Joshua Imhof | news editor

Pharmacy professor Libby Barton wanted to create an event that helped the community and brought university pharmaceutical organizations together as a student before graduating from Duquesne and getting a doctorate in pharmacy.

From this idea came the Duquesne School of Pharmacy Health and Wellness Fair, which entered its 12th year Wednesday. The first health fair was hosted at the Allegheny County Courthouse, but the annual event is now hosted in Mellon Square in Downtown Pittsburgh, which is a testament to its growth.

“Since then, it’s really cool to see it grow as big as it has,” Barton said. “It’s gotten to be like a great school pharmacy event that all of our student organizations can come and provide information and patient care services.”

Organizations such as the American Pharmacists Association, Student National Pharmaceutical Association and American Society of Consultant Pharmacists all came out to table at the event and provided educational materials and outreach.

The American Pharmacists Association, who hosted the event, had six booths that included information about topics like diabetes, body mass index, substance abuse disorders and more.

They also handed out hygiene bags, which included basic toiletries and other supplies.

Organization president and pharmacy graduate student Madelyn Young said this table was popular among visitors.

“They go pretty quickly usually. We get a good amount of foot traffic over here,” Young said.

The event was open to everyone, but Young said that a main focus is to provide information and supplies to those who can’t afford to go to a doctor or pharmacist. In addition to the booths, the event had a private vaccination booth where attendees could get flu and COVID-19 shots.

She said she felt that socioeconomic status should not determine the type of care a person receives.

“Even if these patients are at such a disadvantage and they can’t afford their healthcare, they are still invested in themselves,” Young said. “That’s what today is about.”

Tabling at the event and interacting with community members is important for pharmacy students’ education, said Autumn Stewart-Lynch, Duquesne pharmacy professor and American Pharmacists Association co-adviser.

“Pharmacists have such an important role in our communities, whether it be practicing in a community pharmacy or in a hospital or in a doctor’s office clinic, we have such an important role as part of the healthcare team,” Stewart-Lynch said.

Amalia Martin agreed.

“It really takes us and puts us outside of the campus to directly assist,” said Martin, who is president of the Student National Pharmaceutical Association.

Pharmacy graduate student Matthew Marrico said that this exposure to all kinds of patients is important.

He and fellow pharmacy graduate student Benjamin Towers ran a table that educated people about medication disposal. They handed out pill disposal packets and had a medication safety jeopardy game that quizzed attendees on the information they had just learned.

“A lot of times you have to handle parents who do have substance dependency, and it’s in your best interest to learn being judgmental has no place in pharmacy or healthcare,” Marrico said. “It’s good to be educated to provide the best care.”

Some tables at the event also catered toward senior citizens and those who care for them.

Tony Goldenbaum, graduate student and member of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, ran a table that provided information about common issues facing geriatric patients and difficulties that they face when receiving care.

Obstacles like having reliable transportation to go to appointments, not having a strong support network and financial difficulties can all contribute to a senior citizen not receiving care, something Goldenbaum said is important for pharmacists to be educated on.

“Education is empowerment,” he said. “The more that they know and can self monitor their risk factors, the more prone they are to reach out.”

Students interested in joining a pharmaceutical organization can find information about them on Campus Link.

Josh Imhof can be reached at imhofj@duq.edu