Pharmacy students travel across the state
LAWRENCE — Seventeen KU School of Pharmacy students will take a three-day trip across Kansas to visit 14 independent community pharmacies and their owners Jan 10-12.
Dean Ken Audus and Senior Associate Dean Gene Hotchkiss will accompany the students on the annual trip, sponsored by the KU Chapter of the National Community Pharmacists Association (KU–NCPA). NCPA is a professional pharmacy student organization that promotes independent pharmacy as a career option.
Hotchkiss, who serves as adviser to the group, said the visitation program strengthens relationships between pharmacy students and pharmacy owners in Kansas. The hope is that those connections will lead to transitions of ownership and a continuation of vital pharmacy care services to the people of Kansas.
“Independent community pharmacies are critical health care resources for rural communities,” Hotchkiss said. “In addition to traditional prescription services, they provide a broad scope of patient-centered pharmacy care services, including medication therapy management, medical supplies, durable medical equipment, oxygen and respiratory equipment.”
Students spend close to an hour at each location and speak with the owners on topics such as business management, customer relations, community service, quality of life as an independent practitioner and more.
This year’s group will make stops in Osage City, Emporia, El Dorado, Augusta, Hesston, Wichita, Hutchinson, Greensburg, Kinsley, Dodge City, Great Bend, Hoisington and Ellsworth.
Wednesday, Jan. 10
8:15 a.m. AuBurn Pharmacy, Osage City
10 a.m. Haag Pharmacy, Emporia
1 p.m. TrueCare Pharmacy, El Dorado
2:30 p.m. Cooper Drug Store, Augusta
4:30 p.m. Hesston Pharmacy, Hesston
Thursday, Jan. 11
8 a.m. CustomRx, Wichita
10 a.m. Hutchinson Drug Store, Hutchinson
2 p.m. Kiowa County Pharmacy, Greensburg
3:15 p.m. Kinsley Drug, Kinsley
4:30 p.m. Gibson's Pharmacy, Dodge City
Friday, Jan. 12
9:30 a.m. Medical Park Pharmacy, Great Bend
10:45 a.m. Cardinal Drug, Hoisington
1 p.m. Seitz Drug, Ellsworth
2 p.m. F&M Drug, Ellsworth.