Thomas Bernabei, the Mayor of Canton, recently presented a proclamation recognizing a collaboration between the NEOMED College of Pharmacy and the Beacon Charitable Pharmacy (formerly known as Prescription Assistance Network, or PAN) that for years has benefitted the Canton community. At a dinner at the Military Aviation Preservation Society (MAPS) Air Museum in Canton, Louis D. Barone, Pharm.D., R.Ph., associate professor of pharmacy practice and associate dean of clinical and strategic partnerships, accepted the Mayor’s honor, noting the leadership of the practice-based faculty member Kathy Cather, assistant professor of pharmacy practice at NEOMED.
(Dr. Barone is shown at left in the photo above, with his wife, Jennifer Barone. Kathy Cather, assistant professor of pharmacy practice, and Charles Cather, director of experience education for the College of Pharmacy, are shown below.)
Since the founding of NEOMED’s College of Pharmacy, its students have shared the University’s commitment to serving the underserved. Each pharmacy student is required to spend a month learning in a practice site that is focused on caring for underserved populations. The Beacon Charitable Pharmacy in Canton is one such practice where the students complete experiential education.
In his remarks, Dr. Barone shared comments from students who have worked at the Beacon Charitable Pharmacy. Excerpts from those students’ remarks:
“This rotation allowed me to counsel almost every patient at the pharmacy. This made me more comfortable in my abilities as a pharmacist and as a clinician.”
“I was happy to be a part of this organization for an entire month…I also really appreciated that I was given the opportunity to develop considerably as a professional as we were given a wide range of experiences as well as a lot of autonomy and responsibility.”
“It allowed me to work with an undeserved population and… it helped me realize an important part of our job is not only dispensing medication but making sure people have a means of obtaining [it] when they fall on hard times.”
“I was able to interact with patients and provide pulmonary and diabetes education. I really liked being able to sit down and take the time to discuss how to use inhalers, etc. with patients and I felt like I was making a difference for them.”
“It would be absolutely wonderful if there were more places like PAN! It opened my eyes and made me be more thankful.”