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SNPhA students explore options after graduation by Jonathan Jones MUSC SNPhA Chapter President The South Carolina College of Pharmacy, MUSC campus chapter of the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA), hosted this year’s Regions I and II Meeting in Charleston.   The annual meeting welcomed pharmacy students from more than 20 colleges of pharmacy on the east coast. This year’s meeting was held March 28-30 at Embassy Suites—North Charleston Convention Center. The meeting theme, “Ride the Wave and Leave Your Mark in the Sand,” aimed to prepare students for the changing pharmacy profession and health care field. The event was attended by more than 150 pharmacy students, pharmacists, and faculty advisors.   On Friday, March 28, students participated in the meeting’s opening session. The purpose of the session was to prepare and motivate the students for an exciting weekend. The keynote speaker, Herman Blake, Ph.D., Humanities Scholar in Residence at MUSC, who has an illustrious academic career in higher education administration, challenged students to take advantage of opportunities presented to them by using a unique twist and implementing the history of the Gullah culture in Charleston.   On Saturday, March 29 participants took part in business meetings, poster presentations, career/corporate exhibits and numerous networking opportunities.   The keynote lunch speaker, Lt. Col. Jasper W. Watkins III, who serves as bureau chief for statewide pharmaceutical services for the Department of Health in Florida, educated students on the variety of career options available in the field of pharmacy. Students left lunch with a newfound appreciation for the opportunities available to them. Workshops available on Saturday included interviewing skills and pharmacist income analysis. In addition, activities were also available to pharmacists and faculty advisors. Four hours of continuing education was offered on health literacy and disparities.   The meeting provided unique networking opportunities for members of the MUSC chapter and meeting participants. It was a testament to the dedication and leadership of students at MUSC. Students left Charleston with an appreciation for the culture of Charleston, motivation to continue serving underserved communities, and armed with the ability to leave their mark in a rapidly changing health care field. The local chapter of the Student National Pharmaceutical Association would like to thank the sponsors for the success of this year’s meeting. Sponsors included Wal-Mart Pharmacy, Rite-Aid, Kroger Pharmacy, Walgreens, CVS Pharmacy, Publix Supermarkets, Kerr Drug, South Carolina College of Pharmacy, MUSC Office of Diversity, and MUSC President’s Office.   SNPhA is an association of pharmacy students who are concerned about pharmacy, health care related issues, and the poor minority representation in pharmacy and other health-related professions. The purpose of SNPhA is to plan, organize, coordinate and execute programs geared toward the improvement for the health, education and social environment of the community.     Friday, April 11, 2008 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.