KU News Release

KU student chapter of hospital pharmacists group earns national recognition

LAWRENCE—The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists has recognized the University of Kansas’ student chapter as one of its 2008-09 affiliates.

For the first time, student chapters had the opportunity to have a more direct relationship with members of the society, which is the national professional organization of hospital pharmacists, by meeting newly established criteria. KU’s student chapter was among the 50 that met the detailed requirements for affiliate status. There are more than 100 student chapters at accredited pharmacy schools nationwide.

About 30 students in KU’s six-year doctor of pharmacy program belong to the organization, which is open to students interested in practicing pharmacy in a health care setting. Sandy Vigil-Cruz, Lawrence, is president, and Susan Vaughan, Bonner Springs, is president-elect. Other members of the student chapter executive board are John Price, Abilene, vice president; Lindsay Justin, Lee’s Summit, Mo., secretary; and Kerri Christman, Galena, treasurer. Officers’ terms begin in December.

“We are really proud of the development of this student society, and we are so pleased they were recognized by the ASHP,” said Harold Godwin, KU student chapter adviser, professor of pharmacy practice and associate dean for clinical and medical center affairs at the KU Medical Center.

Godwin spent more than 30 years as KU Hospital’s director of pharmacy before joining the KU faculty. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists was established in 1942 as an affiliate of the American Pharmacists Association, which was founded in 1852. Now the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists is a stand-alone organization. Godwin recently was chosen as president-elect of the American Pharmacists Association and will be installed at the group’s 157th annual convention in April in San Antonio, Texas.

To become an affliliate, the KU student chapter had to document how its activities stimulated interest in health-pharmacy careers, promoted membership in local, state and national health-system organizations and accomplished professional development projects. Recognized student chapters receive certificates, ability to use the official logo, complimentary registration to the mid-year clinical meeting, awards to incoming presidents, and a complimentary society publication.

In March, as its community service project, the KU student chapter organized a “brown bag” patient prescription identification service at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. The students identified hospital volunteers’ prescriptions, verified they were current, screened for prescription or therapeutic duplicates and answered questions the volunteers had about their medications. In addition, the KU students provided an up-to-date personal medication record reference for each volunteer who consulted them, listing all the medications and directions for use.

To meet another affiliate requirement, KU chapter members took part in the national American Society of Health-System Pharmacists standardized clinical skills student competition. Twelve two-person KU student teams competed at the local level to formulate the best answers for a complicated patient care case dealing with medication therapy management. Winners, chosen by three Kansas health-system pharmacists, then participated in nationals with other schools at the society’s Mid-year Clinical Meeting in December in Las Vegas. KU student team winners were Michael Hansford, a spring 2008 doctor of pharmacy graduate from Topeka, and Allyce Schenk, a sixth-year pharmacy student from Great Bend.

Hometown information for KU student chapter officers and clinical skills team members is listed below.

BARTON COUNTY
From Great Bend 67530
Allyce Schenk, sixth-year pharmacy student, daughter of Richard and Ann Schenk; associate’s degree from Hutchinson Community College; Great Bend High School; KU clinical skills winning team member.

CHEROKEE COUNTY
From Galena 66739
Kerri Christman, fifth-year pharmacy student, daughter of James Christman; Galena High School; treasurer.

DICKINSON COUNTY
From Abilene 67410
John Price, fifth-year pharmacy student, son of Scot and Fiona Price; bachelor’s degree in microbiology from KU, summer 2005; Abilene High School; vice president.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence 66049
Sandy Vigil-Cruz, fifth-year pharmacy student; bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky-Lexington; Saint Mary High School, Paducah, Ky.; president.

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
From Bonner Springs 66012
Susan Vaughan, fourth-year pharmacy student, daughter of Earl and Monica Vaughan; bachelor’s degree in architectural studies from KU, summer 2000; Tonganoxie High School; president-elect.

SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Topeka 66617
Michael Hansford, spring 2008 doctor of pharmacy graduate, son of Mike and Judy Hansford; Seaman High School; clinical skills winning team member.

MISSOURI
From Lee’s Summit 64081
Lindsay Justin, fifth-year pharmacy student, daughter of Anthony and Stephanie Justin; bachelor’s degree from Truman State University, Kirksville, Mo.; Hickman High School, Columbia, Mo.; secretary.

-30-

The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.