Phi Lambda Sigma - Pharmacy Leadership Society October / November 2013

The Laurel Phi Lambda Sigma

Pharmacy Leadership Society National Newsletter

Issue 2, October / November 2013

MRM Recap Leadership, Networking, and Advocacy I believe I can speak on behalf of the other PLS executive members and Regional Liaisons who attended an MRM when saying that this was a truly wonderful experience. After speaking with many students, it is evident that our visibility varies from one chapter to the next. Some students were really excited to receive a PLS member sticker and others were asking if PLS was the same thing as social fraternities. This demonstrated that we have some work to do in defining and presenting our identity as a PLS chapter and more importantly, a PLS member. Whether we are offering leadership seminars or hosting fashion shows to demonstrate professional attire, PLS has a role and duty to equip our students to strive their best for our profession. Through leadership, networking, and advocacy, our members should be prepared to advance the profession of pharmacy, and we hope as an organization we provide the appropriate skills needed to meet these needs. It is a true honor to be a part of Phi Lambda Sigma, and I hope others can see that through our actions, goals, and accomplishments. More to come on the PLS identity from the executive committee and Regional Liaisons this spring.

- Marley

2013 – 2014 Regional Liaisons

Region 1: Mohamed Jalloh (Beta Psi)

Region 2: Porscha Johnson (Beta Rho)

Region 3: Justin Arnall (Epsilon)

Region 3: Tonya Smith (Beta Chi)

Region 4: Stacy Prelewicz (Beta Psi)

Region 5: Nickolas Lund (Alpha Upsilon)

Region 6: Tendai Makina (Alpha Delta)

Region 7: Joseph Dikun (Alpha Beta)

Region 8: Johnny Lee (Gamma Nu)

Reminder:  Due  DECEMBER  15  

Proctor & Gamble National Leadership Award  

PLS Outstanding Advisor Award  

PLS National Alumni of the Year Award  

Delta Zeta members

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Exfoliating the inner leaders of Region 1 Being a leader is not solely about having a mere title, but exemplifying leadership through your actions. As members of PLS we are all seen as leaders to our peers, thus we need activities to validate our leadership presence. Within region I, we plan to take the PLS experience to the next level by developing a new leadership framework that will allow more members to foster and grow their leadership. To ensure members can have the opportunity to cultivate their leadership skills, we have created three new committees within region I: Region Advisory board, public relations, and membership. Each committee is composed of a representative from each university within region I. The advisory board is composed of all the chapter presidents and they will provide updates regarding activities at conducted at their respective chapters. The advisory board will also be tasked to vote to implement new activities that may affect the entire region. To aid in disseminating such exciting information to the chapters, the public relations committee will play a key role in the region. The public relations committee is tasked to disseminate any information from the national/regional offices to their chapter members, thus making this a key position for chapter secretaries. The committee will also write and publish the Region 1 version of the Laurel. What makes this region publication unique is that students in region 1 will have direct influence

regarding what they would like published. The members of the committee will have the opportunity to write about any topic they feel comfortable with. Whether it is a rotation blog to reviewing apps, committee members will have an opportunity to express their passions through writing for the newsletter. Each member is required to write about their designated topic and edit any submissions that are sent from their chapter. The public relations committee will be working directly with the membership committee to feature the Region I Member-of-the-Month in an issue. The membership committee is tasked with selecting a region member of the semester and devising guidelines to make PLS member selection at each school consistent. I truly believe that students who go over and beyond for PLS should be recognized and rewarded for their hard-work and dedication to PLS. Originally, I wanted to create a “member-of-the–month” but I have now realized that great achievements take time to accomplish. Another great achievement that we hope to

accomplish is creating consistent guidelines to establish consistency in PLS member inauguration. Ideally, a student should be generally assessed the same for induction into PLS regardless of the school. However, the guidelines and parameters to evaluate each candidate are varied between schools. Our guidelines will help to serve as a template for the national guidelines that will be available within the next 1-3 years. If you feel that your chapter would be interested in partaking in a project at this scale, contact your region liaison for more information. PLS has served as a society which recognizes student pharmacist leadership. I want to take that ideal to the next level by fostering leadership development throughout my chapters in region 1. I live by that quote by the ancient Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu, “A leader is [at] best when people barely know he exists, his work is done, his aim fulfilled, [yet his comrades] will say: we did it ourselves...” I hope to improve my fellow students’ leadership confidence and leave this school year a better leader than when they started this year. This new leadership initiative will be started in region 1, but it may spread throughout the nation of PLS. If you want to participate in similar activities in your region, don’t hesitate to contact your region liaison and advocate for your chapter and region.

Author: Mohamed Jalloh, PharmD Candidate of 2014

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Region 1 - Meet Mohamed I am excited and honored to serve as a region liaison for this upcoming school year. I am passionate about the profession of pharmacy and hope to express my passion by reaching out to chapters in region 1. Don’t think of me as your region liaison but as a friend who is passionate about leadership and wants to help ensure that your chapter’s Phi Lambda Sigma experience is the best. This year I plan to take the Region 1 Phi Lambda Sigma experience to the next level by increasing communication between chapters, increase leadership development and recognition, and increasing the presence of each Phi Lambda Sigma chapter at your school of pharmacy. As student pharmacists, we are already leaders in our schools and community. With provider status as the main issue in the next year, I hope to bring out the inner leader in all the students I come in contact with. I truly believe in servant leadership and will help serve a chapter in any way possible. For questions regarding leadership development resources, chapter recognition, chapter visits, etc. Please do not hesitate to contact me.

