Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy Outreach Highlights

In South Texas, the inaugural class of more than 70 students at the HSC-Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy on the campus of Texas A&M University-Kingsville has taken a leading role in numerous public health projects, said Mary Chavez, Pharm.D., chair and professor of pharmacy practice at the college.

For example, students assisted with first aid at an American Heart Walk and the sixth annual Breast Cancer Walk/Run in Kingsville, helped build houses for Habitat for Humanity, distributed food at local food banks, and aided community pharmacy-based immunization clinics, community pharmacy health fairs, rehabilitation centers and the HSC-Coastal Bend Health Education Center at Corpus Christi. They also checked blood pressure; conducted physical exams; performed urine tests for pregnancy, glucose, proteins, nitrogen and leukocyte levels; and obtained swabs for AIDS testing at a family planning clinic.

In addition, a Kingsville nursing home received HSC-COP student support in grooming residents and coordinating birthdays and other celebrations, and they lended a hand to an outpatient physical therapy clinic during the CHRISTUS Spohn Kleberg Health Fair, conducted diabetic screening and blood pressure checks, and distributed educational materials. Pharmacy students performed patient check-in and discharge, scheduling and escort to examination rooms at a local physician's office and enrolled individuals in a community prescription assistance program, Dr. Chavez said.

"This first group of students has a real pioneering spirit," Dr. Chavez said. "These future pharmacists have seen the impact they can make in public health, and they will have greater opportunities to do so once they're out on their own. I've had people calling and asking for our students' assistance, which has brought strong recognition to our college."