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KU pharmacy students provide free flu shots to Greensburg-area residents
LAWRENCE — University of Kansas pharmacy students traveled to south-central Kansas on Oct. 11 to provide free flu shots to Greensburg-area residents.
Since a tornado destroyed most of that Kiowa County community on May 4, 2007, residents in the area have been without a local pharmacy. Members of KU’s chapter of the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists have been fundraising this semester to conduct Operation Immunization: Greensburg, a one-day event providing about 400 doses of flu vaccine.
The pharmacy student group annually conducts Operation Immunization on campus. This year, Neil Young of Erie and Laura Mazur of Wichita, both fourth-year pharmacy students, suggested adding an immunization event to assist a Kansas community in need.
Young had traveled through Greensburg after the 2007 tornado destroyed the community that had been home to about 1,400 people. When he and other students learned that Kiowa County was one of the six counties in Kansas with no community pharmacy, they proposed the Greensburg project. KU Pharmacy Dean Ken Audus endorsed their plan and provided some initial funding
To raise the $4,000 needed for the Greensburg project, the student pharmacists cleaned Memorial Stadium after home football games, sold T-shirts and textbooks, and requested donations from Kansas pharmacists. The group has about 250 members.
Young and Mazur worked with Mitzi Hesser, director of the Kiowa County Health Department, to coordinate and direct Operation Immunization: Greensburg.
In addition, Kiowa County Memorial Hospital in Greensburg; two area pharmacies, Kinsley Drug in Kinsley and Main Street Pharmacy in Coldwater; and KU School of Pharmacy faculty provided professional and clinical support for the 19 advanced pharmacy students who traveled to Greensburg.
Vaccinations were given by injection. Kansas allows licensed pharmacists to administer injections for clients age 18 or older and allows trained pharmacy students to do so under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist. Each of the 19 student pharmacists had learned to give injections during their first year in pharmacy school.
As a registered nurse, Hesser administered injections to patients under age 18.
The students were supervised by area pharmacists Brad Eustace of Kinsley and Lisa Gales of Coldwater and three KU pharmacy faculty members: Robert L. Emerson, director of experiential education; Janelle Ruisinger, clinical assistant professor in pharmacy practice; and Barbara Woods, director of postgraduate pharmacy education.
Eustace and Gales are also preceptors for KU’s School of Pharmacy experiential training program, and Eustace is the Kiowa County Memorial Hospital pharmacist.
Greensburg’s 5.4.7 Arts Center was the location for Operation Immunization: Greensburg. The center was designed and built last spring by KU architecture students.
The pharmacy students who traveled to Greensburg are listed below by hometown, level in the six-year doctor of pharmacy program, and when available, parents’ names and high school. Officers in the Academy of Student Pharmacists chapter are also identified by their office.
BROWN COUNTY
From Powhattan 62527 and Silver Lake
Brianna Rae Barnes, fourth-year pharmacy student, is the daughter of Susan Barnes of Silver Lake and Joey Barnes of Powhattan and is a graduate of Hiawatha High School.
DICKINSON COUNTY
From Abilene 67410
John Price, fifth-year pharmacy student, is the son of Scot and Fiona Price. He received a bachelor’s degree in microbiology from KU in summer 2005 and is a graduate of Abilene High School.
ELLIS COUNTY
From Hays 67601
Heather Nicole Dietz, third-year pharmacy student, is the daughter of Mark and Vivian Dietz and a graduate of Hays High School.
JOHNSON COUNTY
From Leawood 66209
Katherine Marie “Katie” Myers, fourth-year pharmacy student, is the daughter of Joseph and Christine Myers and a graduate of Notre Dame De Sion High School in Kansas City, Mo. Myers is membership vice president of KU’s chapter of the Academy of Student Pharmacists.
From Olathe 66062
Erin Byrne, fourth-year pharmacy student, is the daughter of Nora Byrne and a graduate of Olathe East High School
Claudie Ralph Mikessell, fifth-year pharmacy student, is the son of Mina Finch and a graduate of Piper High School in Kansas City, Kan.
NEOSHO COUNTY
From Erie 66733
Neil Young, fourth-year pharmacy student, is the son of Frank and Sharon Young and is a graduate of Erie High School. He is co-chair for Operation Immunization.
NESS COUNTY
From Ness City 67560
Julie Elisabeth Keeton, third-year pharmacy student, is the daughter of Russell and Kristol King and a graduate of Ness City High School.
SALINE COUNTY
From Salina 67401
Kelli Kristine Shaw, third-year pharmacy student, is the daughter of Rebecca and Lawrence Shaw and a graduate of Salina High School.
SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Valley Center 67147
Shannon Scott Short, fourth-year pharmacy student, is the son of Leonard Short and a graduate of Salina High School South. Short is president-elect of KU’s chapter of the Academy of Student Pharmacists.
From Wichita 67205
Laura Ann Mazur, fourth-year pharmacy student, is the daughter of Alyce Mazur and a graduate of Bishop Carroll High School in Wichita. She is co-chair for Operation Immunization.
Courtney Nelson, third-year pharmacy student, is the daughter of Cheryl and Daniel Nelson and is a graduate of Maize High School.
From Wichita 67226
Amanda K. Applegate, fourth-year pharmacy student, is the daughter of Charles and Joanne Applegate and a graduate of Wichita East High School.
SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Silver Lake 66539 and Powhattan
Brianna Rae Barnes. SEE BROWN COUNTY
WILSON COUNTY
From Neodesha 66757
Brian Lewis Schuessler, fifth-year pharmacy student, is the son of Jim and Judy Schuessler and a graduate of Neodesha High School.
WYANDOTTE COUNTY
From Bonner Springs 66012
Susan Vaughan, fourth-year pharmacy student, is the daughter of Earl and Monica Vaughn and a graduate of Tonganoxie High School.
MISSOURI
From Joplin 64804
Mark Steven Mayberry, fourth-year pharmacy student, is a graduate of Joplin High School.
From Joplin 64804 and Webb City 64870
David Bender Ackiss, fifth-year pharmacy student, is the son of Christine Eller of Joplin and David Ackiss of Webb City. He is a graduate of Joplin High School and is treasurer of KU’s chapter of the Academy of Student Pharmacists.
From Lee’s Summit 64081
Lindsay Justin, fifth-year pharmacy student, is the daughter of Anthony and Stephanie Justin and a graduate of Hickman High School. She is vice president of KU’s chapter of the Academy of Student Pharmacists.
TEXAS
From Denison
Veronica Melissa Nieto, fifth-year pharmacy student, is the daughter of Javier and Magdalena Nieto and a graduate of Denison High School. Nieto is president of KU’s chapter of the Academy of Student Pharmacists.
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