During the 2020-2021 academic year, the UTHSC chapter of the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) hosted three Black Alumni Networking Sessions.
College alumni and members of the Memphis chapter of the National Pharmaceutical Association (NPhA), SNPhA’s parent organization, were invited to participate and share their perspectives from a broad range of pharmacy practice experiences. The sessions were hosted virtually via Zoom. The first session consisted of a panel discussion, and in the following two sessions, students and alumni were placed in small groups to get to know each other. A total of 20 alumni participated in the three sessions.
Tyler Marie Kiles, PharmD, BCADM, assistant professor and advisor for the UTHSC SNPhA chapter, said one purpose of SNPhA is to organize programs geared toward the improvement of the health, educational, and social environment of minority communities.
“By inviting Black alumni to meet, network with, and encourage our students, SNPhA hopes to continue to create a safe space for our minority students,” Dr. Kiles said.
Students and alumni expressed how much they appreciated the sessions.
“I really enjoyed hearing from pharmacists that look like me,” one student said. “They really give me a sense of hope.”
