The University of Findlay - Community Outreach

Faculty and students worked hand-in-hand with the Findlay City Health Department to administer H1N1 influenza vaccines to Hancock County residents during the Fall/Winter 2009-2010.

A community health screening event took place January 23, 2010 at St. Luke’s Lutheran church in North Baltimore. College of Pharmacy faculty members, administrators, and students provided several services to the community. The community was invited to participate in cholesterol, blood pressure and glucose screenings at no cost. The H1N1 vaccine was provided by the Wood County Health Department. Community members were also provided a forum to ask questions about their medications, diabetes, weight management, and smoking cessation.

Medication Take-Back Program: Earlier this spring, students and faculty members from the College of Pharmacy were asked to participate in Medication Collection Day, a joint effort of the City of Findlay Health Department, Water Pollution Control and the Findlay City Police Department, as well as the Hancock County Community Partnership and the University. Three barrels full of discarded drugs were collected that day, which is thousands of unused medications.

As an invited speaker by the College of Pharmacy, Mrs. Kelly Jerry will speak to UF students and the surrounding community about the tragic death of her daughter, Emily Jerry and the resulting legislation and movement in the healthcare system to increase efforts toward patient safety.

Faculty have partnered with Marathon Oil Company to provide health awareness and medication therapy management (MTM) services to employees. Recently Dr. Laura Perry spoke to Marathon Oil Company employees during a lunch and learn about high cholesterol. This lunch and learn was later followed up with a MTM health cholesterol screening where employees could have their cholesterol levels checked and discuss the results with a pharmacist all while at work. This event was well received by Marathon Oil Company and plans are set to further grow the partnership. Current plans include providing additional lunch and learns throughout the 2010 calendar year as well as faculty and student contributions to Marathon Oil Company's wellness newsletter.

Drs. Debra Parker and Bradley Shinn traveled to the Wood County Hospital along with students taking an elective course in diabetes management. There the group worked with Wood County Hospitals to educate a community group regarding patient safety and to provide a "brown bag" medication review and personalized medication card for each participant.