Law and policy dramatically shape the practice of pharmacy. It is imperative that student pharmacists advocate for the profession of pharmacy to ensure our patients receive our services and the public recognizes our value. Advocacy can be as simple as voting or conducting a letter-writing campaign, planning a health fair at your state capital or meeting legislators face-to-face and can make a profound impact in the profession.
The SPIN committee works hand in hand with the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association (PPA), as well as the Luzerne County Pharmacists Association (LCPA).
The most notable project the SPIN committee did last year was Medicare Part D outreach. Through these outreach projects over 104,000 people were educated in
the Wyoming Valley. Students participating in this project assisted with a Town
Meeting put together by a local news station and Congressman Kanjorski. Students were also featured on the local news station WBRE-28. As a reward for all this
hard work, Wilkes University placed 4th in the nation in the National Medicare
Part D Student Outreach Competition.
In adition to Medicare Outreach, the SPIN committee also did many other projects throughout the year. Petitions were passed around and sent to State Officials to
prohibit manditory mail order programs. Students participated in PPA's
"Faces On Pharmacy" campaign to educate State Representatives and Senators
on the value of a Pharmacist. Students also planned to participate in PPA's
annual Pharmacy and Legislative Day at the state capitol in Harrisburg.
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