National Pharmacy Week | Spotlight on Catherine Hensley
Catherine Hensley is a third-year pharmacy student at the University of Arizona and the Tucson VP of Patient Care for American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists. She has been responsible for planning and managing the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy Health Fairs.
She took some time to share with us why community outreach is important, her goals after graduation, and what widely held belief she wants to dispel about pharmacists.
National Pharmacy Week — October 16-22 — is an annual observance that acknowledges the invaluable contributions that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians make to patient care in hospitals, ambulatory care clinics, and other healthcare settings.
What makes the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy unique?
The community and learning environment at the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy is unlike any other school I have attended. I chose to attend the University of Arizona for pharmacy school because of the many interactions I had with current pharmacy students and professors. As a third year pharmacy student, I now have had the opportunity to connect with several professors and have always felt welcomed and supported to pursue my goals. The faculty are incredible mentors for the students and are always willing to go above and beyond to see us succeed in our profession.
What are your goals after you graduate from the Coit College of Pharmacy?
After I graduate with my PharmD from the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, it is my goal to pursue a clinical residency program specializing in cardiology or psychiatric pharmacy. During my time as a student, I have been inspired by our incredible professors who are experts in their fields of cardiology and psychiatric pharmacy. The College of Pharmacy offers outstanding opportunities for students to experience the many different career paths in pharmacy through our rotation experiences. This summer, I was able to complete my Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) rotation at Sonora Behavioral Health Hospital here in Tucson working under Dr. Nicholson where my love for the pharmacy profession and patient care bloomed and inspired my goal of pursuing a clinical residency program. Ultimately, it is my aim to provide a welcoming and safe space for patients to openly discuss any concerns about their health while working collaboratively with other health care professionals to produce the best patient outcomes.
What do you think is the pharmacists' role in the community?
In the community, it is a pharmacist’s role to offer reliable health care and medication education to the public. In most communities, a pharmacist is one of the most accessible health care professionals available to patients, allowing pharmacists to play an integral part of a patient's health.
Why do you believe community outreach is important?
Outreach opportunities are an incredible way to interact with others in your community and make a difference in the lives of the people around you. As the Vice President of Patient Care I am able to coordinate and promote affordable health care and education for our local communities with my team through several health fairs. At these health fairs, pharmacy students can volunteer their time to provide free health screenings and consultations to the community under the supervision of pharmacists.
How does providing health screenings and health information help you and your colleagues become better pharmacists?
At the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy health fairs, we are incredibly fortunate to have the support of several experienced pharmacist preceptors who offer advice and support to the student volunteers as they provide free health screenings and consultations. Through these student and pharmacist interactions, students have the opportunity to present their knowledge to the preceptor and receive feedback on important aspects to consider when working with patients. Participation at these events allow students the opportunity to practice clinical health screenings and develop important patient interaction skills that will support them as future pharmacists.
What is a widely held belief about pharmacy or pharmacists that you've heard and want to change?
A widely held belief about the pharmacy profession that I have encountered is that pharmacists are just pill counters, however pharmacists are much more involved in a patient's medication plan. Pharmacists are vital in the process of determining the most appropriate and safe medication regimen for each individual based on several patient specific factors such as past medical history, allergies, drug interactions, and dosing. Pharmacists commonly work closely within an interprofessional team of healthcare professionals to promote the best patient outcomes and are a reliable resource for patients to consult about any medication concerns or health related questions.