It’s our joy to help you dig into what you’re good at and discover why it’s good for
the world. Join any of our 18 pharmacy student organizations, with areas of focus
like addiction and rehabilitation, pediatrics, psychiatry and mental health.
Or gain a powerful professional network of Duquesne University School of Pharmacy
alumni and pharmacists across the country by joining one of the Duquesne University
earning membership into Rho Chi, the pharmacy honors society, Phi Lambda Sigma, the
national pharmacy leadership society, or chapters of one of four Greek professional
pharmacy organizations.
Professional Organizations
The mission of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) is to improve human
health by extending the frontiers of clinical pharmacy through leadership, professional
development, and advocacy. ACCP is dedicated to excellence in patient care, research
and education. The student ACCP chapter aims to provide information about careers
and opportunities within the field of clinical pharmacy to students. As members of
ACCP, students will advocate for the role of clinical pharmacists in providing patient
care, including evaluation of the patient and his or her pharmacotherapeutic needs.
ACCP membership provides students with professional development, enhancement of research
skills, and service and leadership opportunities.
The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) is a professional society of pharmacists
and associates who serve patients and the public through the promotion of pharmaceutical
care and sound medication management to achieve positive patient outcomes. AMCP further
provides students with information about the field of managed care pharmacy and its
associated career opportunities. The AMCP student chapter conducts an annual Pharmacy
and Therapeutics (P&T) committee competition for professional students and is active
in promoting patient access to affordable medications.
The Academy of Student Pharmacists (ASP) is an academy within the American Pharmacists
Association (APhA). ASP has been an integral part of APhA for over 40 years and boasts
thousands of members across pharmacy schools nationwide. Its mission is to be the
collective voice of student pharmacists, to provide opportunities for professional
growth, to improve patient care, and to envision and advance the future of pharmacy.
APhA-ASP provides unique and professional opportunities for student pharmacists ranging
from leadership programs, policy and advocacy, fundraising events, and a focus on
patient care screening events. Seven patient care committees including Operation Diabetes,
Operation Immunization, Operation Heart, Operation Reproductive Health, Operation
Substance Use Disorders, OTC Medicine Safety, and Women's Health Campaign allow student
pharmacists to provide medication and disease state education to patients in the surrounding
Duquesne community.
The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) empowers pharmacists and other
healthcare professionals to enhance quality of care for all older persons through
the appropriate use of medication and the promotion of healthy aging. The local chapter
was formed in 2012 to educate student pharmacists regarding their future role in managing
geriatric patient care. The organization provides various opportunities to explore
the Consultant Pharmacist career path while serving the elderly population.
The Duquesne University School of Pharmacy chapter of the American Association of
Psychiatric Pharmacists (AAPP) was officially recognized by the School in the spring
of 2016. AAPP is a professional society of pharmacists and student pharmacists that
promotes excellence in pharmacy practice, education, and research to optimize treatment
outcomes of individuals affected by psychiatric and neurologic disorders. The mission
of AAPP is to advance the reach and practice of neuropsychiatric pharmacists. The
vision of AAPP is that every individual living with psychiatric or neurologic disorder
has a care team that includes a neuropsychiatric pharmacist accountable for optimal
medication therapy. Members of this organization work directly with patients and caregivers
to apply clinical knowledge and skills, educate and train healthcare professionals,
and develop new knowledge in order to improve health outcomes for these individuals.
Patient recovery and an improved quality of life are important outcomes in the treatment
of psychiatric and neurologic disorders.
Founded in 1990, Helping to Educate and Rehabilitate Together (H.E.A.R.T.) was established
as a student organization at Duquesne University. Its membership is comprised of concerned
pharmacy students who have an interest in or whose lives have been affected by the
problems associated with substance use disorders. H.E.A.R.T hopes to diminish the
prevalence of substance use disorders among pharmacy students, pharmacists, and the
community through education and enhanced awareness of this illness. H.E.A.R.T. features
guest speakers who are in recovery and other health care professionals who specialize
in addiction and substance use disorders. The organization further assists in the
planning and organizing of the Interprofessional Substance Use Disorder Awareness
Program for all first professional year pharmacy students and students enrolled in
the School of Health Sciences.
