Thanks to hard work from West Coast University and University of Southern California doctorate of pharmacy students, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has approved a proclamation recognizing October as American Pharmacists Month.

American Pharmacists Month Proclamation

Whereas pharmacy is one of the oldest of the health professions concerned with the health and well-being of all people; and

Whereas pharmacists are specifically educated with a focus and level of expertise on medication therapy, are ideally suited to work collaboratively with other healthcare providers and patients to improve medication use and outcomes by providing services through medication therapy management; and

Whereas it is important to promote the profession of pharmacy as an essential health care provider; and

Whereas pharmacists provide both expertise and accessibility which are crucial to patients fully optimizing access to medications that are not self-administered such as, but not limited to, immunizations; and

Whereas West Coast University, USC American Pharmacists Association, and the California Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacist chapters have proclaimed October as American Pharmacists Month with the theme “Know Your Medicine – Know Your Pharmacist.”

This announcement was a joint effort between the WCU and USC American Pharmacists Association and California Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacist chapters at each school.

Each program will receive a certificate of recognition along with a copy of the proclamation. The students who spearheaded this initiative are West Coast University’s Juliana Avakeretyan and John Dawod of USC.

“It has been an honor for me to have been a part of such an accomplishment for West Coast University as well as our community of pharmacists in Los Angeles,” Avakeretyan said. “The work of my colleagues and myself demonstrates how much we as pharmacy students can advocate for our profession, which gives me great confidence in believing that we are going to achieve much more for our field in the future.”

October wasn’t the only important month for WCU’s PharmD program though. In June, West Coast University’s School of Pharmacy was granted full accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.

WCU’s four-year School of Pharmacy doctorate program is a combination of enhanced communication and teamwork skills, advanced technology, interprofessional education and an integrated curriculum designed to educate and train flexible, inspired and team-oriented pharmacists that improve patients’ lives.

Great work, WCU APhA/CPhA-ASP!

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