Students will travel the state to visit independent pharmacies
LAWRENCE — Eleven students from the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy will travel through rural areas of Kansas this week on their way to visit 10 independent pharmacies and their owners.
The annual trip is sponsored by KU–NCPA (National Community Pharmacists Association), a professional pharmacy student organization that promotes independent pharmacy as a career option for pharmacy students at KU. Each of the students, who will be on the road Wednesday, Jan. 8, and Thursday, Jan. 9, is interested in a career in independent, community pharmacy.
Group co-adviser and Senior Associate Dean Gene Hotchkiss coordinates this annual trip along with a second trip during spring break. He said the visitation program helps build 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 a critical health care resource for rural communities,” Hotchkiss said. “In many instances, in addition to traditional prescription services, they provide a broad scope of ancillary services, including medical supplies, durable medical equipment and respiratory support supplies, equipment and oxygen.”
KU School of Pharmacy Dean Ken Audus will accompany the group, which will make stops in Topeka, Manhattan, Clay Center, Concordia, Belleville, Beloit, Minneapolis, Salina, Hillsboro and Emporia.
The KU-NCPA chapter organizes several professional development and community service projects throughout the year. The group has earned Chapter of the Year honors from the NCPA parent organization on four different occasions.
Visitation schedule (times are approximate)
Wednesday, Jan. 8:
8:30 a.m.: Jayhawk Pharmacy, 2860 SW Missions Woods, Topeka
11 a.m.: Patterson’s HealthMart Pharmacy, 422 Lincoln, Clay Center
2 p.m.: Funk Pharmacy, 1020 Elmhurst, Concordia
3:15 p.m.: Arbuthnot Pharmacy, 1806 M St., Belleville
Thursday, Jan. 9
8 a.m.: S&S Drug, 110 S. Mill, Beloit
10 a.m.: City Pharmacy, 209 W. Second, Minneapolis
11:15 a.m.: B&K Pharmacy, 601 East Iron, Salina
2:15 p.m.: Greenhaw Pharmacy, 508 S. Ash, Hillsboro
4 p.m.: Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy, 1400 W. 12th, Emporia.