2022 Chapter Innovation Poster Session
We are excited to again host our annual Chapter Innovation Poster Session during the 2022 Phi Lambda Sigma National Leadership Summit – The Power of You Story: Connect, Reflect & Lead!
The posters describe a chapter event that involves one of 5 categories:
- Leadership Development
- Membership Engagement
- Mentorship
- Community Engagement
- Alumni Engagement
- Other
Get ideas and check out some of the innovations that make our Chapters unique and successful at the Chapter Innovation Poster Session! This event showcases one-time or recurrent projects or events held by our chapters.
View the presenting chapters and their posters below:
Leadership Development
CV Workshop: An Idea for Professional Development
Primary Presenter: Sammy Daas
Primary Presenter Contact: sammydaas@my.unthsc.edu
Chapter: Epsilon Beta
Abstract:
Professional development is often a gap in didactic learning. Our CV Workshop event is designed to expand Phi Lambda Sigma’s role as the pharmacy leadership society. The event, which took place on March 29th, 2022 lasted 2 hours, from 5:30 – 7:30 PM. We invited practicing pharmacists to provide feedback on students’ CVs. The pharmacists represented both community and clinical practices, including Perrone Pharmacy, Medical City Fort Worth, Baylor Scott & White All-Saints, HSC Health, UNTHSC Career Development. 2 are Phi Lambda Sigma alumni, and 3 are non-alumni. The CV workshop was open to all PLS & non-PLS members. 21 Phi Lambda Sigma members and 4 non-members attended. The funding required for the CV workshop was primarily for dinner for the attendees. It took place in a classroom which was reserved 3 weeks in advance per UNTHSC rules. We also determined a PLS CV Workshop Planning Committee of 3-5 active members at least 1 month in advance of the intended event date. This committee was charged with selecting and contacting appropriate pharmacist guests and developing a participant registration form using Google forms. The CV workshop was a unique opportunity for members to receive expert advice for the first time in 2 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was also an opportunity for Phi Lambda Sigma members to promote the organization and its benefits to prospective P1 students. Additionally, we had community pharmacists, independent pharmacists, and pharmacists from five inpatient specialty types attend to give feedback on both resumes and CVs. In the future, we would try to make the event hybrid to encourage more participation. We plan on hosting the CV workshop again, and hopefully this time with more specialties, including pharmacists in industry who hold fellowships.
Oral Presentation Link (coming soon)
Membership Engagement
PLS Professional Series
Primary Presenter: Steffan Sabu Varghese
Primary Presenter Contact: steffan.varghese@temple.edu
Chapter: Beta Mu
Abstract:
Professional development not only provides the possibility to build upon one’s current skillsets, but obtain the knowledge needed to grow as an individual and in their career. Phi Lambda Sigma Beta Mu Chapter at Temple University School of Pharmacy (TUSP) presented a professional series to the students at the pharmacy school throughout the course of March 2022. Every week, one zoom meeting that consisted of panels of individuals that discussed different career paths a student may choose in pharmacy. Three meetings were held that focused on: academic, fellowship/industry, and residency/clinical routes.
The local chapters of the Student College of Clinical Pharmacy (SCCP) and the Industry Pharmacists Organization (IPhO) at TUSP assisted throughout each meeting to ensure success. The primary goal of this professional series was to provide the students at TUSP with the resources needed to gain further understanding of each career path, and open minds to a whole world of possibilities that can be obtained as a pharmacist.
To conduct these meetings in the best manner, proper delegation of tasks and networking was needed to accomplish the event. The turnout for each meeting was enlightening because it proved that this professional series provided a true impact within the lives of the students. Even though the TUSP professional series was a success, there were different situations where more proper planning could have improved the meetings. Holding the meetings in-person and establishing a platform to ask questions more freely would have provided a more engaging environment for both the students and panelists. The future of the professional series will continue to be adjusted so that it can accurately meet the needs of the students and provide optimal professional development for everyone’s career.
