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SOP Volunteers in Our Community Blood is Life: The Sickle Cell Disease Blood Drive Event
Blood is Life The Sickle Cell Disease Blood Drive Event
By Kaylyn Sterling, PharmD Candidate
In honor of September’s National Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month, Dr. Ricky Ward, the Recruiting Coordinator for the School of Pharmacy and Health Professions at UMES, partnered with the Blood Bank of Delmarva to host a Blood Drive at UMES.
Dr. Ward and his wife are both carriers of the sickle cell trait ultimately resulting in their two daughters Ahydia and Sokyra, a UMES student, to have sickle cell disease. Motivated by the principle “preach about health equity and bridge the gap Dr. Rick Ward of healthcare disparities in rural communities”, Dr. Ward felt as donates blood if hosting a blood drive would be a great opportunity to raise to save lives. awareness and to help save lives.
Dr. Ward understands first-hand how his daughters’ diseases have taught him about being a caregiver and felt the calling to do more within the community. He and his wife formed the Maryland Eastern Shore Sickle Cell Association whose mission is to bring about community awareness and support to those who have sickle cell disease through advocacy, emotional and sometimes financial support. ”My wife and I wanted to help by bringing about community awareness and advocating for families with children who struggle with this unfortunate blood disorder”, Dr. Ward states. “We provide resources about new medical treatment, policy changes, and offer up a support group for those who suffer in silence on our college campuses and the surrounding communities of the Eastern Shore. We wanted to change the emotional experience and lessen the frustration for others who may be fighting this disorder.”
The overall result? According to Mrs. Marie Forrestal, Director of Donor Recruitment for the Blood Bank of Delmarva, 16 donors were found. All 16 will be forwarded for further genomic testing based on these results. These red blood cell units are very rare and will all be used for sickle cell patients.
(Top left) Sokyra Ward (UMES Biology Major student and patient sickle cell disease) and Shanda Ward (Maryland Eastern Shore Sickle Cell Association) volunteer at the event.
(Bottom left) Drs. Ward, Mrs. Ward, and Ms. Charlett Parsons (PA program) disseminate sickle cell disease literature and play trivia games with attendees to increase awareness.
By Kaylyn Sterling, PharmD Candidate
On September 10th-12th, 2021, firstyear students volunteered at the National Folk Festival and provided medical assistance at the cultural event. A known staple to the Salisbury community of over 80 years, the National Folk Festival celebrates the many cultures, rituals, crafts, occupations, and foods present in Maryland. Many come from all over the nation to learn, enjoy, and help honor those who have made Maryland the amazing state it is.
Luckily no legs were broken (although many “Break-A-Legs” were said) as the students helped work in the First Aid Station to apply what they learned in the classroom to a real-life situation. Other students also got the chance to work backstage and help make the Folk Festival the success it was. The Salisbury Folk Festival celebrated its 80th year in 2021 and pharmacy students performed volunteer work for thousands of attendees over a 3-day event.
Phi Delta Chi’s Annual St. Jude Walk
The UMES Phi Delta Chi, Gamma Omicron Student Chapter recently participated in the St. Jude Walk/Run event to raise money for St. Jude and further their mission to end childhood cancer. With the money raised for St. Jude, it makes sure that no family is turned away based on financial stability and promises that no bill will ever be charged for treatment of childhood cancer. The St. Jude Walk is the main philanthropic event of the year for Phi Delta Chi (PDC).
As a Chapter, the PDC brothers reached out to friends, family, and alumni to fundraise. PDC was able to raise $825.00 so far this year, bringing the total to more than $11,000 since 2014. Unfortunately, due to COVID restrictions still being in place, the Baltimore event was cancelled. That did not stop some, as many downloaded the app and chose to walk the 5K on their own time in spirit of the event. The Brothers of Phi Delta Chi organized a small event to walk the 5K together. The turnout was small due to many individuals needing to focus on studies, but for those who attended, the event was full of reflection and camaraderie.
TidalHealth Goes Purple: Drug Disposal Day Event
By Alyssa Reese and Eustace Mua, PharmD Candidates
Jeremy Wirick and Blair Yesko distribute Deterra bags at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional in Salisbury.
Student pharmacists from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore were given the opportunity to volunteer for the TidalHealth Go Purple Drug Disposal Awareness Day at TidalHealth Nanticoke Hospital in Seaford, Delaware and Peninsula Regional in Salisbury, Maryland in October. The purpose of the event was to inform patients about safe, effective methods of drug disposal in order to prevent unused medications from falling into inappropriate hands. Through this, patients are able to protect themselves, their families, and their communities as well as reduce environmental contamination. The students’ primary roles were to offer patients Deterra bags, a carbon-based drug inactivation system where its convenience is only matched by its simplicity. To use, one must simply place the unwanted drug into the bag system and add water. Following deactivation, the bag can be tossed in a normal household garbage can.
Before the Drug Disposal Day, patients and family members had to call local law enforcement or look up medication drop-off sites in order to dispose of prescriptions. During this event, students provided a simple, safe, and at-home pharmaceutical product disposal system. Student pharmacist Jeremy Wirick states, “Several people whom I spoke to described a recently deceased family member who left behind many unused medications. Upon receiving the Deterra bags they would express gratitude as we provided the solution for one of the many tasks they had to handle. By educating people on proper drug disposal and providing a means by which to do so, I feel that I helped to prevent future prescription drug misuse.” He and Blair Yesko were able to hand out 400 Deterra bags to the Salisbury community, HOPE (Help and Outreach Point of Entry) program, and hospital employees.
Whether it be an unused opioid prescription that was filled for a wisdom tooth extraction or even expired over-the-counter drugs, Deterra is a safe and effective way to prevent accidental ingestion and drug diversion in the home. Alyssa Reese and Eustace Mua, both PharmD Candidates, distributed 50 Deterra bags along with a list of local medication drop-off locations at Nanticoke Hospital. Alyssa Reese shared, “One gentleman mentioned that he had medications in his home that are over 10 years old. He was thankful that now he has found a way to finally dispose of them properly with the Deterra bag. I was happy to have been able to assist him in keeping his home and his environment safe.”
