PrePharmacy Society Sixth General Body Meeting

1

• Pre-Pharmacy Society Sixth General Body Meeting
• December 8, 2008
• umdprepharm_at_gmail.com

2
Agenda

• Welcome! Dont forget to sign in!
• The Statins
• The Dangers of Heparin
• Next Semesters Meetings
• UMB Open House April 4, 2009
• Active Membership Certificates
• T-shirt Distribution
• Interview/Interview Essay Workshop
• End of Semester Evaluations

3
The Statins

• Lower cholesterol levels
• Types Lovastatin, Pravastatin (Pravachol),
  Simvastatin (Zocor), Atorvastatin (Lipitor),
  Rosuvastatin (Crestor)
• Also combination therapy drugs like Vytorin and
  Caduet

4
What is Heparin?

• Naturally-occurring anticoagulant produced by
  the basophils and mastocyte
• Prevents the formation of blood clots
• Does not breakdown blood clots
• Injected into catheters or IV lines

5
(No Transcript)
6
(No Transcript)
7
Overdosing and Heparin

• 1.5 million patients are given the wrong dose
  of a medication per year in U.S
• 7,000 patients die each year due to medication
  overdose
• Heparin overdosing accounts for 30
• 17 cases of Heparin overdose in babies reported
  at Corpus Christi in TX (in 2 days)
• In the last 1 ½ year, 180 cases of heparin
  overdose have been reported

8
(No Transcript)
9
Heparin and Newborns

• In premature babies, they receive Hep-Lock
• lesser dosage of heparin that is routinely used
  to keep intravenous lines open
• Dennis Quaids newborn twins were given heparin
  that was 1000 times more concentrated than they
  were suppose to
• Babies received 10,000 units/ml instead of 10
  units/ml

10
How Heparin Overdose Happen
Human Error!!

• Error made by
• Pharmacy Technician
• Pharmacist
• Nurses
• Physicians

11
How can this be avoided?
Bar Coding
Different color caps and labels
12
New Executive Board

• President
• Lena Zhou yzhou87_at_umd.edu
• Vice President of Internal Relations Webmaster
• Kelly Li kli87_at_umd.edu
• Vice President of External Relations
• Jung Hee Nam junghee_at_umd.edu
• Vice President of Administrative Affairs
• Tina Nguyen cnguyen38_at_gmail.com
• Secretary and Community Service Adviser
• Katie Brant sbrant_at_umd.edu
• Treasurer
• Brandon Keith bkeith_at_umd.edu
• Public Relations
• Salma Srour ssrour_at_umd.edu
• Brittni Botchway-Bradley bbotchwa_at_umd.edu
• Community Service
• Nicole Tromm ntromm_at_umd.edu
• Olaide Aiyegbusi olaidea_at_umd.edu

13
Next Semester

• February 10th
• February 24th
• March 10th
• March 31st
• April 14th
• April 28th
• All meetings will be on Tuesdays at 6pm
• All meetings will be in Stamp!

14
Next Semester

• Resumé Workshop
• Pharmacy Tech Information Session
• Guest Speaker Rite Aid Pharmacists
• UMB Student Panel QA
• UMB Faculty Panel

15
UMB Open House

• Saturday April 4th 900-1200
• If spaces are limited, active members will have
  preference

16
Active Membership Certificates

• 3 Meetings and 3 hours of community service per
  semester
• Please do not wait until the last minute to
  fulfill your community service hours!
• Attending more meetings and events are HIGHLY
  encouraged!
• You may pick up your active membership
  certificates

17
T-Shirts Are Here!

• Please pick up your T-shirt if you ordered one
• Not too late to order! 12 Smalls, 3 Mediums, 2
  Larges Left! First Come First Serve! Only 10!

Designed by Tina Nguyen
18
Remember

• Make sure you are on the Pre-Pharmacy Society
  list-serve
• Email umdprepharm_at_gmail.com to be added
• Join Pre-Pharmacy Societys Facebook group to
  receive updates about meetings/events
• Visit our website http//studentorg.umd.edu/prepha
  rm
• All past presentations have been posted and
  todays presentation will be posted either
  tonight or tomorrow
• All newsletters will now be posted on our website
  too

19
Remember

• December 12, 2008 will be the last day to
  register for the January 24, 2009 PCAT
• Remember to register before 859 pm!
• Register early to get your preferred testing
  location!

20

• Please fill out an evaluation by going to
  http//www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?smWVtwHa9mbJOe
  ff81NfdYSA_3d_3d

21

• Please let us know what meetings or service
  events you liked and if you have any suggestions
  for next semester.

22
Interview/Interview Essay Workshop

• How many people typically get interviews?
• What is the purpose of the interview?
• How should I dress for the interview?
• What is the interview agenda?
• How should I prepare for the interview?
• What are some typical questions I will be asked?
• How do I impress my interviewer?
• Tips

23
How many people typically get interviews?

• For UMBs last entering class (Class of 2012)
• Of 1000 applicants
• 300 received interviews
• 240 received acceptance letters
• 160 are attending

24
What is the purpose of the interview?

• For the interviewer to
• Get to know the applicant
• See if the applicant is suited for pharmacy
• See if the applicant is suited for their school
• See if the applicant is able to communicate well
  verbally
• For the applicant to
• Convince the interviewer that he/she should be
  accepted
• Convince the interviewer that he/she has keen
  problem solving and critical thinking skills

25
How should I dress?
Remember to wear a jacket! Remember to iron your
shirts!
26
How should I dress?
27
What is the agenda for an interview? (UMB)

• Entire Interview 3 hrs
• Faculty (1 on 1) 30 mins
• Student (2 on 1) 30 mins
• Group Discussion (4 on 6) 50 mins.
• Essay 30 mins
• Student Panel (4 on 6) 30 mins. (ungraded)

28
Typical Schedule

• Faculty 100-130
• Students 130-200
• Group Discussion 200-250
• Essay 300-330
• Student Panel 330-400

29
How should I prepare for the interview?

• Research the school beforehand!
• Keep up with current pharmaceutical issues.
• Have a set of questions for the faculty and
  student panel ready
• Is it safe here? (very popular with UMB)
• Is it difficult to find housing?
• What is there to do on the weekends?

