SPPS Global Health Initiatives

For the past ten years, our students have participated in short term global health mission trips.

Their purpose?

To provide medical care in an interdisciplinary team setting in rural areas that have limited resources and fragmented healthcare.

Our students learn how to provide culturally-competent care in a global healthcare setting, setting up “mobile” pharmacies and clinics, dispensing medications, counseling patients, and assisting providers with medication selection. These experiences not only give them hands-on training, but teach a level of compassion and patient care that cannot be learned in a classroom.

In 2024, our students will be traveling to Ghana, Belize and Jamaica and they need your help!

Your gift will help offset travel expenses for our students and send them with enough medical supplies to treat all of those in need that they encounter.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR STUDENTS

Sarah is currently a third-year pharmacy student attending University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. She completed her first undergraduate career at The University of Akron. She grew up in Cleveland, OH. Her goal is to pursue a career in hospital or ambulatory pharmacy. She is not 100% sure what she wants to do yet. 

"The main reason I want to go on mission trips is to be able to help the underserved population. It’s a privilege to be able to apply the knowledge we have learned from pharmacy school in another country. I hope to help people of all backgrounds and learn from them at the same time."

Katherine Beikirch is currently a second-year pharmacy student attending University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. She holds a bachelor's degree in biology and health and society from the University of Vermont. She grew up in Ontario, NY. Her goal is to pursue a career in hospital or community pharmacy. Additionally, she is highly interested in specializing in areas such as pediatrics, endocrinology and global health.

"I have always been interested in global health and learning how I can apply my pharmacy knowledge to help people that need it most. I love learning about other cultures, and I hope that this trip will make me a better provider one day who can help and understand people from all backgrounds."

Livia is currently a fourth-year pharmacy student attending University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. She completed her Bachelor's of Science in Chemistry at Canisius College in 2018. She grew up in Pendleton, NY. Her goal is to pursue a career as a clinical pharmacist. Additionally, she is highly interested in specializing in areas such as global health. 

"I had the privilege of serving on a medical mission trip this past winter in the Dominican Republic and it was one of the best experiences I have ever been on. The joy and genuine appreciation that you see on the patients’ faces that you are serving is one of the best feelings you can experience. The patients and communities had left a lasting impact on me and it only opened my eyes more on the impact of social determinants of health and appreciation for other cultures. I hope that I am able to help the underserved population in Ghana this winter just as much and am looking forward to what the communities and patients are going to teach me while I am there."

Selvi is currently a third-year pharmacy student attending University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. She completed her first two years of undergraduate coursework through UB's 6-Year Early Assurance Pharmacy Program. In addition to her Pharm. D, she is pursuing a dual degree in the business administration program for her MBA. She grew up in Holtsville, Long Island, NY. Her goal is to pursue a career in pharmacy leadership by completing post-graduate training in a fellowship or residency.

"The main reason I want to go on a mission trip to Ghana is to be able to help the underserved population while tying in pharmacy practices and business leadership principles. It is a privilege to be able to pursue such an opportunity and combine both dual degrees to serve others while experiencing a culture other than my own. I hope to grow personally and professionally on this trip and use the lessons learned to forward my career."

Lexy is currently a second-year pharmacy student attending the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. She completed her bachelor's in Biomedical Sciences through UB's undergraduate programs. She grew up in Altamont, NY. Her goal is to pursue a career in hospital pharmacy. Additionally, she is highly interested in specializing in areas such as pediatrics, psychiatry and specialty pharmacy.

"The main reason I want to go on mission trips is to be able to employ my knowledge from pharmacy school to address health problems in underserved populations. I would like help many different individuals and learn from my experiences with them. Upon return I hope to have made an impact in the communities I visited and be a more well-rounded future pharmacist."

Jian is currently a second-year pharmacy student attending University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and Art History at Dartmouth College. He grew up in Fort Collins, CO. His goal is to pursue a career in research and to teach future pharmacists. Additionally, he is highly interested in specializing in areas such as infectious disease and global health.

