by Michaela Carpenter, Student Writer
As students in the Cedarville University school of pharmacy learn new information and skills, they also look for new ways to use their training to serve the community. For some, that has meant developing a partnership with a local homeless shelter to serve the individuals staying there.
On Wednesday, April 18, professional pharmacy students from Cedarville will provide free health screenings at Bridges of Hope, 1087 W. 2nd St, Xenia, Ohio. In addition to basic blood pressure and blood sugar screenings, the students will counsel individuals about medications they take and how to use them correctly.
The event will be the group’s second time conducting free screenings at Bridges of Hope, and is part of what they hope will be a long-term relationship with the shelter.
“Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the US. It’s one of those diseases that is very preventable if you know about it and can start taking care of it,” said Christy Varghese, a first-year pharmacy student helping lead the effort. “That’s why I think it’s really important to be able to give people these opportunities for a free screening.”
Student efforts are also focused on providing service that fits with real needs in the community, said Varghese. That is why, for their first event at Bridges of Hope in March, the group provided information about medications and how to use them correctly. They also brought opioid disposal bags and flyers with information about drug dropoff boxes to provide safe ways for people to dispose of extra or unwanted medications.
“Especially in these communities, their life is really hard. I think it’s important to show them that there are places where they can get help and there are people who do care,” said Varghese.
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 3,963 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health
science offerings, and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.