From left to right: Annie Kurdziel, PharmD/MS’24, Sophia Osmond, PharmD’25, Nicole Siwarski, PharmD’25 Rachel Romanowski, PharmD’25, Autumn Spyhalsky, PharmD/MS’24, Alice Adachi-Bartholomay, PharmD/MPH’24
By Samantha Rzeszut
Published April 27, 2023
A group of University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (UB SPPS) PharmD student representatives from the Student Pharmacists' Association of Western New York (SPAWNY) traveled to Albany on April 24 to advocate for the profession of pharmacy.
Pharmacy Lobby Day in Albany is an annual event that gives PharmD students and pharmacy professionals the opportunity to meet face-to-face with their respective assemblymembers and legislators to educate them on issues related to pharmacy practice and patient care.
“By meeting with legislators and their staff, participants can educate them on these issues and potentially influence legislation that will benefit the community,” says Autumn Spyhalsky, PharmD/MS’24, SPAWNY president. “The goal is to achieve positive change and improvements in the pharmacy profession and patient care.”
UB SPPS PharmD students met with Senators Robert Ortt, Jack Martins, Joe Griffo and Peter Oberacker, along with Assemblymembers Joe Angelino, Pamela Hunter, Christopher Friend, Sarah Clark and Fred Thiele to advocate for the following legislation:
Our UB SPPS PharmD students in attendance were joined by nearly 100 of their fellow New York State pharmacy students, members of the Pharmacists Society of the State of New York (PSSNY) and state legislators.
For over 135 years, the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences has continually been a leader in the education of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists, renowned for innovation in clinical practice and research. The school is accredited by the American Council of Pharmaceutical Education and is the No. 1 ranked school of pharmacy in New York State and No. 14 in the United States by U.S. News & World Report.