By performing more than 1,600 hours of service at 90 community events across the state last fall, University of Florida pharmacy students learned that the act of giving can also feel like a gift.
From offering free health care screenings to compiling donation kits, students across all three UF campuses helped address food insecurity, homelessness and illness throughout Florida.
“To allow yourself to step into the mindset of giving — and focusing on other people and not yourself — is so powerful,” said Jordan McIntire, a third-year student pharmacist at the Orlando UF campus, who is president of the student-run Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International, or CPFI.
McIntire led the Orlando chapter in applying for the national CPFI Hands and Feet Student Chapter Grant, which she used to build hygiene care packages for Orlando’s homeless community. The team put together 48 kits containing soap, toothbrushes, deodorant, hand sanitizer, hair brushes and combs to donate, along with some Bibles, to the Christian Service Center for the Homeless.
“From this experience, I truly learned how giving, in itself, is a gift,” McIntire said. “I hope that those who receive our kits will be able to see someone else’s kindness as a little light in their life, something they can hopefully use to keep going and to remind themselves that they are loved.”
Creating a statewide impact
Chardae Whitner, Pharm.D., a clinical assistant professor of pharmacy education and practice and the director of community engagement for the UF College of Pharmacy, said efforts like McIntire’s exemplify the college’s commitment to service and advocacy — educational pillars imparted to every student and trainee.
“By securing funding and organizing care packages, she not only met immediate needs but also raised awareness about health disparities among individuals experiencing homelessness,” Whitner said. “This initiative reflects the values we instill in our students: leadership, empathy and a dedication to improving health outcomes for communities with limited resources.”
Across the UF College of Pharmacy’s three campuses, students have lent their time and efforts to a range of community-centered activities.
In Gainesville, members of organizations such as the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, or ASCP, and the Student National Pharmaceutical Association, or SNPhA, visited St. Francis House to provide free blood pressure and blood glucose screenings to underserved patients through ASCP’s Brown Bag Community Health event. The Asian Student Pharmacists Coalition and the PediaGators joined forces to cook meals for children and families at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of North Central Florida.
Under Whitner’s guidance, Jacksonville students partnered with the Florida Department of Health in Duval County to administer vaccinations during a community health fair, as well as educate mothers at a community baby shower about the importance of maintaining healthy blood pressure. The Great Diaper Dash, sponsored by the Diaper Bank for Northeast Florida, saw PediaGator members wrapping 6,950 diapers for 139 babies.
In Orlando, students participated in the Heart of Florida United Way Thanksgiving Packing Party, helping prepare 6,000 meals for families throughout Central Florida. Students also joined Harbor House, a domestic violence shelter in Apopka, for a Trunk or Treat event featuring pharmacy-themed activities and games to provide a fun, uplifting evening for survivors of domestic abuse.
“We want students to see themselves as catalysts for change within the profession,” Whitner said. “Through these experiences, they learn that even small actions can strengthen their ability to deliver patient-centered care and address health disparities.”
Expanded offerings coming to Gainesville
Whitner said her team is working to expand collaborations with Gainesville-area community partners this year to bolster the college’s impact in greater Alachua County.
Together with the Food is Medicine Program, led by Pastor Gerard Duncan, pharmacy students and faculty will provide educational sessions for community members managing chronic conditions and experiencing food insecurity. The sessions will focus on the intersection of nutrition and disease state management, paired with medication education, to empower individuals to improve their overall health.
“These opportunities help students develop awareness, empathy and communication skills that are essential for pharmacists,” Whitner said. “Our goal is for graduates to enter practice with a mindset that integrates clinical expertise with community engagement, ensuring they advocate for improved health outcomes for all.”