Implementation of a P2 Project to Enhance Member Engagement
Primary Presenter: Zoona Ahmad
Primary Presenter Contact: ahmad41@purdue.edu
Chapter: Alpha Rho
Abstract:
Every year, the Alpha Rho Chapter of Phi Lambda Sigma has engaged its new P2 members by providing them with an opportunity to create an innovative, impactful project of their choosing. The new P2 PLS members met throughout the year to develop, plan, and implement their project guided by the New Member Educator, a P3 PLS student. This year, the P2 members developed a reorientation event for their class to encourage reconnection and community. Members recognized the need for more social events to provide a platform for their class to come together, have fun, and engage with each other in-person post-pandemic. They worked diligently throughout the year starting in October 2021 to come up with a unique and creative event. The New Member Educator acted as a resource and guide for them throughout the development process. During the project, our P2 PLS members developed and executed a plan, problem-solved together, and developed relationships with each other. Throughout the process, barriers arose related to finances, event forum, and event planning, all of which were handled and discussed by the group during meetings. The event took place on March 1, 2022 from 5:30-7:00 PM and had 30 attendees, 11 of which were PLS members. The event started with food, preceded by speed dating, and “Olympic” minigames. Attendees were able to develop relationships with their class in a relaxed environment. While this event was for the whole P2 class, it left a profound impact on P2 PLS members by providing them with a structured environment to engage with each other to determine what PLS meant to them and the legacy they want to establish. The P2 Project is a reflection of the evolution of our chapter and the varied interests, skills, and passions from one class to the next.
Mentorship
Mentorship Development Through Personal Connection and Shared Experience
Primary Presenter: Yu Hyeon Soh
Primary Presenter Contact: yus81@pitt.edu
Chapter: Beta Delta
Abstract:
The Beta Delta chapter always had robust professional development initiatives, which involved PLS and non-PLS members of the school. These programs were effective in aiding students as emerging professionals. However, there was still a need to assist these students in developing effective leadership skills. Thus, the PLS mentorship committee developed a new mentorship program that focused on personal aspects of leadership skills and establishment of positive relationships with participants. The development of the new program was initiated by the mentorship co-chairs in the 2021 Fall and initiated in the 2022 Spring. Participants were limited to PLS Beta Delta Chapter members for now.
A total 15 students participated in each of the three mentorship development sessions. In the first session “Connecting the Personal to Professional”, participants were able to discuss personal identities, experiences, and privileges that are related to professional and social identities. In the second session “Putting Thoughts to Action”, six PLS P4 members led the discussion to see how to achieve goals throughout pharmacy school, how to get leadership positions, and to balance studying and extracurricular activities. The final session “Work Life Balance” was led by Dr. Raman Venkataramanan, who shared a personal path to develop a successful career alongside a fulfilling life.
These three sessions were beneficial to connect and share students’ personal experience to develop leadership skills and professional identities. Participants enjoyed the openness, honesty, and sincerity of the conversation and were allowed to learn more from seniors and their aspects of leadership and pharmacy school. Aligning with the PLS mission of supporting leadership development among pharmacy students, our chapter aims to open this new mentorship program to all pharmacy students, regardless of membership. We seek to develop more sessions and include collaborations with other student organizations and faculty to successfully continue this program in the future.
Phi Lambda Sigma Beta Mu Chapter Annual Mentorship Program
Primary Presenter: Gabriel Vivas
Primary Presenter Contact: tun19542@temple.edu
Chapter: Beta Mu
Abstract:
Every fall at the beginning of the academic year the Phi Lambda Sigma (PLS) Beta Mu Chapter at Temple University School of Pharmacy, organizes the Mentorship Program for the new 1st year pharmacy students, in which all interested new students are paired with an upperclassman in their 2nd or 3rd year to help them and guide them in their transition into pharmacy school and serve as mentors and support in developing themselves as future professionals.
This event is hosted as a tradition for the chapter for the past several years, to attempt to engage new pharmacy students into the program as well as helping them in creating connections in the pharmacy environment.
