Students Provide Free Diabetes Screenings to Shoppers

During the month of November, Northeast Ohio Medical University’s American Pharmacist Association-Academy of Students Pharmacist (APhA-ASP) offered three events to provide diabetes education and blood glucose screening to the members of local communities.

The events took place at three different sites: CVS Pharmacy in Ravenna, Marc’s Pharmacy in Ravenna, and Rootstown Community Pharmacy on campus in the NEOMED Education and Wellness (NEW) Center.

Knowledgeable and hardworking pharmacists and pharmacy students collaborated in the screening of diabetic patients.

The short-term and long-term results were aimed at improving the quality of life for the screened diabetic patients. Our actions were also convenient and economically beneficial for the community members, since the free diabetes screening was available while these patients were shopping for groceries.

It is our pleasure to serve our community and our patients to the best of our ability.

In addition to the diabetes screening, we had the opportunity to interact with patients and hear their stories.

We had a special patient who recognized NEOMED students right away. She expressed how happy she was by seeing us out in the community providing the diabetes screening and said, “I pray for each of you to become successful pharmacists and physicians.”

Her words were truly sincere and she was full of energy and love. I am more than thankful.

I would like to thank each of our preceptors, Fady Abdlrasul, Pharm.D.; Abbey Agler, Pharm.D. BCPS; and Bethany Saris, R.Ph.; for their effort and support to each student and patient.

— Mairim Avila, a second-year College of Pharmacy student, contributed this reflection.