KU News Release

KU pharmacy students to offer bone health screenings to Douglas Co. senior citizens

LAWRENCE — University of Kansas pharmacy students will provide free bone density screenings for adults 55 and older from 8 to 11 a.m. Thursday, April 2, at the Douglas County Senior Center, 745 Vermont St., Lawrence.

The event is the first of several planned at the center sponsored by “A Partnership for Senior Health,” a collaboration between KU’s School of Pharmacy, Douglas County Senior Services and Walgreens.

Cheryl Holcomb, chair of the board of directors for Douglas County Senior Services and director of finance and human resources at the School of Pharmacy, is coordinating the intergenerational service project.

Holcomb has recruited community volunteers from KU, Walgreens and the Community Mercantile Education Foundation to offer nutrition and fitness tips for bone health in addition to the free screening.

KU members of the Mu chapter of Kappa Epsilon, a professional pharmacy group, will use portable ultrasound equipment from the School of Pharmacy to test the bone in the heel of a foot. The student pharmacists will work under the supervision of licensed pharmacists from KU and Walgreens.

Ken Audus, dean of the School of Pharmacy, said the collaboration between students and area pharmacies for community outreach not only provides services for older adults but also offers valuable experience for students in working with members of one of the fastest growing segments of the population.

Chad Ullom, a 1996 KU pharmacy graduate and the district pharmacy supervisor for Walgreens in Lawrence, volunteered to help sponsor the event. Walgreens also will provide refreshments and prizes.

Bone density screening can be useful to older adults who have not had a bone density test. Those participating in the screening will be encouraged to share the results with her or his physician or health care provider.

Other bone-health topics to be explored April 2 include the influence of medications, dietary restrictions, mobility and flexibility. Nancy O’Conner from the Community Mercantile will provide nutritional tips for bone health. Holcomb said she hopes to have fitness volunteers available to provide tips on exercises that can strengthen bones.

Senior citizens also will be invited to complete a survey on programs the Partnership for Senior Health could offer to promote overall good health and education. The student pharmacists will take the survey one-on-one with each senior citizen.

Donna Coffman, pharmacy clinical instructor and faculty adviser for the Kappa Epsilon chapter, said Partnership for Senior Health “is a natural collaboration for students and senior citizens.”

Pharmacy student volunteers are listed below by hometown, level in school, parents’ names (when available) and high school. KU’s doctor of pharmacy degree, or PharmD, is a six-year professional-level degree similar to a law or medical degree.

BARTON COUNTY
From Hoisington 67544
Sarah Jerree Ritter, third-year pharmacy student, daughter of Steven and Sonja Ritter; Hoisington High School.

COWLEY COUNTY
From Winfield 67156
Candace Marie Holloway, third-year pharmacy student, daughter of Sandra Short; Arkansas City High School.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence 66047
Kaycee Dragastin, third-year pharmacy student; bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University; Lewiston (Neb.) Consolidated High School.

Jesse Hwa, third-year pharmacy student; bachelor’s degree from Pittsburg State University.

ELLIS COUNTY
From Hays 67601
Heather Nicole Dietz, third-year pharmacy student, daughter of Mark and Vivian Dietz; Hays High School.

Milka None Goodlett, third-year pharmacy student.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Leawood 66211
Erin Elizabeth Flynn, third-year pharmacy student; bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

From Overland Park 66213
Anne Medalla Doolin, third-year pharmacy student; Blue Valley Northwest High School.

From Shawnee 66216
Angela Tamae Liu, third-year pharmacy student, daughter of Ikuko Niijima; bachelor’s degree in human biology from KU, spring 2007; Shawnee Mission Northwest High School.

LYON COUNTY
From Emporia 66801
Zahra Crystal Nasr-Azadani, third-year pharmacy student, daughter of Grace and Mehdi Nasr-Azadani; Emporia Senior High School.

MCPHERSON COUNTY
From McPherson 67460
Alison Thanh Vo, fourth-year pharmacy student, daughter of Muoi Ly and Tim Vo; McPherson High School.

SALINE COUNTY
From Salina 67401
Brandon Glen Utter, fourth-year pharmacy student, son of Ann Schneider.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Derby 67037
Josephine M. Lea, fourth-year pharmacy student, daughter of June Keesling; Derby High School.

From Wichita 67207
Dinh Minh Nguyen, fourth-year pharmacy student; Wichita Heights High School.

SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Topeka 66609
Stacy Marie Duis, third-year pharmacy student; bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University; Concordia High School.

SEWARD COUNTY
From Liberal 67901
Cambrey Bao-Phuong Nguyen, third-year pharmacy student, daughter of Viet and Hoa Nguyen; Liberal High School.

CALIFORNIA
From San Jose 95131
Wendy Uyen Nguyen, fourth-year pharmacy student, daughter of Van and Janet Nguyen; bachelor’s degree from the University of California-Davis; Saint Lawrence Academy, Santa Clara, Calif.

SOUTH DAKOTA
From Rapid City 57701
Meghan Ann Sedlacek, third-year pharmacy student; bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Rapid City Central High.

MAYLASIA
From Kuala Lumpur
Yiet Luu Yeok, fourth-year pharmacy student.

VIETNAM
From Ho Chi Minh
Le Khanh Le Do, fourth-year pharmacy student, daughter of Khoa and Hanh Le Do.

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