APRIL 15, 2005 | The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Pharmacy is getting some national attention through the work of four of its students, Crystal Atwell, Marci Smith, Amanda Galiano and Kris Saunders.

Atwell, Smith and Galiano will be recognized at the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla., this spring. Saunders was chosen the sole student member of the Society of Health-System Pharmacists Council on Educational Affairs. 

Atwell was one of five national recipients of the 2005 Pharmacy Student One to One Patient Counseling Recognition Award, given to members of the Academy of Student Pharmacists (ASP) by the APhA.

Atwell, a second-year student in the UAMS College of Pharmacy, received the award for her innovative approach in communicating with a hearing-impaired patient.

“She knows that pharmacists who do not take the time necessary to counsel are not practicing in the best interest of their patients,” said Eddie Dunn, Pharm.D.,
associate professor in the UAMS College of Pharmacy.

Atwell, who had recently taken a class in sign language, learned from a relative about a hearing-impaired woman who was confused by an inhaler prescribed for asthma. Since the woman lived in another city, Atwell was unable to meet with her face to face. By using a web cam and her skills in sign language, Atwell was able answer the woman’s concerns and share the proper technique for using the inhaler.

“While this type of patient counseling is indeed unique, it nevertheless allows pharmacists to build relationships with their patients. Crystal Atwell has proved through this unique method that one pharmacist can make a profound difference in a patient’s life,” Dunn wrote in his recommendation for Atwell to receive the award.

Smith, a second-year student, is one of seven national recipients of the APhA Auxiliary / APhA Foundation Student Scholarship.

In 2004, Smith organized the college’s two main ASP patient care projects. Under her leadership the students assisted with almost 7,000 flu vaccinations and 800 hyperglycemia screenings throughout central Arkansas. Smith worked closely with the Arkansas Pharmacy Association in organizing the Legislative Health Fair in the State Capitol rotunda. She also planned and scheduled diabetes screenings, conducted by College of Pharmacy students, this spring at seven Little Rock area Walgreens drug stores.

Smith will give a presentation at the annual APhA meeting about the UAMS College of Pharmacy Heartburn Awareness Challenge Project.

Galiano, a second-year pharmacy student, has been appointed ASP student representative to the APhA Books and Electronic Products Editorial Advisory Board. For the past year, Galiano has been a member of the ASP National Publications Standing Committee.

Galiano redesigned the UAMS College of Pharmacy ASP chapter Web site.  In addition to the site’s announcements and general information for students, Galiano created a diabetes awareness page, an immunization awareness page, and a page devoted to information about Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs).

Galiano will give a presentation at the APhA annual meeting about how to design Web sites for student organizations in Colleges of Pharmacy.

Saunders, a third-year pharmacy student, will attend a meeting of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Council on Educational Affairs in Bethesda, Md., in September. She also will receive support from ASHP to attend the Mid-Year Clinical Meeting in December. The ASHP has five councils, each with one student member.

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