Our ongoing series of tips and advice will help you to make the most of your time at UBC Pharm Sci. Pharmacists play an essential role in creating healthy and thriving communities. This week, I’ll share some ideas of how you, as a UBC Pharm Sci student, can become involved in and give back to your community.
Become involved in the UBC United Way campaign
You can help foster an inclusive community by following in the footsteps of two Pharmacy students: Joyce Chang and Teresa Lee. Lee and Chang were appointed Vice-Chairs of the first ever United Way Student Campaign group, focused on adding a student voice to the community building experience. Through initiatives like advisor auctions at on-campus residences and a letter-writing program for students to reach out to their seniors, our Pharmacy students raised funds and awareness to help end bullying, child poverty and senior isolation.
The student group will start recruiting for new Vice-Chairs and coordinators in the spring, and you can express your interest in joining by emailing united.way@ubc.ca. You can also help by indicating your interest in volunteering at events hosted on campus or special projects like the Day of Caring. Keep an eye on the United Way website for opportunities as they are posted.
Attend one of the Rho Chi Society’s Community Outreach presentations
The Rho Chi Honour Society hosts community outreach presentations across the Lower Mainland to share how pharmacists can help patients manage various medical conditions. Previous outreach events included:
-A presentation at the West 7th Avenue Parish designed to educate adults on Type 2 Diabetes risk-reduction strategies and therapeutic management.
-A discussion at the Marpole-Oakridge Community Centre on the safety and effectiveness of over-the-counter medication.
Attending these presentations is a great opportunity to engage with the local community and learn more about how, as a future pharmacist, you can be of service. You can request and explore topics with Rho Chi by emailing ubc.rhochi@gmail.com. Keep an eye on the Society’s Facebook page for future ways to get involved.
Volunteer for the upcoming Suicide Awareness Day
Your participation as a Suicide Awareness Day volunteer will help ensure the success of this annual campaign. Student volunteers can host an outreach booth or join a series of street teams. Both opportunities will allow you to share vital information on detecting warning signs and using the excellent support resources that are available to our campus community.
To participate, you must attend one of the following volunteer training sessions at the Main Boardroom in Brock Hall:
– Wednesday, January 15, 12 – 1 p.m, or
– Wednesday, January 22, 3 – 4 p.m.
You can then volunteer for one or two hours between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 29. Look for the posting on UBC’s CareersOnline to find out more!
Take advantage of the AMS and CSI tools for volunteering
Do you want to volunteer with a specific organization or area? UBC offers a great set of online tools to help you identify volunteer opportunities with the causes and organizations you’re passionate about.
The Centre for Student Involvement & Careers website provides an excellent volunteer search engine. There are many options within the health care and medical sectors including research positions with St. Paul’s Hospital, helping the Canadian Cancer Society with event planning or becoming an ambassador for the UBC Mental Health Network.
What if you want to help, but are unsure of the contributions you could bring to the table? The AMS Volunteer Connect program will aid you in matching your specific skills and goals with particular organizations that would benefit from your qualities – including those you’ve developed as a Pharm Sci student. Be sure to participate in the 1-on-1 consultation service (which is completely free of charge) and the Volunteer Opportunities Fair. Drop by their office at the SUB in room 249C or email volunteers@ams.ubc.ca for more info.
How do you give back to your community? Share your experiences in the comments!
-Raul Scorza, Communications & Marketing
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