At the American University of Health Sciences (AUHS) School of Pharmacy, as an on-going effort for continuous engagement with legislators, PharmD students have an opportunity to do a presentation to Signal Hill’s City Council members and Mayor to advocate for our community and our profession.
AUHS receives strong support from the City of Signal Hill, California. Students are invited to the City Council meetings, held every quarter, to present to city councilmen. On December 10, 2019 (during National Handwashing week), students educated the public at the City Council meeting on proper handwashing to prevent the spread of diseases. Students also presented the services they have provided to the community, such as blood pressure screenings and flu vaccinations. This presentation to the legislatures exposed students to the importance of advocating for their profession and their patients’ best interest. On March 10, 2020, another group of students took an opportunity to be an instrument to provide accurate information regarding COVID-19 as the latest updates became available from the national and public health officials (ie. WHO, CDC) covering the basic background of the novel Coronavirus with focus on educating public with signs and symptoms and preventative measures such as hand washing and social distancing.
The presentation was well received by the City Council complimented that the students did an excellent job and the slides were appropriate and very pertinent right now.
A flyer was created for distribution purposes to the public to provide further guidance provided by the CDC.
As educators in academics, we often look for ways for the students to incorporate and practice classroom learnings into the real-world. An opportunity as this demonstrates how PharmD students can play a vital role as an instrument to increase public health safety.
Future City Council presentations have been scheduled for June and September 2020 and AUHS hopes to continue this relationship for many more years.
About American University of Health Sciences
AUHS is a Christian based, minority-serving university, which educates students for careers in the healthcare professions. AUHS emphasizes the values of faith in God, love of humankind, and belief that all people have a right to healthcare and deserve a good quality of life based on the wellness of body, mind, and spirit. The university celebrates diversity and reaches out to groups currently underrepresented in healthcare and research. AUHS provides the undergraduate and graduate curriculum, hands-on practical training and supportive environment required to create competent and compassionate healthcare professionals.
American University of Health Sciences is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), 985 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 100, Alameda, CA 94501, 510.748.9001.
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