This program gives everyone involved the opportunity to expand their networking and develop their communication skills, at the same time it allows mentees to learn more about pharmacy from someone with experience in the program and in the profession, and it allows mentors to develop their tutoring and leadership skills as they take on the role of helping a new student to feel more comfortable in the program.
The main barrier that it is sometimes observed is continuous involvement, as after the mentee-mentor match happens some students do not keep frequent communication with their mentee/mentor, so constant checking, and reminders from the PLS officers is required.
For the past few years, the program has allowed many pharmacy students to create and maintain good relationships with their counter part as well as help them growth as future health care professionals. For PLS the goal is to maintain the program running for the years to come due to all the success among the student body.
Community Engagement
Phi Lambda Sigma Interprofessional Public Health Fair
Primary Presenter: Mahbuba Choudhury
Primary Presenter Contact: tuf84734@temple.edu
Chapter: Delta Mu
Abstract:
This year on April 3rd, in the honor of the National Public Health Week, Phi Lambda Sigma Beta Mu Chapter at Temple University School of Pharmacy hosted an interprofessional public health fair. During the health fair, public services were provided to over 100 individuals surrounding the Temple Health Science Campus, Zion Baptist Church of Philadelphia, and to those with certain disabilities and food insecurities. Listed below are services that were provided during the Health Fair: • Hypertension, diabetes, dental, and podiatric screenings • COVID vaccine administration from Acme Pharmacy • Information regarding insurance from Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center • Information regarding the proper disposal of unused medications • Distribution of boxed meals from Subway consisting of a hoagie, chips, and cookies. Proper planning, communication, and delegation of tasks were required to ensure the success of this event. We hosted a school wide dodgeball and basketball tournament to raise money to purchase the adequate number of boxed meals. The most challenging part was advertising the event. Flyers were sent out to many organizations and areas where the homeless population was prevalent; however, it was definitely still a struggle to reach out to the homeless. Even though the number of homeless that was served during the fair was less than expected, it was still a great opportunity to serve our community. The event included members from the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA), Pharmacists in Public Health Student Organization (PPHSO), TUSP’s Script Your Future Medication Adherence Team Challenge (MATCh), Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry, Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine, and Lewis Katz School of Medicine.
Community Advocacy: Sparking Conversation About the General Public’s Perception of Pharmacy
Primary Presenters: Mitesh Patel & Skylar Haas
Primary Presenters Contact: patelmi@musc.edu; haass@musc.edu
Chapter: Beta Chi
Abstract:
The Beta Chi chapter of Phi Lambda Sigma was awarded the 2021-2022 Charles Thomas Leadership Award which was used to implement Advocacy Amplification Week. PLS partnered with the APhA-ASP chapter at the Medical University of South Carolina to carry out the event. The week consisted of a series of programs aimed at increasing advocacy efforts among pharmacy students. Additionally, current pharmacy topics were discussed, and money was raised in support of the APhA Back the PAC campaign. Day four of Advocacy Amplification Week was Community Advocacy Day. The goal of this day was to advocate for the profession of pharmacy through the reach of patients at local outpatient and independent pharmacies. At said pharmacies, students were permitted to administer brief surveys that evaluated the general public’s perception about the pharmacy profession including what degree a pharmacist holds, their average salary, and what duties a pharmacist is capable of performing. Additionally, patients were inquired about their stance on hot topics such as a pharmacist’s ability to prescribe birth control and whether a pharmacist should be reimbursed from insurance companies for patient care services. In total, 14 student volunteers at 10 different pharmacies obtained 91 survey responses from patients. Students were able to answer any questions that participants may have had after completing the survey to give them a better understanding of the field of pharmacy and all that it entails. Having lengthier questions at the beginning of the survey posed as a potential barrier as this seemed to deter patient’s interest in completing the questionnaire. In planning for similar events in the future, it would be beneficial to have answers populate at the end of the survey as a means to spark conversation and encourage open dialogue between students and patients.
