Welcome to the Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy blog!

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Time Management


Hi! My name is Alex and I’m a second year pharmacy student at PC. A lot of incoming students have questions about how to balance a pharmacy school schedule and life outside of school. This is basic time management.
I am currently president-elect of a professional pharmacy fraternity in addition to 3 other organizations that I am involved with. I am also very active within my community. I am very busy but I am able to be a successful leader at PCSP and student organization member. The most important thing that you must remember when getting involved at PCSP is that school is always first!

The best method of keeping up with all of your assignments, labs, classes, and meetings is definitely a planner. I write down everything from homework problems to dinner plans. Its important to always keep on top of things that way you don’t miss a deadline. If so, you might not get credit for your hard work!
The best advice I ever received concerning time management and pharmacy school is to treat it as a full time job; you are a full time student! Most classes begin at 8:30 am and with labs, meetings, and projects you usually do not arrive home until around 5 pm. If you have your days planned out and know what to expect, you can tackle any additional curveballs that might come your way!

Pharmacy school is tough but if you manage your time well, there is no reason why you cannot participate in any organization, activity, or opportunity that arises! Always remember that school is your first priority and keep your planner handy!
Written By Alex Yarborough, P2 Student

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

El Salvador Pediatric Trip

This past summer I had the opportunity to go on a medical mission trip to El Salvador.  PC School of Pharmacy joined up with Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) to conduct medical outreach to mainly pediatric patients.  Three pharmacy students, including myself, worked alongside thirty VCOM medical students, two pharmacist preceptors, seven physician preceptors, and a few other volunteers to make this trip successful.  During our trip, we stayed in three different hotels and truly got to experience local culture as well as delicious food.

Throughout our seven day trip, we conducted our mobile clinics in five different locations including the Heart of Mary Orphanage, Escuela Publica Santa Agueda, the Peace Messengers Orphanage, Shalom Community Health Clinic, as well as setting up in a remote mountain community called El Trimidal in Chalentenango.  The day to day operations included the following:  medical students examined patients under the supervision of physician preceptors in make-shift examination rooms, patients were escorted to the pharmacy by the medical students, medical students presented patients to the pharmacy with symptoms and desired medications, pharmacy students validated medications and dosages under the supervision of pharmacist preceptors, the medications were prepared for patients by the pharmacy students, and patients were counseled on the correct administration of the medications.
During the seven days we were there, we administered care to over 500 patients and dispensed over 1,200 prescriptions.  Care was given mainly to children, but we also cared for parents of the children as well as teachers at the orphanages.  Some of the commonly prescribed medications included antiparasitics, analgesics, antihistamines, multivitamins, and lice kits.  Although these were the commonly prescribed medications, we also dispensed other medications in addition to these.  

This medical outreach trip was a wonderful experience and was very rewarding.  I believe it exemplifies PC’s motto of “Dum Vivimus Servimus” which means while we live, we serve, and I feel blessed to have been able to serve on this trip. 
Written by Kemper, P2 Student