UMES Pharmacy Students as COVID-19 First Responders in the Community

Our student pharmacists are often known for their contributions to the community. This phenomenon is best exemplified by students completing the school’s 3-year accelerated curriculum while additionally serving as pharmacy interns. This past year, our current generation of student healthcare workers have found themselves fighting on the front lines responding against the deadliest pandemic in over 100 years. In the face of this unique challenge, many UMESSOP student pharmacists across various settings, fueled by duty to their profession, have taken on many new responsibilities to protect their patients.

The already fast-paced nature of community pharmacy practice has intensified over the past year. “Being faced with the pandemic has been challenging for pharmacy personnel due to heightened fears amongst patients, concerns about their medications, anger over insurance billing, and delays from doctor’s offices,” explained Rita Ogbonna, a first-year pharmacy student working at Rite Aid. On top of maintaining a functioning pharmacy under these difficult conditions, Maryland pharmacy technicians now possess the responsibility of immunizing patients. When asked about how they manage these new challenges, Rita and fellow student pharmacist Tania Estrada both affirmed that their goal of providing quality patient care drives them forward. “Giving COVID-19 vaccines has been super rewarding, especially when the elderly come in and are excited about getting the vaccine,” Tania reflected on her experiences immunizing at Walgreens.

Student Pharmacists working in

On the COVID-19 regimens. “I have frequently worked with the patient floor Frontlines: nurses to work out the patient’s drug therapy to account for the UMES Pharmacy Students patient’s insurance situations and prescription clarity,” said as COVID-19 First Kevin Yong, a fellow SP-2 working at TidalHealth Hospital. Responders in the These measures, aimed at Community accounting for the increased need for medications such as Written by Yacine Gharbi, Class of 2023 anticoagulants and inhalers, are crucial for long-term patient recovery. As vaccines have become our primary key to ending the COVID-19 Pandemic, some student pharmacists have also participated in clinical research to learn more about the novel

Zach Becouvarakis, first-year student, hits the books to prepare for the Novavax COVID-19 vaccines and with COVID-19 vaccine trial. implementing COVID-19 vaccine clinics. Research Specialist Intern and first-year student, Zach Becouvarakis, is currently assisting in the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine trial at Health Research of Hampton Roads. “My role personally has consisted of training patients on recognizing and reporting symptoms, data entry, and UMES Student Pharmacists are always general patient screening around to lend a helping hand! interviewing,” Zach spoke of his work in the trial. With vaccine hospital settings have also faced eligibility now open to all, UMES challenges tied to rapidly changing student pharmacists have spearheaded circumstances. Second- COVID-19 vaccine distribution year pharmacy student throughout Somerset County Mercedes Vilasoa, and surrounding areas. who works at Johns Many already working Hopkins Hospital, in the pharmacy, experienced first-hand such as second-year the difficulties faced by pandemic student Pooneh Azadikhah, have first responders. “The healthcare been instrumental in bringing team would work long hours, their expertise to volunteer at local restrict themselves from seeing community immunization events. As loved ones, continuously try to we approach the conclusion to this save patients’ lives, and have crisis, our providers-in-training will to deal with the trauma of surely proceed to use their knowledge seeing patients not make it,” and skills gained in this battle against Mercedes explained. In hopes future public health emergencies. of minimizing such suffering, our Student Pharmacists work tirelessly to optimize patient care Second-year student Mercedes Vilasoa is suited up to take on COVID. Go get ‘em, Mercedes!