October 25, 2018 | Downers Grove, IL

Members of Midwestern University’s Chicago College of Pharmacy Chapter of APhA-ASP stand with the Mayor of Downers Grove, Martin T. Tully.

The Village of Downers Grove recently proclaimed October as American Pharmacist Month. Students from Midwestern University's chapter of the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) worked with the Village to develop a public statement recognizing the importance of the pharmacy profession.

The Honorable Mayor Martin T. Tully of Downers Grove delivered the proclamation at the Village Council meeting on Tuesday, October 9, 2018. Third-year Chicago College of Pharmacy student, Kelly Moran, APhA-ASP President, accepted the proclamation on behalf of the organization and Midwestern University. "The purpose of this proclamation is to recognize the service of pharmacists to the community. Pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare professionals and can provide health screenings, immunizations, and medication therapy management among many other services," Ms. Moran said during the Council meeting.  

Ms. Moran also informed the Council about a student-run opioid overdose education and training program called Nalox-Now. "We felt that it was our responsibility as student pharmacists to provide education and medications that can help combat the opioid epidemic. We started by training security, staff, and students at Midwestern University on how to properly identify overdose, engage in an action plan, and administer the reversal drug, naloxone. Looking ahead, we plan on expanding our Nalox-Now training program and increasing education and awareness of opioid overdose in our community," she added.

Midwestern University's Chicago College of Pharmacy graduates approximately 160 qualified pharmacists each year who practice in a variety of healthcare settings. The College is dedicated to training compassionate, patient-centered pharmacists who have an important role in the healthcare team.