Greetings Student Pharmacists!
December brings us the end of another year, the end of a semester, and to the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting! For many fourth-year student pharmacists, December also brings the excitement and anxiety of what happens post-graduation. As I prepare for the Midyear Clinical Meeting and for meeting with residency programs, I find myself reflecting much more than I have in the past. Choosing which programs you intend to visit at the Residency Showcase and which programs you intend to apply to requires a lot of thought and consideration. It truly is an individualized experience, and you quickly figure out what is of the upmost importance to you when evaluating programs.
Not everyone is a fourth-year student looking to explore post-graduate training. Some will be taking advantage of the virtual meeting environment to attend when they otherwise might not be able to. Others will be exploring what the Midyear Clinical Meeting is like in preparation for the year to come. No matter your situation, there is a place for everyone. The Opening Session on Monday will feature Simon Biles and a discussion on Well-Being & Resilience. The Residency Showcase will take place over three sessions on Monday and Tuesday. Student Programming is available on-demand for the conference, providing flexibility to those with limited availability during conference days. Be sure to check out all the amazing student programming available, such as the student keynote “Perspective is the Best Medicine: A Powerful Prescription for Less Stress and More Success” with David Glickman, the SSHP Leaders Workshop, the Student Society Showcase, and many more sessions of special interest to student pharmacists. Be sure to visit the virtual student poster session and check out what your peers have accomplished this year. Lastly, check out other programming in a topic of your choice, such as Pharmacy Forecast 2022: Trends that Will Shape Your Future.
December is a month filled with a flurry of activity! As always, be sure to take some time for yourself and focus on your wellness. I often find that we all want to learn, do, and experience more, but we also must make time to take care of ourselves. During the Midyear Clinical Meeting, don’t forget to drink plenty of water and to get up to stretch and do something active for a few minutes frequently while in front of your computer, your body and mind will thank you!
For those continuing the residency journey, be sure to take advantage of all the resources that ASHP has to offer in the Student Residency Guide and ASHP Podcasts!
Have a wonderful Midyear Clinical Meeting experience, end to the year, and holiday break! We look forward to seeing you in the new year!
Autumn Pinard