pharmacist volunteering

[pharmwannebe2]

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I really want to volunteer as a pharmacist after I graduate. Give back to the community...you know. Anyways, I was always interested in doing doctors without boarders because I thought that a pharmacist can just give a little time (like a vacation period) to go around america and help the uninsured. But I have a feeling after I graduate everyone is going to have health insurance....and now that i am looking at the website, it looks like they don't do volunteering for people in america but other countries.

Do you know of anywhere where pharmacists can volunteer. I know there is the reserve corp which I am currently in. But do you guys know of anything else that is like a few days of volunteering. Also if a mistake is made (hopefully not)....is there any sort of liability or safety net.

 

[PumpkinSmasher]

I really want to volunteer as a pharmacist after I graduate. Give back to the community...you know. Anyways, I was always interested in doing doctors without boarders because I thought that a pharmacist can just give a little time (like a vacation period) to go around america and help the uninsured. But I have a feeling after I graduate everyone is going to have health insurance....and now that i am looking at the website, it looks like they don't do volunteering for people in america but other countries.

Do you know of anywhere where pharmacists can volunteer. I know there is the reserve corp which I am currently in. But do you guys know of anything else that is like a few days of volunteering. Also if a mistake is made (hopefully not)....is there any sort of liability or safety net.

I know a couple pharmacists who work at a Free Community Health Clinic a few hours a week in the evening. A couple pharmacists in my town host a monthly brown bag at a local retirement homes. If you stay in touch with your pharmacy school you could volunteer to precept students at health screenings and brown bags put on by the school in various locations.

I interned at one store where the pharmacist had a few patients where he went to their homes once and a while to check up on their diabetes management and make sure everything was going well in general. It is a once and a while thing he does for a few elderly patients but they love him for it and it gives him a lot of satisfaction.

You could volunteer to give lecture series of various health topics to local high school health classes. High school health teachers love people to come in and do their job for them, can't blame them. My health teacher in high school brought in guest lectures all the time and while they spoke he would leave the room to do who knows what with his free time. You can also volunteer to talk to grade school kids about poison prevention. If you enjoy teaching, it might be kind of fun and who knows maybe a few kids will get something out of the lecture.

 

[pharmwannebe2]

I know a couple pharmacists who work at a Free Community Health Clinic a few hours a week in the evening. A couple pharmacists in my town host a monthly brown bag at a local retirement homes. If you stay in touch with your pharmacy school you could volunteer to precept students at health screenings and brown bags put on by the school in various locations.

I interned at one store where the pharmacist had a few patients where he went to their homes once and a while to check up on their diabetes management and make sure everything was going well in general. It is a once and a while thing he does for a few elderly patients but they love him for it and it gives him a lot of satisfaction.

You could volunteer to give lecture series of various health topics to local high school health classes. High school health teachers love people to come in and do their job for them, can't blame them. My health teacher in high school brought in guest lectures all the time and while they spoke he would leave the room to do who knows what with his free time. You can also volunteer to talk to grade school kids about poison prevention.

sounds like my high school teachers

 

[johnep34]

You could head for Haiti.
johnep

 

[pharmwannebe2]

You could head for Haiti.
johnep

true but i haven't graduated yet.

 

[deleted205891]

My roommate told me about a program similar to doctors without borders for pharmacists. I believe he told me it's headed by Midwestern or something. I'm not sure though.

 

[johnep34]

In UK we have VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas). Several pharmacists use it as an opportunity to see a bit of the world and gain experience in countries where meds are not always available.
johnep

 

[pharmwannebe2]

In UK we have VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas). Several pharmacists use it as an opportunity to see a bit of the world and gain experience in countries where meds are not always available.
johnep

aw. i wish i was a pharmacist in the UK.

or would it be called druggist or chemist?

 

[johnep34]

Funny, just having same thoughts in UK (link below). Pharmacies were known as Druggists until the word 'drug' came to represent illegals. Previously word used for illegals was 'narcotics'.

http://www.pharmacy-forum.co.uk/anything-goes-here/4152-thought-id-share.html

johnep

 

[Argentium]

My roommate told me about a program similar to doctors without borders for pharmacists. I believe he told me it's headed by Midwestern or something. I'm not sure though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaciens_Sans_Frontières

?

 

[pharmwannebe2]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaciens_Sans_Frontières

?

would this be expired meds?

 

[Sparda29]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaciens_Sans_Frontières

?

That's Pharmacists Without Borders.

 

[PharmPrincess]

this is due to recent events:

Pharmacists are needed for 2-week stints at aid centers being set up in the Dominican Republic that will serve refugees and victims of this week's earthquake in Haiti. For those unable to commit that amount of time away from home, financial contributions to organizations such as the Red Cross are an excellent means of immediately helping those affected by this disaster.

The Dominican Republic, the second largest Caribbean nation after Cuba, shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti. American relief efforts within Haiti are being coordinated by the U.S. Departments of State and Health and Human Services. Many of those displaced by Tuesday's 7.0 earthquake are fleeing to the Dominican Republic, and teams of health professionals are arriving to provide acute care to earthquake victims and maintenance medications to refugees fleeing the disaster in Haiti and its capital, Port-Au-Prince.

The United Nations is coordinating the Dominican Republic effort. JetBlue and Spirit Airline are transporting teams of health professionals from New York City airports. Physicians are already on the ground in the Dominican Republic, and they need pharmacists to assist them. The Dominican Republic is providing safety, housing, and team coordination. The recovery effort is expected to last 6 to 9 months.

Those interested in volunteering for the relief effort should e-mail the following information to Kathleen Kelly of the Global Action Foundation at [email protected]: name, date of birth, gender, passport (if U.S. citizen) or alien card number, e-mail address, telephone number, specialty, length of time available, and possible departure and return dates. Kelly is also available by telephone at 610-608-8460 for answering questions about volunteering.

Pharmacists wishing to contribute financially to the relief effort have several options:
To contribute $10 to the American Red Cross using your cell phone, text HAITI to 90999.
Access the American Red Cross or InterAction websites and make donations there.
Individuals or companies with goods (pharmaceuticals or medical supplies) or services (transportation, storage) to donate should access the Center for International Disaster Information website and/or contact federal officials at [email protected]. Consider providing that information to [email protected] well.

 

[ugandamission]

I really want to volunteer as a pharmacist after I graduate. Give back to the community...you know. Anyways, I was always interested in doing doctors without boarders because I thought that a pharmacist can just give a little time (like a vacation period) to go around america and help the uninsured. But I have a feeling after I graduate everyone is going to have health insurance....and now that i am looking at the website, it looks like they don't do volunteering for people in america but other countries.

Do you know of anywhere where pharmacists can volunteer. I know there is the reserve corp which I am currently in. But do you guys know of anything else that is like a few days of volunteering. Also if a mistake is made (hopefully not)....is there any sort of liability or safety net.

I am part of a Medical Mission Group travelling to Uganda that is short a Pharmacist. The group travels with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist and non medical support group ( i'm part of the non medical support group). We are travelling Nov 2 thru 17 2012, we're doing 6 clinics and a 3 day African Safari. Cost to each volunteer is $3500 which includes travel from Nebraska, less than deluxe accomodations, and most meals. Please contact me at [email protected] if you're interested.