Pharmacy student org recognized for service, achievement

South Dakota State University’s Student Collaboration for the Advancement and Promotion of Pharmacy has again been recognized for excellence in service and achievement at this year’s American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting.

The American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists announced that the SDSU student organization had been selected as the first runner-up in the AAA division for its chapter achievement report for the 2024-2025 academic year.

According to current chapter president Maggie Kamnikar, SDSU’s Student Collaboration for the Advancement and Promotion of Pharmacy has been honored with this achievement previously in 2023-2024 and 2021-2022. The chapter also won first runner-up in the AA division for its chapter achievement report for the 2022-2023 academic year.

Chapters compete for 17 different achievement awards tied to the mission of the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists, including member engagement, community impact and collaboration with healthcare organizations. SDSU’s extensive chapter achievement report, written and submitted annually, was used by the association to evaluate the student organization’s achievement.

According to Kamnikar, the national organization, when announcing the award, highlighted the SDSU chapter’s activities around student member recruitment, advocacy during Legislative Days, and providing medication reviews for guests of the Bishop Dudley House in Sioux Falls.

“It was such an amazing experience to see our chapter be recognized on the national level at the APhA Annual Meeting,” Kamnikar said. “It would not have been possible without our dedicated executive board, committee chairs and members who absolutely deserve this honor, and I am so excited to see what they will do in the future.”

These service activities, however, are just a small portion of the members’ overall efforts. The 2024-2025 chapter achievement report was more than 150 pages long, and Student Collaboration for the Advancement and Promotion of Pharmacy members provided more than 350 patient screenings and interacted with more than 800 individuals through community education events.

The SDSU group also was recognized with a regional award.

The chapter was again recognized for its work advancing Operation Heart in Region 5. Operation Heart is the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists’ national community care project focused on cardiac health. It offers student pharmacists opportunities to provide cardiac health and other wellness screenings and conduct community education about heart health. The SDSU students were specifically recognized for their collaborative screening and education work with the South Dakota Cardiovascular Collaborative.

“Our pharmacy student organization continues to be recognized for their excellent work each year” said Alex Middendorf, associate professor of pharmacy practice and co-adviser for the student organization. “SCAPP contributes to key public health programs and thus magnifies the impact they can have on communities across South Dakota.”