AHEC Scholars Conference Award Program Winners
The AHEC Scholars Conference Award Program (AS-CAP) is a grant designed to provide AHEC Scholar students the opportunity to obtain funding to attend a professional or academic conference in his or her field of study. The maximum award is $500 and does not include meals, memberships or additional conference costs.
This past year, five AHEC Scholars were awarded scholarships to attend professional conferences. AHEC Scholars Conference Award Program winners were recently asked about how they benefitted from the AS-CAP program and provided the comments below.
Angela Nguyen, Pharmacy student, Ferris State University:
It was with great honor to represent Ferris State University through my poster presentation titled "Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Telemedicine Antibiotic Prescribing in Michigan" at the 57th ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting. This trip was made in efforts to continually achieve my objective of becoming a well-rounded PGY1 residency candidate, and ultimately, to become a critical care pharmacist following with adult patients on a surgical intensive critical care ward.
This process from the start of creating the IRB application to the end where I am presenting my nuanced conclusions in the convention hall in front of an audience has developed my interprofessional collaboration, leadership, and communication skills. Research in of itself is never to be without trifle so I had to learn to effectively communicate as the lead research investigator in a manner that would be receptive to solve all the problems that had arisen.
Beyond my research, I was able to gather more nuanced information on the programs that I am interested in by speaking directly to the residency program directors and current residents at the residency showcases. Throughout those two days interacting with possible future employers, I grew professionally as I earnestly attempted to transition from a student to self-aware resident candidate. Lastly, I hope to continue to help grow the profession because attending this meeting has taught me that we must advocate for the pharmacy changes that we deem to be necessary.
Maria Gonzalez, Pharmacy student, Ferris State University:
The AHEC Scholars Conference Scholarship has greatly assisted my professional development as a student pharmacist. It will allow me to attend the American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting and Exposition this March in Arizona, one of the biggest pharmacy conferences in the country. During the conference, I will lead a presentation geared toward students involved in international events.
Veronica Mills, Pharmacy student, Ferris State University:
I used this scholarship to help cover the costs of attendance to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Midyear Clinical Meeting. This meeting is where all the pharmacy residencies from around the country come for students to meet them and learn more information about their programs. As a fourth-year pharmacy student I am interested in many different residencies around the country, so this was an amazing opportunity to get to speak with the program directors and current residents. I plan to do a residency to further my clinical skills and be a well-rounded pharmacist. This meeting took place in Las Vegas from December 4th to the 8th, 2022.
Kiara Torres Garcia, Pharmacy student, Ferris State University:
The 2023 APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition will be held on March 24-27th, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. This meeting will provide health education, engaging networking opportunities, and extensive resources for pharmacists across the nation. Events focused on Pain Management, Social Determinants of Health, Health Disparities, Medication Therapy Management and Pharmacy-based Test and Treat are among the topics that will be discussed at the convention. Attending this meeting will allow me to grow as a professional and learn how to work better with underserved communities in rural or urban practices. It will also give me some of the foundation tools I would need to direct my future path as a soon to be graduated pharmacist who is passionate about working with these communities. In order to experience such an enriching opportunity, overcoming the financial barrier that comes with attending an in-person meeting is a big priority, especially as a student. The AHEC Scholars Conference Scholarship will ease some of the financial burden that comes with flight, hotel and meal expenses. I am truly thankful to the AHEC Scholars Program for choosing me as one of the recipients.
Alexandria Ballard Sims was also awarded a scholarship to a professional conference this year--please see her story in our AHEC Scholars Spotlight in this issue of the AHEC Scholars Newsletter.
Year 1 AHEC Scholars have until January 31, 2023 to submit an application for the Scholars Conference Award Program. The application form is on the Moodle site.
To find out more about AS-CAP, e-mail: AHECScholars@wayne.edu