UAMS and Kroger Partner for Free Screenings

By Nate Hinkel

UAMS College of Pharmacy students at the Conway Kroger at 101 West Oak Street were among more than 130 to volunteer at the grocery store locations throughout the state Oct 1.

Oct. 7, 2011 | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Pharmacy students and Kroger partnered to give free health screenings at the 29 Kroger pharmacies throughout the state Oct. 1.

Eddie Dunn, Pharm.D., associate professor of pharmacy practice, said the students surpassed their goal to reach 1,000 customers by screening 1,068. Nearly 140 students participated.

UAMS College of Pharmacy students provided more than 1,000 free health screenings at Arkansas Kroger locations Oct. 1.

The screenings included blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar checks and were conducted at Kroger pharmacy locations in Batesville, Benton, Blytheville, Cabot, Conway, England, Hot Springs, Jacksonville, Jonesboro, Little Rock, Maumelle, North Little Rock, Russellville and West Memphis.

“We were proud to partner with the UAMS College of Pharmacy and to have their expertise working with our valued pharmacy customers,” said Joe Bell, marketing and public affairs specialist with the Kroger Delta Division in Memphis. “We want our pharmacies to have open, friendly and personal relationships with the people they serve. This is a fantastic way for us to show customers that we care about their health.”

The event kicked off a series of activities sponsored by the UAMS College of Pharmacy American Pharmacists Association – Academy of Student Pharmacists group to celebrate American Pharmacists Month.

“The theme for this year’s festivities is, ‘Know your medicine, know your pharmacist,’” said Eddie Dunn, Pharm.D., associate professor of pharmacy practice. “By sending our students out into pharmacies to offer a public service, we feel like we’re promoting active and beneficial relationships with pharmacies and their customers.”

All screening supplies were provided by Kroger, while all screenings were conducted by UAMS College of Pharmacy students.

Students also provided community screenings at a Latin American festival, La Encuentro, at the Arkansas State Fair Grounds and at the Bikes, Blues and BBQ festival in Fayetteville, which is the largest motorcycle rally in the country benefiting local charities. According to Dunn, the weekend was the most statewide screenings the UAMS College of Pharmacy has ever done.