Student pharmacists from the University of South Carolina had the opportunity to build connections at the American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting and Exposition held in Nashville, Tennessee in March.
Jordan Ballou, interim associate dean for student affairs, serves as advisor for the college’s APhA Academy of Student Pharmacists chapter. She was excited to see more students from USC attend this year’s conference.
“The year before I became faculty advisor, we only had five students attend. To see that jump to 45 students for this year’s meeting was outstanding!” she says. “I was proud to watch them attend so many great sessions for their own professional development, network at receptions, engage with companies around the exhibit hall, and find great ideas to implement back here at our chapter."
Students who attended found even greater inspiration for their chosen careers:
“The energy is inspirational, and the connections and experiences made are invaluable. Attending and furthering my involvement in APhA-ASP is such an honor, and I hope that student pharmacists everywhere feel that same excitement I do about our profession while attending APhA.”
“Hearing stories from some of the most accomplished pharmacists in the country about ideas and relationships that started at these meetings and went on to change pharmacy was inspirational and made realize how lucky I was to attend this meeting and be a part of a bigger family of pharmacy.”
Noah Raganschmalz Pharm.D. Candidate, Class of 2027
“This experience was truly impactful, leaving me feeling more prepared and confident as I prepare to soon step into my role as President of the APhA-ASP chapter at the USC College of Pharmacy. Connecting with fellow students, pharmacists, and chapter leaders was both exciting and inspiring.”
A few highlights from this year’s conference:
- Our 2025 Outstanding Young Alumna, Kayce Shealy, '09, received the Distinguished Achievement Award in Pharmacy Practice, recognizing
an individual who has developed and/or implemented an innovative, original pharmacy
program or service, which is significant to their area of practice.
- Grace Thompson, Class of 2026, received the Hamilton, Harris, Tucker APhA–ASP Chapter President
Scholarship from the APhA Foundation and named to serve as 2025-26 chair for the National
Awards Standing Committee.
- Kendall Kerr, Class of 2025, received the Charles C. Thomas Scholarship from the APhA Foundation.
- Ph.D. candidate Abby Davies moderated two panel discussions on the pharmacists' role in reproductive health and
postdoctoral insights, in addition to presenting her research study on pharmacy-dentistry
partnerships to improve HPV vaccination.
- The USC APhA-ASP chapter was selected as a finalist in the Best Overall category of
the PharmFlix video competition.
- Student pharmacists, along with their advisors and professors held 12 poster presentations
covering topics such as:
- "Pharmacy-Dentistry Partnerships to Improve HPV Vaccination"
- "An Evaluation of a Pharmacist Led Chronic Condition Management Telehealth Program on Clinical Outcomes for Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus"
- "Evaluating web-based vaccine location finders for patients living in rural counties of South Carolina"
- "Financial threats and opportunities experienced by rural community pharmacies"
- "Impact of Pharmacist Interventions on Achievement of Blood Pressure Control at a
Federally Qualified Health Center within a Medically Underserved Area "
Topics: Pharm.D. Program, Research, Student Organizations