This summer, three student pharmacists shaped the future of healthcare in the nation’s capital as part of the Summer Leadership Institute (SLI).

Hosted by the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), CUSP students Elena Wu (Vice President of Patient Care), Harvey Duong (OCPhA/CPhA Liaison), and Tien Dinh (APhA-ASP Regional Delegate) attended this year’s SLI, where their ideas, voices, and advocacy efforts left a lasting impression.

This weekend conference prepares rising APhA chapter officers for their leadership roles in leading their chapters to a year of success. At this conference, pharmacy students from across the nation attend a series of educational workshops focused on leadership skill development, networking between chapters, and engage with their U.S. Representatives and Senators at Capitol Hill.

Chapman students stood out not only for their professionalism but also for their genuine passion for patient safety and making pharmacy accessible. Wu, Duong, and Dinh all recalled David Stollman’s “Recruitment Bootcamp” workshop as especially impactful and took his discussions to heart. “Stollman’s workshop focused on how to recruit students in a more personal and meaningful way. He encouraged us to build real connections with the key message to recruit with purpose, not pressure.”

While in D.C., the students spoke with policymakers and listened in on deliberations for pharmacy-related legislation. They met with congressional staffers from the offices of Congressman Derek Tran, Congressman J. Luis Correa, and Congresswoman Young Kim to advocate for two items:

  • H.R. 3164: Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act (ECAPS), which would enable pharmacists to be reimbursed as non-physician providers under Medicare Part B for test-and-treat services of RSV, COVID-19, influenza, and strep throat. 
  • PBM Reform Act, which would improve transparency of costs, reduce patient costs, and protect independent pharmacies.

“What made this experience especially meaningful was being surrounded by student leaders who share a deep commitment to the advancement of the profession,” recalls Dinh. All three students shared that attending SLI grew them immensely as emerging pharmacy professionals and noted that the chance to connect with other student pharmacy leaders and guest lecturers was invaluable.

At CUSP, our students steer the future of healthcare by being civically engaged and by interacting with patients early in their studies, which affects their future career, patient care, and pharmacy as an industry. Interested in earning your Doctor of Pharmacy at Chapman University? Learn more about kickstarting an impactful career with our accelerated program.