January 16, 2021 | Glendale, AZ

Student pharmacist Acacia Akiona (CPG 2022) helped prepare COVID-19 vaccine shots at the Arizona State Fairgrounds Banner POD in December 2020.

Students from the College of Pharmacy, Glendale Campus (CPG) at Midwestern University are joining the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic battle by volunteering to help prepare and distribute COVID-19 vaccines. 

More than 50 Midwestern University pharmacy students have taken opportunities to participate in the vaccination process at their national clinical rotation sites and at Points of Distribution (POD) around Arizona. From patient intake and information, transport of the vaccine, and reconstitution, to pre-filling syringes and vaccine administration, CPG students are eager to put their knowledge and skills to work to serve the community.

Students Elaine Tan (CPG 2021) and Alex Nguyen (CPG 2021) volunteered at Yale New Haven Hospital, their rotation site in Connecticut, preparing and delivering vaccines. “More information comes out each day, and we know we can beat this pandemic. We can take this information and use it to educate and calm the community,” says Ms. Tan. Mr. Nguyen, meanwhile, found the chance to be on the vanguard of an unprecedented healthcare challenge inspiring: “I want to be a pioneer in healthcare, one of the first to handle such a monumental vaccine, and to be a critical piece to fighting this pandemic.”

Acacia Akiona (CPG 2022), Pharmcorp Chair of Midwestern University’s Beta Rho Chapter of the Kappa Epsilon national pharmacy fraternity, volunteered at a Banner Health POD at the Arizona State Fairgrounds in December 2020, drawing up doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for the Phase 1A rollout during the busy holiday season. “I wanted to volunteer to have the opportunity to work with the vaccine directly and to help where I knew I could,” she says.

“I thought this was a gratifying experience because I could give back and help the healthcare providers who have worked tirelessly since the beginning of the pandemic,” agrees Thuy Huynh (CPG 2023), who helped prepare over a thousand COVID vaccines per day at the Banner Health POD. “As a Midwestern University student, I’m proud to be part of this event and contribute to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.” 

“We are an institution that has a long and proud tradition of strongly supporting community service. Volunteerism is encouraged, admired, and represents our mission,” says Kathleen H. Goeppinger, Ph.D., President and CEO of Midwestern University. “I believe as a healthcare community we can play a part in bringing a healthier community together – one vaccination at a time.”

Student pharmacist Alex Nguyen (CPG 2021) volunteered to help prepare COVID-19 immunizations at his rotation site at Yale New Haven Health in Connecticut.

Student pharmacist Elaine Tan (CPG 2021) has helped deliver COVID-19 vaccines at her rotation site at Yale New Haven Health in Connecticut and at the Banner Health POD at the Arizona State Fairgrounds.

Student pharmacist Thuy Huynh (CPG 2023) was part of a team that prepared over 1,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses per day at Banner Health’s POD at the Arizona State Fairgrounds.