American Pharmacists Association Student Chapter Earns Awards

At the 2025 APhA Annual Meeting, attended by Ole Miss pharmacy faculty, alumni and 55 student pharmacists, the School of Pharmacy’s Academy of Student Pharmacists chapter was recognized with two honors – the APhA-ASP Chapter Operational Leadership Award and the second runner-up award for Operation Heart.

The Chapter Operational Leadership Award recognizes the single chapter that has established a structural foundation and essential leadership necessary for successful chapter operations, including effective communication strategies among members, the integration of leadership or professional development opportunities for members and other successful operational strategies.

The UM chapter of APhA boasts three  fourth-year students who serve in national leadership roles: Cameron Buss, of Dyersburg, Tenn., serves on the Awards Standing Committee; Elaina Vitale, of Columbia, Ill., serves on the Policy Standing Committee; and Tanner Buse, of Saltillo, serves on the International Standing Committee.

Operation Heart is an APhA-ASP initiative launched in 2010 as part of the organization’s National Patient Care project. Through participation in Operation Heart, student pharmacists work in their communities to encourage lifestyle modifications, monitor associated risk factors and provide medications for heart disease.

Fourth-year student Elizabeth Jenkins, of Grenada, served as chair of last year’s Operation Heart Committee.

Chapter advisor Ha Phan said expressed admiration for the chapter, noting its creation of new events each year in the Jackson and Oxford communities, including health fairs, vaccine events and presentations at the Mississippi Children’s Museum.

“I’ve had a front row seat to the growth of our APhA chapter since becoming one of the Jackson campus advisors a few years ago,” Phan said. “The conference not only leaves me inspired as a pharmacist but also as an advisor, thanks to our students’ hard work and dedication to the profession.”

Other chapter advisors are Courtney Davis in Jackson and Joe Dikun and Kristen Pate in Oxford.