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A Seat at the Table:
A Student Representative’s Perspective
Joshua Hart | 2019-2020 Board of Trustees Drake University – Student Pharmacist Representative
If this year could be summed up with one word, involvement would be a top contender. In addition to events over the past few months including the start of a global pandemic, the civil rights movement of this era, and an important election year, I am also referring to my own involvement in the Iowa Pharmacy Association (IPA). My time on the IPA Board of Trustees made me reflect greatly on my involvement in the community and pharmacy profession.
Trustees during our April meeting. The board thought, what should our response be? Should we echo the CDC or pull together our own statement from a variety of sources? It was a hard question since information was sparse, and misinformation was growing.
Leading up to Expo, my college was able to take part in a successful food drive with volunteers taking in donations. It filled me with joy knowing I was able to help put on the event and that I had classmates willing to help by donating food and tabling at the Midwest Pharmacy Expo. However, the nature of things soon changed after Expo. This was the last major inperson event IPA was able to host prior to the spread of COVID-19 throughout the state and subsequent shut downs.
One does not need to be working for a cause 24/7 to be considered involved. By getting the word out through social media, IPA can better expand their message of advocacy for the profession and the future of pharmacy in Iowa. For those who want to go a step further, look at attending events (in-person or online) or signing up for a committee in the fall. For students, both sharing posts and attending events not only provides a great opportunity to make connections with IPA members but also provides insight into the issues we may face as practitioners. We have more power as students than we think, and being involved in causes that support our communities will help shape a better future for all. ■
Sitting on the board with experienced pharmacists looking to each other for answers during a pandemic was not something I anticipated when being elected, but who would? This meeting evoked that feeling of involvement I had when I first In April of 2019, I decided to run for learned about my role. The same IPA Liaison at Drake University. I did goes for the most recent board not anticipate being elected, let “It felt empowering meeting where we discussed alone recognize the role I would as a student to have a the message that IPA wanted serve within IPA. Upon learning my to send in regards to racial responsibility as a board member, seat at the table and injustice in the United States. It I realized the importance that my have a say in issues felt empowering as a student voice plays within IPA. I found myself IPA would pursue.” to have a seat at the table and wanting to be more involved in have a say in issues IPA would the change IPA is making for the pursue, including: Medicaid profession of pharmacy. I wanted my pharmacist provider status, friends and colleagues to be more resources for pharmacists making practice changes, actively involved in IPA by joining committees and and even the laws surrounding MTMs in the state. attending IPA events.
Being a healthcare worker in a pandemic is something many were never trained for. There is no pandemic preparedness course taught in pharmacy school. This was a major concern for the Board of
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| The Journal of the Iowa Pharmacy Association
