From campus to the capitol: UF College of Pharmacy advocates make an impact at Legislative Days

University of Florida College of Pharmacy faculty and students traveled to Tallahassee on Jan. 11 for the annual Florida Pharmacy Legislative Days and Health Fair. The event, which included student representatives from all three campuses in Gainesville, Jacksonville and Orlando, served as a platform for amplifying the voice of pharmacy in the state capital and showcasing the health services that pharmacists provide to Floridians.

Shane Abbott at Pharmacy Legislative Days 2024
State Representative Shane Abbott, a practicing pharmacist and 1998 graduate of the UF College of Pharmacy, met with faculty and students during the 2024 Pharmacy Legislative Days in Tallahassee.

The UF delegation engaged with lawmakers and policymakers in addressing critical issues confronting pharmacists and higher education. State representatives Shane Abbott, ’98, and Gallop Franklin, both practicing pharmacists, graciously took time to meet with the Gator pharmacists. The meetings provided an invaluable opportunity for meaningful discussions about pharmacy practice and offered students a firsthand perspective of state government in action.

In addition to their advocacy efforts, UF pharmacy students joined other pharmacy students from around the state in hosting a health fair at the Florida Capitol Building. The fair showcased the types of care that pharmacists can provide.