Pharmacy students will travel the state to visit independent businesses
LAWRENCE — Sixteen students from the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy will join Dean Ken Audus and Senior Associate Dean Gene Hotchkiss on a three-day trip across Kansas to visit 15 independent pharmacies and their owners Jan. 10-12.
The annual trip is sponsored by the KU Chapter of the National Community Pharmacists Association (KU–NCPA), 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 can 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 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.
The group will make stops in Atchison, Holton, Manhattan, Clay Center, Concordia, Beloit, Osborne, Smith Center, Phillipsburg, Stockton, Russell, Salina, Hillsboro, Emporia and Topeka.
Itinerary: Jan. 10-12
Tuesday, Jan. 10
8:30 a.m. Kex Rx, 807 Main St., Atchison
10 a.m. Medical Pharmacy, 1100 Columbine Drive, Suite A, Holton
1 p.m. Dunne’s Pharmacy, 2429 Claflin Road, Manhattan
2:30 p.m. Patterson’s Health Mart, 422 Lincoln Ave., Clay Center
4:30 p.m. Funk Pharmacy, 1020 Elmhurst, Concordia
Wednesday, Jan. 11
8:30 a.m. S&S Drug, 101 S. Mill St., Beloit
10 a.m. Main Street Pharmacy, 103 Main Street, Osborne
11:30 a.m. Midwest Family Health Pharmacy, 317 US-36, Smith Center
1:15 p.m. Witmer Drug, 779 Third St., Phillipsburg
2:30 p.m. Stockton Pharmacy, 402 Main St., Stockton
4:30 p.m. Midwest Family Health Pharmacy, 725 N. Main St., Russell
Thursday, Jan. 12
8:30 a.m. B&K Prescription Shop, 601 E. Iron Ave, Salina
10:30 a.m. Greenhaw Pharmacy, 508 S. Ash St., Hillsboro
1:30 p.m. Medicine Shoppe, 1400 W. 12th Ave., Emporia
4 p.m. Jayhawk Pharmacy & Patient Supply, 2620 SW Sixth Ave., Topeka.
Photo: Matt Morrison of Gibson's Pharmacy in Dodge City gives a tour of his business to KU students in this 2016 photo.