During the month of February, students from the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy are taking part in the Script Your Future Challenge, a national competition to help as many patients as possible. UI student pharmacists, along with 60 other colleges of pharmacy, are competing to increase public awareness of pharmacy services and provide counseling on proper medication use. Winners of the challenge will receive national recognition, as well as a stipend for future patient engagement activities.

Student pharmacists from the UI have already hosted several events to counsel the public on their medications. Events have been held at Carver Hawkeye Arena during a women’s basketball game, and at local pharmacies in Iowa City and surrounding areas. Additionally, consecutive events will be held on Saturday, Feb. 23 at the following locations:

• Towncrest Pharmacy, 2460 Towncrest Dr., Iowa City, 9 a.m.-noon
• Walgreens, 102 2nd St., Coralville, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Walgreens, 2751 Heartland Dr., Coralville, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Hy-Vee, 1720 Waterfront Dr., Iowa City 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Members of the community are encouraged to stop by participating pharmacies for a one-on-one medication review session with a student pharmacist.

With chronic health problems on the rise, the American public now takes an average of 12 prescription medications per year. Chronic health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma all contribute to this increase. Nearly three out of four Americans don’t take their medications as directed, with serious consequences. Teaching patients how to manage those medications, identifying interactions, and providing information about each medication is the job of the pharmacist.

This is the first time the UI College of Pharmacy is participating in the challenge. According to Luke Watson, Student Leadership Committee president, the challenge gives all pharmacy students the opportunity to work toward a singular goal. “I was drawn to the Script Your Future promotion because it really demonstrates all the different services that pharmacists can provide,” he says.

The Script Your Future campaign is led by the National Consumers League (NCL). The challenge is sponsored by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Foundation, American Medical Association (AMA), and NCL.