APhA-ASP Participates in Annual Health Fair Community Connect
On Saturday, February 6th, APhA-ASP participated in the 9th annual Community Connect health fair in Howell, Michigan. The University of Michigan College of Pharmacy was only one of over 60 groups to bring free health services to the underserved community, providing point-of-care testing, medication education, and other health-related information.
APhA-ASP, in collaboration with Phi Delta Chi's Professionalism Committee, Student National Pharmaceutical Association's Asthma, Diabetes, and HIV/AIDs Committees, served more than 250 families this year. We organized 11 stations with different activities, including stations for cholesterol, blood glucose, and blood pressure screenings, as well as stations for asthma, HIV/AIDs, and health insurance education. The children particularly liked the stress ball making station, teddy bear flu clinic station, and the pill versus candy game. At the stress ball making station, patients learned about stress management techniques and created their own stress balls out of play-doh and balloons. At the teddy bear flu clinic station, patients learned about immunizations and all children received a free teddy bear and cartoon Band-aid.
Andrea Duong, P1, said "[the pill versus cand game] was a good icebreaker to get people to come into our room since it was fun and easy. A lot of people thought the Tic Tac was a pill! I could then talk to them about drug safety and educate on the dangers of kids confusing medication for candy". Regarding the overall event, Andrea believes "it was a rewarding experience to interact with patients outside of the Ann Arbor area" and she encourages everyone to come next year and experience something different.
