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New Practitioner Experience News Fall 2023
OPA New Practitioner Experience (NPX) Committee LaunchpadFall 2023 |
Welcome to the NPX Launchpad
Welcome to the Fall 2023 edition of the NPX Launchpad, the quarterly newsletter intended to help you, a new practitioner, excel personally and professionally!
Check out our featured articles:
- Growing up in Gallipolis
- What to know about RSV and the Vaccine
- Restarting an Interdisciplinary Student Run Clinic – A Student Perspective
- A Taste of Our Kitchen
- News & Upcoming Events
We hope you enjoy the NPX Launchpad and we invite each of you to take the next step in your professional growth by getting involved with NPX today!
Sincerely, your NPX Advisory Team,
Chair: Megan (Stephan) Hull, R.Ph., PharmD, BCACP
Vice-Chair: Jennifer Wick, R.Ph., PharmD, MPH, BCACP
Member-at-Large: Korie Maryo, R.Ph., PharmD
Member-at-Large: Eric Dierkes, R.Ph., PharmD
Member-at-Large: Regann Rutschilling R.Ph., PharmD
Launchpad Coordinator: Rebecca Lahrman, R.Ph., PharmD, MS, BCACP
Growing up in Gallipolis
By Eric Dierkes, PharmD, CTTS
Growing up in the Ohio Valley or “the Valley” as most locals call it, I always loved living near the Ohio River. Whether it was fishing, boating, or seeing the beautiful old sternwheel boats go through the local locks and dam, the slow pace of it all is enjoyable to me.
The village of Gallipolis, where I currently reside, shares so much of that very same charm. One of the very first settlements of Ohio, Gallipolis bears numerous vestiges of French culture, as its earliest settlers were French. Gallipolis’s French Art Colony is always staying busy, especially during the summer with their “Hot Summer Nights” live music and food truck events. For some scenic views, head down to City Park which is nestled on the banks of the Ohio River. If you want more of an elevated view, head up to Mound Hill Cemetery, which overlooks Gallipolis and neighboring Point Pleasant, WV, and its bridges. For those history buffs, Mound Hill Cemetery has multiple members of the original “French 500” settlers buried there. As you get hungry, you must check out the variety of options including Tuscany, China One, Lorobi’s Pizza (which locals swear by), and my personal favorite Five Rivers Indian Cuisine (open Thursdays and Fridays only!).
What to know about RSV and the Vaccine
By Isabelle A. Clairmonte, PharmD Candidate, OSU 2024
This summer many older adult patients started to hear about the new RSV vaccines that were approved in May for those over 60. Patients are asking about ideal timing for their vaccines this fall, many needing pneumonia, shingles, flu, Covid-19 boosters, a Tdap booster and now RSV. The goal of this article is to offer discussion points on the RSV vaccines as you discuss with your patients the ideal timing for their health needs.
Restarting an Interdisciplinary Student Run Clinic – A Student Perspective
By Caitlin Reighard, PharmD Candidate, University of Cincinnati 2024
During my first year of pharmacy school, I applied and was selected to be a Student Leader for the University of Cincinnati Open School, a student-run clinic held within St. Vincent De Paul (SVDP). In this role, I would work with other healthcare students (medical, physical therapy, nutrition, dental hygiene, nursing, and social work) to take blood pressure and blood sugar, perform physical exams, document medication histories, and answer health questions.
A Taste of Our Kitchen
Something a little sweet, Heavenly Dirt
By Korie Maryo, PharmD
Ingredients:
- 2 – 8oz cream cheese packages
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp. vanilla extract
- 2 – 3 and ¼ package vanilla instant pudding
- 1 – 32oz cool whip carton
- 3 cups of milk
- 1 full package of Oreos
Directions:
Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar together. Beat pudding and milk in another bowl until thick. Add cool whip and vanilla extract to the pudding. Add the cream cheese and powdered sugar mixture. Then, crush the Oreo’s in a food processor or in a gallon plastic bag and use a rolling pin to crush. You will then layer, starting with the pudding mixture followed by the Oreo’s into the serving bowl (make sure to end with the Oreo’s on top to look like “dirt”). Let chill in the fridge overnight. Before serving, you can add gummy worms on top for the full effect.
*You can substitute the Oreo’s with either Nilla wafers or Yellow Oreo’s for some Heavenly “Sand” instead.
Enjoy!
News & Upcoming Events
OPA opposes House Bill 73
The Ohio House recently passed House Bill 73, now in the Ohio Senate, that mandates “A pharmacist shall dispense…” and limits pharmacist access to testing, screening, exposure or even an illness. More concerning, controlled substances are not exempt.
December 5: Pharmacist Legislative Day
There are big Pharmacy issues this year: mandated dispensing, State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy Rules, Test & Treat, and more!
Legislative Day is an advocacy event that affords pharmacists and student pharmacists the opportunity to meet with legislators to educate them about the value of pharmacists as part of the healthcare team. You will learn about the latest legislative issues in the Ohio Statehouse, discuss ways to effectively communicate those issues, hear from the legislators themselves, and have a chance to meet legislators one on one.
Get Involved with the Launchpad Newsletter
Help contribute to the next Launchpad newsletter! Articles may be submitted for Pharmacy Trivia, Rx Impact, Financial Future, A Taste of Our Kitchen, and Ohio Days. Have an idea for another article relevant to students and new practitioners? You can submit that as well!
Sign up for upcoming articles HERE.
Articles should be submitted in a Word document to Rebecca Lahrman at lahrman.6@osu.edu. Photographs for articles should be submitted as attachments for higher quality reproduction. Thank you!
