The month of December is devoted to raising awareness about HIV/AIDS as World HIV/AIDS Day was held on December 1. As part of their effort to help increase understanding about the issues faced by those impacted with an HIV/AIDS diagnosis, the College of Pharmacy’s chapter of the Student National Pharmaceutical Association cosponsored an HIV/STI on-campus testing event last month. Pharmacy students partnered with CAN Community Health, University Health Services and the Infectious Diseases Student Interest Group at the UofSC School of Medicine Columbia.
Thirty-nine students received testing during the three-hour event, which was originally planned to launch last year but was canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions.
As one of the most readily accessible health care professionals, pharmacists hold a unique position to be able to engage in partnerships such as this to provide equitable care to potentially vulnerable populations.
Danny Schreiber Pharm.D. Candidate
Danny Schreiber, Class of 2024, serves as the HIV/AIDS Remember the Ribbon chair for SNPhA and helped to spearhead the event, noting the importance of pharmacy students to support such an event.
“It ensures care and services that may otherwise be inaccessible to students who have transportation barriers to free HIV and STI testing in Columbia or those students who have financial barriers that would prevent them from receiving usual testing from Student Health Services,” Schreiber says. “As one of the most readily accessible health care professionals, pharmacists hold a unique position to be able to engage in partnerships such as this to provide equitable care to potentially vulnerable populations.”
Topics: Student Organizations, Student Experience