The student chapter of Industry Pharmacists Organization (IPhO) is the most recent
addition to the family of professional student pharmacy organizations at Duquesne.
IPhO is dedicated to advancing the careers of pharmacists in industry. Its mission
is to provide timely and relevant information to its membership, raise awareness among
employers about the role that pharmacists can play in drug development and appropriate
medication counseling, provide targeted resources and coaching to enhance continuing
education and professional development of its members, create opportunities for members
to network and exchange ideas, and provide access to employment opportunities available
in the pharmaceutical industry.
The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) is an organization dedicated
to promoting independent pharmacy practice. It is committed to developing a business-minded
perspective towards pharmacy in order to provide optimal healthcare to the public.
The NCPA student chapter participates in the annual business plan competition, which
helps to foster the development of the student pharmacist as both a practitioner and
entrepreneur.
The mission of the Pediatric Pharmacy Association (PPA) is to improve the lives of
children by advocating for safe and effective medication use in children through collaboration,
advocacy, research, and education. The PPA advances its mission by promoting awareness
of optimal medication therapy in conjunction with other health care professionals
through the coordination of an effective communication network. The Duquesne University
chapter was formed in 2012.
As the leading voice of pharmacy in the state, the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association
- Allegheny County Pharmacists Association (PPA-ACPA) Academy of Student Pharmacists
promotes the profession through advocacy, education, and communication to enhance
patient care and public health PPA-ACPA is a professional organization comprised of
licensed pharmacists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and others who reside,
work, attend college, or are interested in pharmacy in Pennsylvania. Chartered as
a professional student pharmacy organization on the Duquesne University campus during
the 2007-2008 academic year, the student chapter strives to raise awareness about
the important role pharmacists and student pharmacists play in health care. It does
so by providing educational outreach to the general public and by meeting with state
legislators to advocate for the profession of pharmacy and the patients that we serve.
The Pennsylvania Society of Health System Pharmacists (PSHP), otherwise referred to
as the Student Society of Health System Pharmacists (SSHP), exposes student pharmacists
to the multitude of practice settings within health system pharmacy such as hospital
practice, infusion services, and long-term care. PSHP/SSHP promotes safe, proper and
cost-effective medication use, serves as an advocate for patient access to appropriate
drug therapy, enhances public awareness of the value of care provided by pharmacists,
and promotes pharmacy as an essential component of the health care team. It further
encourages student pharmacists to seek postgraduate residencies aimed at higher education
and advanced patient care. PSHP/SSHP is responsible for service events, advocacy activities,
and residency informational sessions throughout the academic year. PSHP/SSHP hopes
to better prepare student pharmacists as they enter the health system setting, as
well as encourage student pharmacists to achieve leadership positions both within
the pharmacy profession as well as within their future prospective practice setting.
The Eta Chapter of Phi Lambda Sigma (PLS), a national honorary pharmacy leadership
society, was chartered at Duquesne University in 1980. The society recognizes and
encourages leadership in the profession of pharmacy. The society selects students
for membership who have completed at least one semester of the professional curriculum
and have demonstrated exemplary leadership qualities. PLS hosts the annual Student
Leadership Retreat and Spring Induction and Awards Ceremony, actively engages in community
service, and promotes other projects and initiatives focused on leadership development
among both its members and non-members.
Rho Chi is a national honor society recognizing the scholastic achievement of the
top 20 percent of each year's pharmacy class, based upon a cumulative grade point
average. The society was granted a charter at Duquesne University in 1941 as the Alpha
Beta Chapter. Members are inducted into this prestigious organization during the spring
semester of the PY2 year. Rho Chi takes pride as leaders in the profession by encouraging
and recognizing intellectual excellence. It honors pharmacy students for achieving
and exemplifying the highest standards of academic integrity, knowledge, and skill.
