Ohio Northern University pharmacy students are involved in a competition that benefits area residents and provides future health care professionals with invaluable practical learning opportunities.

The students, under the leadership of ONU Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice Michelle Musser, are taking part in the Script Your Future Medication Adherence Team Challenge.

Sponsored by the National Consumers League, the annual event is designed to raise public awareness about the importance of medication adherence. Musser is director of outreach programming in ONU’s Raabe College of Pharmacy.

A feature of the challenge, which extends from January through March, has been interacting with a largely Hispanic church in Columbus and working with translators to connect with Spanish-speaking individuals.

“The premise of this challenge is to encourage individuals to take their medications,” Musser said. “This is part of the ONU College of Pharmacy’s ongoing HealthWise outreach program, which involves ONU students in connecting our resources with the community. In serving our region, we have a particular focus on rural health. Our goal is to conduct screenings and share information with area residents as part of our ongoing health education effort.”

The ONU pharmacy students gain much from their participation in the Script Your Future challenge.

“Not only does this allow me to interact with members of the community, but I also get to actually apply my therapeutic knowledge,” said Taylor Blevins of Richwood, Ohio. “When I help a patient understand why it’s important to take a certain medication with food or to take it a certain time of day, I get to hone my pharmacist skills.”

Katie Pearce of Lancaster, Ohio, said, “I think the challenge highlights the vitality of pharmacists’ involvement in improving patient care and patient outcomes. As future pharmacists, participating in this challenge will enable students to realize the roles – and duties – we have to ensure we are taking the best care of our patients.”

Connor Rowan of Grove City, Pa., said, “This experience allows students and their patients to learn to better communicate with one another. Patients can feel comfortable stating their needs, and students gain confidence communicating health-related advice and clinical interpretations.”

Upcoming events include:

·Feb. 24. Forest food distribution, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
·Feb. 25. Dunkirk community dinner, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
·Feb. 26. Kenton IronFit, 5 a.m. – 7 p.m.;
    OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital Wellness Center 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
·Feb. 28. Bluffton Public Library, 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
·March 5. Forest VFW, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
·March 10. Kenton YMCA, 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.
·March 12. Dunkirk Town Hall, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
·March 18. Alger food distribution, 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
·March 19. Roundhead food distribution center, 10:30 a.m. – noon;
   Community dinner, 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
·March 23. Forest food distribution, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
·March 24. Dunkirk community dinner, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
·March 25. OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital Health Wellness Center
    (Kenton), 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
·March 26. Kenton community luncheon, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
·March 27. Bluffton Public Library, 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
·March 28. Relay for Life, Ohio Northern University