More than 50 PC School of Pharmacy students and five professors recently participated in the 2013 Legislative Day at the South Carolina State House. The event was especially significant now, as the Senate and the House are currently discussing several bills that will directly impact the pharmacy practice, according to Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice Dr. Kayce Shealy.

“Legislative Day was an opportunity for pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians across the state to show support for the profession of pharmacy at the SC State House,” Shealy said. “Our profession is bound by the laws created by our legislators, so this gave us an opportunity to lobby for ourselves.”

Before attending the event, students and pharmacists wrote letters to legislators thanking them for their service to the state. The letters also served to draw attention to the pharmacy-specific bills that are being discussed and were hand-delivered by students, pharmacists, and technicians on Legislative Day.  While delivering letters, participants had the opportunity to speak directly to legislators regarding the pharmacy profession and how important pharmacists are to the healthcare team.

“I was overwhelmed at the participation from our school, from both students and faculty,” Shealy said. “Any opportunity we have to advocate for our profession should be seized, and we did that.

“Students gained valuable experience as well by networking with other students and faculty from the pharmacy schools throughout the state, as well as with state legislators responsible for making decisions that can directly affect how they are able to practice.”

Approximately 200 pharmacists, student pharmacists, and technicians across South Carolina attended Legislative Day. Overall, nearly one-fourth of the participants at the event were PC School of Pharmacy students and professors.