The 2025 American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists Midyear Clinical Meeting and Exhibition, or ASHP Midyear, saw a strong turnout from the University of Florida College of Pharmacy this Dec. 8-12 in New Orleans.
Of the 1,900 student posters accepted at the meeting, 50 were developed by UF pharmacy students, placing the UF College of Pharmacy in the top five of all pharmacy colleges nationally for the total number of student posters at the meeting.
ASHP Midyear is the largest professional pharmacy conference in the nation, with more than 20,000 attendees, making it the ideal environment for pharmacy Gators to network with colleagues, share their research, and learn about professional development opportunities.
Inas Mahdi, a student at the UF College of Pharmacy’s Jacksonville campus, said sharing her research poster, titled “Exploring the Distribution of Community-Based Pharmacy Residency Programs in Medically Underserved Areas and Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas,” inspired her to continue her work aimed at highlighting opportunities for expanding pharmacy services in underserved communities.
“Having my research accepted at the ASHP Midyear meeting is an incredible milestone,” Mahdi said.” It reinforces the importance of addressing health care disparities and inspires me to keep advocating for underserved populations through my work in pharmacy. This experience has strengthened my commitment to making a meaningful impact in patient care.”
Steven Olmo, a UF pharmacy student at the Orlando campus, said that in addition to sharing his work, “Artificial Intelligence for Pharmacy Information and Education,” his favorite part of the meeting was the opportunity to connect with his fellow students and professionals from around the globe.
“Seeing old and new faces and meeting people I had previously only met online was an exciting experience,” Olmo said. “This kind of collaboration is essential for exchanging knowledge, fostering innovation, and pushing the profession forward in a positive way.”
Gainesville-based UF pharmacy student Abimael Velez shared his research poster, “Is it a Win-win? Student Perceptions on the Benefits of a Skills Lab Teaching Assistant Program,” and received invaluable advice during the meeting from seasoned pharmacists who spoke from experience on topics like navigating career paths, clinical practice, and leadership development.
“Hearing their stories of success and resilience underscored the potential we have as students to leave a lasting impact on the field,” Velez said. “These conversations not only inspired me to embrace challenges with confidence, but they also solidified my commitment to becoming a pharmacist leader who mentors others in the future. This blend of meaningful connections and mentorship made the meeting an unforgettable and transformative experience.”