"The main reason I want to go on mission trips is to be able to help the underserved population and help people get access to the care they need. It’s a privilege to be able to apply the knowledge we have learned from pharmacy school in another country. I hope to help people of all backgrounds and learn from them at the same time."

Hillery is currently a second-year pharmacy student attending University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo in 2022. She grew up in Hamburg, NY. She currently works as a Pharmacy Intern at Wegmans Food Markets. Her goal is to pursue a career in either ambulatory care or community pharmacy. 

“I believe that going on a medical mission trip will change my views on healthcare, treatment, and how I practice pharmacy by serving people in a way that I would never have gotten on my rotations or paid job. For the rest of my career, I will be grateful that I had the opportunity to go to a country to gain knowledge and experience that will benefit me as a future pharmacist, so that I can better serve my patients and the community."

Priya is currently a third-year pharmacy student attending University at Buffalo Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. She completed her first two years of coursework through UB’s 6-Year Early Assurance Pharmacy Program. She grew up in Syracuse, NY. Her goal is to pursue a career in speciality pharmacy or hospital pharmacy. Additionally, she is very interested in specializing in areas such as ambulatory care.

“The main reason I want to go on mission trips is because I am eager to learn about healthcare systems outside of the US. I believe it is important to learn and appreciate other cultures in order to understand traditional medicine that is used to treat certain disease states. I am excited to be able to use what I have learned in pharmacy school to help patients in another country.”

Stephie is currently a second-year pharmacy student attending University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. She hold a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Medicinal Chemistry from University at Buffalo. She grew up in the heart of Queens, NY. Her goal is to pursue a career in hospital pharmacy, specializing in women’s health and pediatrics. 

"I have always had an interest in global health throughout my high school and undergraduate career, and thankfully I have received this opportunity through the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. I have always wanted to provide services and care towards those that lack the access to healthcare and health services. With the opportunity of traveling to another country, I am looking forward to the impact I can have on different communities and providing the care underrepresented communities need."

Deanna Isom is currently a first-year pharmacy student attending University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. She is a non-traditional student with her first degree in business. Her passion for pharmacy lead her to taking her pre-course work and applying to UB's Pharmacy School later in life. She grew up in Bradenton, FL. Her goal is to pursue a career in hospital pharmacy. Additionally, she is highly interested in assisting with health disparities and serving the underserved.

"The main reason I want to go on mission trips is to be able to learn, grow, and help the underserved.. It’s an honor to be able to apply the knowledge we have learned from pharmacy school in another country. I hope that this trip will be life changing for me and for those who I will serve.

Ridhi Sharma, a resident of Long Island, NY, is currently in her third year of studying pharmacy at the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. She embarked on her academic journey by completing the initial two years of her undergraduate coursework as part of LIU's 2-Year Early Assurance Pre-Pharmacy Program. Her ultimate aspiration is to build a career within the pharmaceutical industry, with a particular interest in specializing in areas like policy and advocacy, as well as global health.

"My primary motivation for participating in another mission trip is to extend assistance to individuals who lack access to critical healthcare services. In numerous underserved or remote global regions, basic healthcare is either scarce or completely unavailable. These medical mission trips offer an avenue for healthcare professionals to deliver vital medical services to these areas, directly addressing the immediate requirements of the local population. My driving force is a deep sense of compassion, accompanied by a strong desire to mitigate suffering. I firmly believe that delivering medical care to those in need constitutes a fundamental humanitarian act that can substantially enhance the well-being of both individuals and entire communities."

Charly is currently a second-year pharmacy student attending University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree at SUNY Binghamton. He grew up in Eden, NY. His goal is to pursue a career in hospital pharmacy. Additionally, he is highly interested in specializing in areas such as bioinformatics and global health. 

"I aspire to both learn and serve, viewing it as a privilege to apply the knowledge gained from pharmacy school in a different country. My goal is to assist individuals from diverse backgrounds while also gaining valuable insights from them in return."