa Psi took top honors in the Pumpkin Decorating Contest.
“We offer a big shout-out to our faculty advisors, Dr. Lindsey Welch and Dr. Michelle McElhannon,” remarked Sharpe. “Their guidance was invaluable.”
She added, “The impact of Pharmtoberfest on our University community has continued to grow, allowing us, as the future of pharmacy, to advocate for our patients,” added Sharpe. “We hope to continue this success, and we encourage everyone to join us at next year’s Pharmtoberfest, tentatively slated for Thursday, October 19, 2023. Go PharmDawgs!”
