UW Pharmacy Students Attend NCPA 108th Annual Convention and Trade Exposition

     Students from the UW School of Pharmacy chapter of the National Community Pharmacists' Association (NCPA) attended the national convention October 7-11 in Las Vegas. Members attending the conference included Shanna Geslin, Amanda Hardy, Katie Hook, Sara Yennie, Shelley House, Kelly Dunn, and John Darnell. The students attended an officers' breakfast giving them an opportunity to interact with officers from other schools and heard presentations by regional officers of NCPA regarding project ideas for the chapters. Members learned what the students of NCPA are trying to accomplish at a national level and how the UW chapter could participate.
     The students also attended workshops that focused on aspects of owning a pharmacy. As NCPA is an organization that focuses on this facet of pharmacy, these workshops were very informational and inspirational. Because these workshops were student oriented, the presenters really emphasized the fact that the students are not too young to start looking into the different ways to own a pharmacy. The bulk of the workshops this year focused on compounding pharmacy, which is a niche that many independent pharmacists' are finding very rewarding. Saturday's events were concluded with the presentation of the business plans. The top three schools presented their business plans to an audience of peers and to a panel of judges. The UW students have entered a business plan into the competition the last two years and will be submitting one again this year.
     On Sunday the students attended the opening general session where motivational speaker Eileen McDargh spoke. They also attended the Trade Exposition, which allowed them to see what new, innovative products and services are being offered to independent pharmacies.
     Attending this conference gave the students the chance to see what opportunities are available to pharmacists today. They returned with new and exciting ideas for their chapter, especially in regard to how they can participate in NCPA on a national level.

Posted on Sunday, November 12, 2006