With cold and flu season underway, we each have a role in keeping ourselves and our communities healthy, and Homecoming is a great time to do it. Administering vaccines is one of the first skills student pharmacists learn.
On October 3, 2026, second-year (P2) students from Chapman University School of Pharmacy (CUSP) put that training to use at the school’s annual free Flu Shot and Health Screening booth during Chapman’s Homecoming Tailgate, welcoming alumni, students, families, and community members to the Orange campus.
Over 100 Free Flu Shots, Sponsored by City of Hope
This year’s booth was organized by CUSP students Tanner Lo and Emily Nguyen through CUSP’s chapter of APhA/CPhA (American/California Pharmacy Association). CUSP faculty member Dr. Albert Bach coordinated a sponsorship from City of Hope, which made it possible to give more than 100 flu shots to the community at no cost. Next door, APEx students staffed a CUSP activity booth where attendees could learn about our school and spin a wheel to win CUSP swag.
Tanner explains why events like this matter: “In the classroom, you learn all about the therapeutics, the drugs, and how it works but you don’t always get to practice your knowledge. Being able to host events like this is a win-win for the community and for us as students. It gives us a real chance to start making an impact on people’s lives.”
Community Outreach Builds Skills Beyond the Classroom
Community involvement is central to improving healthcare for everyone, and CUSP has offered free vaccines to the community since 2021. For student pharmacists, these vaccine clinics also build skills that can’t be taught in a lecture hall.
As Tanner puts it, “Interacting with community members is an experience the classroom cannot teach you. Engaging with people outside a clinical setting requires far more than just medical knowledge. It relies on trust, empathy, and understanding who people are.”
Pharmacists: Accessible, Trusted Healthcare Leaders
Pharmacists are among the most accessible healthcare professionals, available at any pharmacy without an appointment. Their clinical expertise is valuable, and so is the personal connection they build with patients. Tanner says, “At CUSP, we are trained to view pharmacists not just as medication experts, but as accessible, trustworthy healthcare leaders. The best part of our work as future pharmacists is having the platform and capability to provide critical health resources directly to our community.”
For Tanner, outreach has shaped how he sees the profession. “Participating in these outreach events redefines what pharmacy practice means to me. It moves patient care beyond the counter and proves that serving a community is an active and continuous commitment to health equity and accessibility. Ultimately, I find my deepest fulfillment and purpose in serving patients directly.”
Training the Pharmacists Our Communities Need
CUSP and its students are committed to improving healthcare for everyone in the community, and we’re grateful they chose to spend Homecoming weekend giving back. Our Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) students receive thorough training in every aspect of pharmacy practice. Their initiative in volunteering at clinics like this one reflects the kind of pharmacists people need: caring, committed, and passionate about their work.
Interested in becoming a pharmacist? Learn more about the Pharm.D. program at Chapman University School of Pharmacy.
