SNPhA Shines in City of Angels

UHCOP Chapter Takes Near-Sweep of National Initiative Awards, Top 2 Spots in Clinical Skills Competition

August 28 — The University of Houston College of Pharmacy Chapter of the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) claimed multiple honors at the SNPhA National Conference Aug. 9-12 in Los Angeles, including a near-sweep of the eight possible National Initiative Awards, the top two places in the Clinical Skills Competition, and five national scholarships.

Besting its 2023 award tally, the chapter won seven of eight possible National Initiative Awards this year. The chapter's 2023-24 winning initiatives and leaders were:

• Operation Immunization – Aniqa Virani and Brandy Tran
• Project Keepsake (chronic kidney disease awareness) – Harris Nguyen and Mariam Amanullah
• Mental Health – Cynthia Ma and Jennifer Hoang
• Fighting Diabetes – Julia Bui and Rebecca Gonzalez
• Power to End Stroke – Anh Pham and Katy Huynh
• Bridging the Gap – Andy Dang, Duy Nguyen, Michael Crichlow and Alyssa Kuhiwat (representing the chapter's Prepharmacy Association Liaisons and Community Outreach Initiative)
• Remember the Ribbon (HIV/AIDS education) – Jasmine Malhotra and Victoria Briggs

A ninth national initiative is expected to be considered by the national executive board, thanks to Pharm.D. candidate Ashlyn Pulliam successfully defending a chapter resolution in the organization's house of delegates at the national conference to establish "Combating Cancer" as a new initiative.

In the Kroger Clinical Skills Competition, Pharm.D. candidates Pulliam and Van Vo took the title, while Pharm.D. candidate Josiah Willingham and third-year Pharm.D. student Harris Nguyen secured second place.

Third-year student Ogechi Ngwakwe was recognized among the Top 6 AstraZeneca MSL Competition finalists.

The chapter also was among the Top 3 Large Chapter of the Year category finalists, and finished third in the National Scrapbook Competition.

Five SNPhA members received scholarship at the conference:

• Albertsons Community Pharmacy Scholarship – Briggs
• Barry Bleidt Endowed Scholarship – Pharm.D. candidate Connie Lau
• Rite Aid Leadership Award – Willingham
• Kroger Endowed Scholarship – Ngwakwe
• Sharmaine Cubelo Book Award – Third-year student Gia Tran