As part of its chapter mission and initiatives, members of the Rho Chi Society offer
individual tutoring services and exam review sessions to pharmacy students enrolled
at Duquesne University.
The Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) was founded in 1972 as the
student affiliate of the National Pharmaceutical Association (NPhA). The student chapter
of SNPhA at Duquesne University was established in 2002. SNPhA is an education and
service association of student pharmacists who are concerned about pharmacy and health
care issues and the need for greater minority representation in pharmacy and other
health professions. It is dedicated to serving the underserved.
Professional Pharmacy Fraternities
Kappa Epsilon (KE) is a professional fraternity for student pharmacists. The mission
of Kappa Epsilon is to unite pharmacy students, faculty, and alumni dedicated to empower
its members to achieve personal and professional competence, to develop leaders within
the profession and community, and to provide professional and philanthropic services.
It was granted a charter at Duquesne University as the Alpha Phi chapter in October
1999. Kappa Epsilon hosts multiple events in which its members can participate. An
Annual Women's Health Luncheon is held each October with proceeds donated to various
organizations that promote women's health. Other events include special dinners, lunches,
ice cream socials, gatherings before meetings, Masses at the Duquesne University Chapel,
and formals. Service projects include food and clothing drives, collections to send
supplies to underdeveloped countries, service at the local food back, and volunteer
efforts at the Children's Institute in Pittsburgh.
Kappa Psi is the oldest and largest pharmaceutical fraternity in the world. It was
founded in 1879 at the Russell Military Academy in New Haven, Connecticut. It currently
includes collegiate and graduate chapters across the United States, Canada, and the
Bahamas. The Delta Epsilon Chapter of Kappa Psi at Duquesne University was founded
in 1967. Responding to an increased number of women entering the pharmacy profession,
Delta Epsilon amended its constitution in 1986 and began accepting women. Its mission
is to advance the profession of pharmacy-educationally, fraternally and socially;
to instill industry, sobriety, fellowship and high ideals in its members, and to foster
scholarship and pharmaceutical research.
Lambda Kappa Sigma (LKS) is an international professional pharmacy fraternity that
was founded at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy in 1913. Tau Chapter was launched
at Duquesne in 1932 with the purpose of promoting the profession of pharmacy among
women. It continues to grow with the addition of the local alumni chapter. Recognized
as the LKS Collegiate Chapter of the Year 2019-2020, the chapter philanthropy is Project
HOPE, an organization that provides medical relief to countries in need. LKS participates
in numerous service, professional, social, and fundraising events. Annual events include
the Project HOPE Brunch, Ronald McDonald House volunteer days, charity events, women's
health presentations, spring formal, Tree Teas, and dinner with alumni members. Involvement
within the organization, university, and community is a key focus.
Founded in 1960, the Duquesne University Beta Gamma Chapter of Phi Delta Chi (PDC)
national pharmacy fraternity endeavors to integrate academic, spiritual, and social
activities while fostering the highest professional and personal ideals. The Beta
Gamma chapter at Duquesne is nationally heralded as one of the outstanding Phi Delta
Chi chapters. Throughout its long and storied history, the chapter has won 13 Emory
W. Thurston awards, which is Phi Delta Chi's highest honor. The chapter merited the
Phi Delta Chi National Professional and Service Projects Award for its extensive work
both on campus and in the surrounding community. It was further recognized by the
Professional Fraternity Association, a national organization that encompasses professional
fraternities and sororities from a variety of majors, by receiving its Outstanding
Community Service Award. A fraternity of both men and women, PDC participates in annual
"Movember" events and fundraising activities to support the fight against prostate
cancer. Other philanthropies include St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Gilda's
Club of Pittsburgh.
