The UH chapter of National Community Pharmacists Association was awarded second place for the National Chapter of the Year and the Trade Exposition during the annual National Community Pharmacists Association Convention in San Diego.
NCPA focuses on developing community leadership and community-oriented public health projects in the pharmaceutical field.
“The UH chapter of the NCPA is growing at a tremendous rate on the local and national level,” said chapter president Tam Khac Nguyen. “Whether they are interested in starting their own pharmacy, working for an independent or in pharmacy management, the NCPA can provide members with invaluable experience and guidance to help them succeed.”
The chapter went from finishing in the top 10 in 2011 to second place this year under the leadership of third year pharmacy doctoral student and former president Bobby Clay.
“As president, I wanted to bring something different to our organization that no other college of pharmacy organization was doing,” Clay said. “To make it to the top 10, chapters go up against 90 chapters and must have innovated and diverse events, as well as consistent impacts on the students as well as the community.”
Clay created the NCPA professional development series, a program intended for students to develop skills through workshops by visiting some of the top pharmacies in Texas and talking with the owners.
In addition to the chapters accomplishments, several members were acknowledged for their own achievements.
“The UH NCPA chapter currently has two students holding positions on the national Student Leadership council — Zeke Medina, SLC president and Clay, SLC Junior Member,” Nguyen said.
Third year pharmacy student and NPCA member Danielle Stifter was among students recognized as Outstanding Chapter Members of the Year.
“I am extremely humbled and honored beyond words,” Stifter said. “We all put an enormous amount of effort into becoming one of the top three chapters in the nation, and I strove to serve my position to the best of my ability.”
Clay also received a national presidential scholarship from the NCPA Foundation during the convention.
“Through our efforts, students really connected with the chapter and helped propel us into the number two spot in the nation, garnering recognition for our college and for the University of Houston,” Clay said. “We want students across the country to see that UH College of Pharmacy provides an environment for growth and development.”
