Learning by heart

APhA-ASP Chapter's Operation Heart Initiative Brings Awareness of Cardiovascular Disease Risks, Prevention to Community

When it comes to matters of the heart, Pharm.D. student members of the UHCOP Chapter of the American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) stand out for their dedication and community service.

One of the chapter's ongoing programs advocated by the national APhA-ASP organization is the Operation Heart Initiative. In this initiative, APhA-ASP members encourage the community to improve and maintain cardiovascular health through wellness screenings and education on lifestyle modifications, adherence to prescribed heart medications, and monitoring for risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease.

The UHCOP APhA-ASP Chapter's activities during the 2022-23 academic year were so successful that the chapter was recognized with the Operation Heart Award for Region VI at the 2023 APhA-ASP Midyear Regional Meeting Nov. 3-5 in Washington, D.C.

During the Mayor’s Back 2 School Festival (MB2SF) at the George R. Brown Convention Center in August 2022, Operation Heart initiative members engaged with 7,500 children and adults to provide awareness and education on cardiovascular disease with a focus on prevention.

Pharm.D. student Merlyn Varghese, who served as the initiative junior chair during Fall 2022-Spring 2023, said that the MB2SF was the most rewarding event in which she participated.

"I was not only able to screen individuals for their blood pressure but also able to converse with them about simple strategies that they could implement to help lower their blood pressure, incorporate healthy lifestyle changes, and ultimately, protect their cardiovascular health," Varghese said.

During the MB2SF, students also conducted different activities, such as prediabetic and vaccination assessments, blood pressure screening, education about continuous blood glucose monitoring and child-friendly games. 

Interestingly, students found that 65% of patients were at risk of developing hypertension and approximately 30% lacked knowledge about hypertension.

Pharm.D. student May Vorarath, who served has the 2022-2023 senior chair and the chapter's vice-president of patient care, was drawn to participate to the initiative at least partly because of how prevalent cardiovascular disease is in the U.S. population. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one person dies every 33 seconds in the U.S. from cardiovascular disease. The root cause of cardiovascular disease often can be traced back to poor diet, smoking, alcohol consumption and lack of physical activity.

"The initiative's dedication to community outreach, education, and raising awareness about heart-related issues resonated with my passion for public health and preventive care," Vorarath said.

During February's American Heart Month in 2022, students of the Operation Heart initiative orchestrated a steps competition to "ignite the spirit of healthy living." Participants recorded their daily step count using wearable fitness trackers or a mobile application and competed to achieve individual goals during the month of February. The participants logged an astounding 3.6 million steps, which is about 1,500 miles (equivalent to a round trip between Houston and Mexico City)!

They also constructed educational posters highlighting unique heart risks and challenges faced by women, structural problems in the heart that are present at birth, and the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation, to name a few.

For Vorarath, engaging in events like the steps competition and actively participating in outreach events are integral steps in her journey to provide exceptional patient care as a practicing pharmacist.

"I am refining my interpersonal and communication skills and honing my ability to connect with diverse individuals," Vorarath said. "These events provide a real-world understanding of public health challenges, and the role pharmacists play in preventive care."

The multifaceted approach to raising awareness and educating the community during American Heart Month provided her with an opportunity to listen to the concerns of patients and encourage them to take care of themselves, Vorarath said.

According to the APhA-ASP, pharmacists are the public’s most accessible health care provider and play a significant role in prevention and management of cardiovascular disease.

"These experiences have also allowed me to acquire team-building skills and vital soft skills necessary to become an effective leader as a future pharmacist," Varghese said. "Working alongside several team members, conducting health screenings, and organizing informational booths have conclusively allowed me to gain skills necessary to continue promoting public health, all of which are crucial qualities of a well-rounded pharmacist."

— Elias Lilienfeld