On the COVID-19 Frontlines:
Our student regimens. “I have frequently pharmacists are worked with the patient floor often known for their nurses to work out the patient’s contributions to the drug therapy to account for the community. This patient’s insurance situations phenomenon is best and prescription clarity,” said exemplified by students Kevin Yong, a fellow SP-2 completing the school’s working at TidalHealth Hospital. 3-year accelerated These measures, aimed at curriculum while accounting for the increased additionally serving as need for medications such as pharmacy interns. This anticoagulants and inhalers, are Written by Yacine Gharbi, past year, our current crucial for long-term patient Class of 2023 generation of student recovery. healthcare workers As vaccines have become have found themselves our primary key to ending the fighting on the front COVID-19 Pandemic, some lines responding against student pharmacists have also the deadliest pandemic participated in clinical research in over 100 years. In to learn more about the novel the face of this unique COVID-19 vaccines and with Zach Becouvarakis, first-year student, hits the books to prepare for the Novavax challenge, many UMESimplementing COVID-19 COVID-19 vaccine trial. SOP student pharmacists vaccine clinics. Research across various settings, Specialist Intern and first-year fueled by duty to student, Zach Becouvarakis, their profession, have is currently assisting in the taken on many new Novavax COVID-19 vaccine trial responsibilities to protect at Health Research of Hampton their patients. Roads. “My role personally has The already consisted of training patients fast-paced nature of on recognizing and reporting community pharmacy symptoms, data entry, and UMES Student Pharmacists are always practice has intensified general patient screening over the past year. “Being around to lend a helping hand! interviewing,” Zach spoke of his faced with the pandemic work in the trial. With vaccine has been challenging eligibility now open to all, UMES hospital settings have also faced for pharmacy personnel due to heightened student pharmacists have spearheaded challenges tied to rapidly changing fears amongst patients, concerns about their COVID-19 vaccine distribution circumstances. Secondmedications, anger over insurance billing, throughout Somerset County year pharmacy student and delays from doctor’s offices,” explained and surrounding areas. Mercedes Vilasoa, Rita Ogbonna, a first-year pharmacy student Many already working who works at Johns working at Rite Aid. On top of maintaining a in the pharmacy, Hopkins Hospital, functioning pharmacy under these difficult such as second-year experienced first-hand conditions, Maryland pharmacy technicians student Pooneh Azadikhah, have the difficulties faced by pandemic now possess the responsibility of immunizing been instrumental in bringing first responders. “The healthcare patients. When asked about how they manage their expertise to volunteer at local team would work long hours, these new challenges, Rita and fellow student community immunization events. As restrict themselves from seeing pharmacist Tania Estrada both affirmed that we approach the conclusion to this loved ones, continuously try to their goal of providing quality patient care crisis, our providers-in-training will save patients’ lives, and have drives them forward. “Giving COVID-19 surely proceed to use their knowledge to deal with the trauma of vaccines has been super rewarding, especially seeing patients not make it,” and skills gained in this battle against when the elderly come in and are excited future public health emergencies. Mercedes explained. In hopes about getting the vaccine,” Tania reflected on of minimizing such suffering, Second-year student Mercedes her experiences immunizing at Walgreens. our Student Pharmacists work Vilasoa is suited up to take on Student Pharmacists working in tirelessly to optimize patient care COVID. Go get ‘em, Mercedes!
UMES Pharmacy Students as COVID-19 First Responders in the Community
4 UMES RxTIMES > Spring 2021
