UF pharmacy students inspired Citrus County Girl Scouts to explore career interest and learn more about the pharmacy profession at the inaugural Girls Scouting Out Pharmacy event on Nov. 15.
More than 120 Girl Scouts, their parents and troop leaders were introduced to different pharmacy activities at the event. The girls were split into four groups and rotated through different activities led by UF pharmacy students, including a compounding lab, medication safety exercises, team-based learning trivia contests and a presentation on pharmacy careers. Parents were able to participate in a one-hour session led by UF faculty and students about the HPV vaccine and steps to apply to pharmacy school.
“Girl Scouts prepares young women to empower themselves and promotes compassion, confidence, character and leadership — many of the same qualities expected of a pharmacists,” said Dalena Nguyen, a third-year student and the women’s health campaign chair for the Orlando APhA-ASP chapter. “We hope this event inspires these Girl Scouts to consider a future career in pharmacy and consider the health care impact they can make in their communities and women’s health.”
Girls Scouting Out Pharmacy was organized by Nguyen, Samantha Winters and Aubrey Murphy, members of the Orlando American Pharmacists Association – Academy of Student Pharmacists, or APhA-ASP, chapter. The event coincided with APhA-ASP’s women’s health initiative to address health education needs of women across the country.
The Girl Scouts who completed all the pharmacy activities were presented a special patch during a ceremony at the end of the evening.