Region 2 – Meet Porscha Presently, I am a 4th year professional student at Howard

University College of Pharmacy. As the eldest of three and the child of a business entrepreneur, leadership and innovation were quite naturally the forefront principles of my upbringing. Since my admission into Howard University College of Pharmacy, I have actively strived for ways to cultivate my passion for helping and advocating for others by means of servant leadership. Upon matriculation throughout the Doctor of Pharmacy Program, I plan to actively pursue a PGY-1 Residency in hopes of continuing my journey to specialize in either Critical Care or Internal Medicine. I am eager and excited to apply my attained skills to further implement the ideals of leadership within any setting. It is my pleasure and absolute honor to serve as Phi Lambda Sigma’s Region 2 Regional Liaison!

Region 3 – Meet Tonya and Justin: My name is Tonya Smith and I am a P4 at the South Carolina College of Pharmacy - Medical University of South Carolina campus in the beautiful city of Charleston. I received a BS degree from Clemson University in Spanish & International Health and enjoy traveling, especially in Central and

South America, when I can! I currently serve as one of two Regional Liaisons for Region 3 and hope to inspire other students to find their passion and place within this organization and our chosen profession.

My name is Justin Arnall, and I’m from the exciting town of Kernersville, North Carolina (i.e. K-

vegas). I received a degree in Biology from the University of North Carolina before continuing at the UNC Eshelman School of

Pharmacy. As a born and bred Tar Heel, my favorite time of year is college basketball season, with March Madness being my favorite holiday! Beyond that I’m an avid follower of competitive swimming and professional football. In what little spare time pharmacy school offers, I enjoy reading, working out at the gym or the pool, and spending time with phriends. As a student, I have been an active member of APhA-ASP, ASHP, ACCP, PLS, and my state affiliates. I am currently a fourth year at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, completing most of my clinical rotations at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, NC, and hope to pursue a hospital pharmacy practice residency and subsequently specialize in Hematology/Oncology.

Meet the 2013 – 2014 Regional Liaisons

This year we have 9 outstanding students serving as regional liaisons. They are working diligently to encourage and strengthen each PLS chapter within their region. I encourage

every chapter to contact their respective Regional Liaison for any and all questions.

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Region 4 – Meet Stacy: My name is Stacy Prelewicz and I am a P4 from the Beta Psi Chapter at Wilkes University in Northeast Pennsylvania. I was born and raised in the Wilkes Barre area so I am excited to be

the RL for Region 4 to expand my horizons, especially because I love traveling! Throughout my time at

Wilkes I have served as the Beta Psi PLS chapter president, pharmacy senate executive board president, pharmacy class president, and student government 2012 senior class president. I have also been actively involved in Rho Chi, APhA, and ASHP. I am currently a pharmacy intern at CVS and Geisinger Wyoming Valley Hospital. I am really excited about this position and the opportunity to meet and work with the future leaders of pharmacy!

Region 5 – Meet Nick: Hi! I'm Nick Lund and I'm currently a P4 from Drake University, also completing my Master's in Public

Administration (and a coaching endorsement for good measure!). I'm originally from Waterloo, IA, but being in Des Moines

for five and a half years, I now consider it my hometown! I am a huge sports fan, especially football, soccer, and hockey. I'm really excited to represent Region

5 this year as the Regional Liaison and contribute to such a great organization in my last year of school!  

Region 6 – Meet Tendai: Tendai Makina is the current regional liaison to Region 6. Prior to becoming a regional liaison, she served as the president of the Alpha Delta chapter at Xavier University of Louisiana during the 2012-2013 academic year. This year she looks forward to collaborating with the presidents of region 6 to share what is stirring up in their chapters. When she is not at rotations or studying, she enjoys traveling, trying out new recipes in the kitchen and hanging out with family and friends. Tendai has been actively involved in several organizations in pharmacy and has had a fabulous time serving the New Orleans community. As pharmacy school draws to an end, she is excited to continue to serve and lead her community in new ways as a licensed practitioner.

Region 7 – Meet Joe: Hello Region 7/8 and the PLS community! My name is Joe Dikun and I am a Pharmacist and a third year doctoral student in pharmacy administration and the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy. I completed my undergraduate degree at Youngstown State University where I majored in Biological

Sciences and received my Pharm.D. in 2011 as a member of the inaugural class of the Northeast Ohio Medical University and a charter member of our PLS chapter, Delta Phi. Most of my time is spent teaching pharmacy students, practicing in healthsystems, working in my areas of research and working with our professional organizations. I am pleased to serve as your Regional Liaison for Region 7/8 and hope to assist you in any way possible as we work together to strengthen leadership within the profession of pharmacy. Outside of the profession, my interests include acoustic guitar, blues music, photography, and documentary filmmaking. Region 8 – Meet Johnny: For those who do not know me, I am a third-year pharmacy student at Western University of Health Sciences in Southern California. I completed my undergraduate degree at UC Irvine where I majored in Biological Sciences. At WesternU, I am currently the Historian of our Phi Lambda Sigma Gamma Nu chapter (www.westernupls.com) and served as the past Executive Vice President of our Student Government Association. I also spend most of my other time working as an intern pharmacist at Kaiser Permanente 24 hour outpatient pharmacy in Baldwin Park, CA. I am pleased to serve as the Regional Liaison for Region 8 and hope to connect with everyone to instill and strengthen leadership within our profession.