On Friday, April 16, the University of Connecticut\u2019s School of Pharmacy will host an interactive day of learning with 12 high-functioning students between the ages of 15 and 21 who have autism or Asperger\u2019s Syndrome.<\/p>\n
Scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., the event will open with a lecture about the pharmacy profession, which is designed to help the participants understand the importance of their medication therapy. Pharmacy students also will speak about the duties of a pharmacist, and what a pharmacist can do to help people with autism.<\/p>\n
After lunch, participants will team up with pharmacy students and graduate students in order to make a \u201cmedicine\u201d using the university labs. None of the materials to be used in this activity are harmful.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe most important part of a pharmacist\u2019s job is to provide our patients with an understanding of their medication regimen,\u201d says Carlie Hershgordon, president of the Pharmacy Student Government and coordinator of the event.<\/p>\n
The participating students will tour the School of Pharmacy and meet with other students their own age, Hershgordon says. The day has been designed to instill into the participating students the confidence to ask questions of their pharmacists if they are ever unsure about the medication therapy they are prescribed. The program also hopes to help participants understand that medication can have positive, negative, and potentially dangerous side-effects, depending on whether or not it is properly used, Hershgordon says.<\/p>\n
While the program was designed with the participants in mind, the pharmacy students taking part in the event will also greatly benefit from the experience, Hershgordon says. April is national autism awareness month.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is important for pharmacists to understand and interact with their patients,\u201d says Hershgordon. \u201cBy participating in this day of enrichment, our pharmacy students will have the opportunity to interact with patients that they may encounter in the pharmacy.\u201d<\/p>\n
The event is hosted by UConn\u2019s Pharmacy Student Government in collaboration with the CT Family Support Network, and is sponsored by Target.<\/p>\n
Carlie Hershgordon, 267-577-4599<\/p>\n
Colin Poitras, 860-486-4656<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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