30
Pharmacy Issues in the News Do you have an
opinion?

• Wal-Mart 4 drugs/Target and Kmart matches
• OTC Plan B
• ReNu brand cause serious fungal infections
• Medicare Part D
• Pseduophedrine law
• Stem cell research debated in Congress
• Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) proposed a system of
  universal health insurance for Californians, it
  will become the 3rd state to do this.
• A requirement for girls younger than 13 years old
  to get a HPV vaccine (against cervical cancer)
• Check out Washington Post, PharmacyWeek and
  Pharmacytimes.com

31
What are some commonly asked questions?

• Tell me about yourself
• Why do you want to become a Pharmacist?
• Who influenced you into Pharmacy?
• Why do you choose school?
• What is your backup plan if you dont get into
  school?
• What is your backup plan if you dont get into
  any Pharmacy Schools this year?

32
What are some commonly asked questions?

• Describe a time when you successfully resolved a
  conflict between yourself and someone else.
• The school work here is very stressful and very
  demanding. How will you manage the stress?
• Why aren't you applying to medical school?
• What would you do if you noticed someone
  cheating?

33
What are some commonly asked questions?

• How would you handle a group member who was not
  pulling their weight in the group?
• Describe some leadership positions you have had
  and what you learned from them.
• Is there anything else you would like us to know?
• Do you have any questions for us?

34
Less Commonly Asked Questions

• What are your hobbies?
• How do you see the role of pharmacy changing?
• What is Pharmaceutical care?
• What is the leading factor of ailments in todays
  society?
• What is the role of the pharmacist?

35
Tips

• Brief handshake
• Introduce yourself
• Maintain eye contact
• Listen carefully
• Speak slowly
• Smile
• Be relaxed
• Prepare well for the questions
• Dont be wishy-washy. Take a stand and stick
  with it!

36
Tips contd

• Try to say things that you have written in your
  application
• Be passionate about your experiences
• Be/Look professional
• Look sharp (iron your shirt)
• Get a good nights sleep!
• Have fun!
• Be yourself!
• Ask questions at the end

37
Moral Questions

• If a patient wanted a drug that you were morally
  against, what would you do?
• What would you do if a pharmacist you work with
  was caught drinking?
• If a 16 yr old daughter of a friend comes in to
  get birth control, what would you do?

38
Tips for Group Interviews

• Try and be the first one to answer at least once
  during the group interview.
• Don't repeat answers.
• Don't interrupt other people's answers!
• Dont try to take over the interview!
• Answer the question!
• To be safe, take a middle seat
• Dont be wishy washy!

39
Regardless of what your mother says

• DO NOT BRING HER TO YOUR INTERVIEW!

40
How do I get over being nervous?

• Talk to other students before your interview
• This allows you to feel comfortable talking to
  strangers

41
Interview/Interview Essay Workshop

• What is the purpose of the interview essay?
• What are some sample essay questions?
• How should I prepare for the interview essay?

42
What is the purpose of the interview essay?

• For the interviewer to
• See if the applicant is able to communicate well
  through writing
• See if the applicant has keen problem solving and
  critical thinking skills
• See if the applicant is able to come up with a
  solution on the spot

43
Sample essays (mainly pulled from California
schools)

• The Surgeon General has invited you to help plan
  a way to improve prescription and
  non-prescription use in senior citizens. What are
  the elements, goals, and objectives of your plan,
  and how will you implement it?
• What does "Make Haste Quickly" mean and how does
  it apply to you?
• How does technology affect humanity?
• Is there a difference between good and bad
  stress?
• People have differing ideas on what it means to
  have a fulfilling life, be it having power,
  knowledge, money, love, etc. Rank these abstract
  ideas from highest to lowest and compare and
  contrast your top choices with your bottom
  choice.

44
Sample essays (mainly pulled from California
schools)

• Your friend comes into your home town, where
  would you take him or her and why?
• How would you define character? What are the 3
  most important character traits that a person
  should have?
• Why should all college students take humanities
  classes?

45
Sample essay (UMB Fall 2008)

• How would you promote a better healthcare system
  in rural communities where access may be limited?

46
Sample essay (Shenandoah Spring 2007)

• Do you think Pharmacists should get paid for
  counseling their patients?

47
How should I prepare for the interview essay?

• Keep up with hot pharmaceutical topics
• Develop an opinion
• Practice writing essays
• Create an outline first
• Try to write max 1-2 page (for half hr essays)
• Try to write max 3-4 pages (for hour essays)

48

• Questions?

49

• Please fill out an evaluation by going to
  http//www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?smWVtwHa9mbJOe
  ff81NfdYSA_3d_3d