Page 11 - RxBound - Summer 2015
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volunteers was provided with a list of Committee, helped found MedFest in she did drama therapy to help her
close to 700 different medications that 2007. “I can’t imagine it being done patients develop social skills. “MedFest
the athletes reported as currently without Dr. Nevins and without the is just the start of something special,”
taking, and they were tasked with support of WesternU,” Holder said. Mercado said. “I see this as an
identifying the active ingredients in the “We have 200 to 300 health care opportunity. If I could find a mentor to
medications and their U.S. equivalents. volunteers that are pulling off this event guide me into something related to both
The COP team spent many hours for our athletes. We can’t do it without pharmacy and athletics in this
researching these foreign medications the volunteers.” population, it would all come together
using a variety of drug information The WesternU COP team also reviewed for me like it was meant to happen.”
resources, then compiled a detailed athletes’ medication profiles, translated Kevin really appreciated the
document identifying refrigeration the medication names to the generic collaborative effort he found among the
requirements, availability in the U.S., equivalents that would be familiar to different health care professionals at
and possible risks for QTc interval the U.S. healthcare providers, and MedFest. “We created a running
prolongation; a congenital or drug- documented those findings in athletes’ document for future physicians and
induced cardiac issue that can lead to medical records. In addition, the COP pharmacists to use for future events,”
dangerous ventricular arrhythmias in he said. “Our efforts were substantial,
5% of all Special Olympics athletes. helping hundreds if not thousands of
Utilizing the medication list made “I was glad that I was athletes receive quality care, and if I had
screening for medications quick, and the option to participate in the World
made consulting the athletes easier. able to experience first- Games again, I would do so in a
Doctors, physician assistants, and other heartbeat.”
health care professionals were all hand the impact that Similarly, the Special Olympics athletes
grateful for the aide and knowledge made a lasting impression on third-year
provided by the WesternU COP team pharmacists have as student pharmacist Christine
and how accurately they were able to Norashkharyan as well. “The athletes
examine the athletes. Fourth-year medication experts.” brought with them great energy,”
student pharmacist Purvi Vira was a Norashkharyan said. “I was inspired by
member of the COP team. “I was glad their bravery, courage, desire, passion
that I was able to experience first-hand team was frequently consulted for drug and strength, and that they did not
the impact that pharmacists have as information by the physicians, student allow their condition or disability to
medication experts.”
physicians, and nurses participating in hold them back from life.”
The WesternU COP team were the Healthy Athlete screening program. Overall, the Special Olympics World
specifically responsible for screening the Second-year student pharmacists Nicole Games was a very eye-opening and
athletes’ medications for potential risk for Mercado and Kevin Mai said that their inspiring event for the whole WesternU
causing QTc interval prolongation, and work with the COP team at MedFest COP team. The experience displayed
for recommending referral for was an incredible learning experience. the magnitude of the difficulties faced
electrocardiogram (EKG) testing for those Nicole said that while she was in college by the athletes globally, and in
athletes considered to be at higher risk.
in Puerto Rico, she worked with particular the stark reality of the limited
Dr. Matt Holder, global medical advisor children with physical disabilities to exposure to quality medical care that
for Special Olympics international and develop motor skills, and when she many of these athletes even have.
head of the Medical Advisory moved to City College in San Francisco,
WesternU, College of Pharmacy 9
close to 700 different medications that 2007. “I can’t imagine it being done patients develop social skills. “MedFest
the athletes reported as currently without Dr. Nevins and without the is just the start of something special,”
taking, and they were tasked with support of WesternU,” Holder said. Mercado said. “I see this as an
identifying the active ingredients in the “We have 200 to 300 health care opportunity. If I could find a mentor to
medications and their U.S. equivalents. volunteers that are pulling off this event guide me into something related to both
The COP team spent many hours for our athletes. We can’t do it without pharmacy and athletics in this
researching these foreign medications the volunteers.” population, it would all come together
using a variety of drug information The WesternU COP team also reviewed for me like it was meant to happen.”
resources, then compiled a detailed athletes’ medication profiles, translated Kevin really appreciated the
document identifying refrigeration the medication names to the generic collaborative effort he found among the
requirements, availability in the U.S., equivalents that would be familiar to different health care professionals at
and possible risks for QTc interval the U.S. healthcare providers, and MedFest. “We created a running
prolongation; a congenital or drug- documented those findings in athletes’ document for future physicians and
induced cardiac issue that can lead to medical records. In addition, the COP pharmacists to use for future events,”
dangerous ventricular arrhythmias in he said. “Our efforts were substantial,
5% of all Special Olympics athletes. helping hundreds if not thousands of
Utilizing the medication list made “I was glad that I was athletes receive quality care, and if I had
screening for medications quick, and the option to participate in the World
made consulting the athletes easier. able to experience first- Games again, I would do so in a
Doctors, physician assistants, and other heartbeat.”
health care professionals were all hand the impact that Similarly, the Special Olympics athletes
grateful for the aide and knowledge made a lasting impression on third-year
provided by the WesternU COP team pharmacists have as student pharmacist Christine
and how accurately they were able to Norashkharyan as well. “The athletes
examine the athletes. Fourth-year medication experts.” brought with them great energy,”
student pharmacist Purvi Vira was a Norashkharyan said. “I was inspired by
member of the COP team. “I was glad their bravery, courage, desire, passion
that I was able to experience first-hand team was frequently consulted for drug and strength, and that they did not
the impact that pharmacists have as information by the physicians, student allow their condition or disability to
medication experts.”
physicians, and nurses participating in hold them back from life.”
The WesternU COP team were the Healthy Athlete screening program. Overall, the Special Olympics World
specifically responsible for screening the Second-year student pharmacists Nicole Games was a very eye-opening and
athletes’ medications for potential risk for Mercado and Kevin Mai said that their inspiring event for the whole WesternU
causing QTc interval prolongation, and work with the COP team at MedFest COP team. The experience displayed
for recommending referral for was an incredible learning experience. the magnitude of the difficulties faced
electrocardiogram (EKG) testing for those Nicole said that while she was in college by the athletes globally, and in
athletes considered to be at higher risk.
in Puerto Rico, she worked with particular the stark reality of the limited
Dr. Matt Holder, global medical advisor children with physical disabilities to exposure to quality medical care that
for Special Olympics international and develop motor skills, and when she many of these athletes even have.
head of the Medical Advisory moved to City College in San Francisco,
WesternU, College of Pharmacy 9
