Over a dozen College of Pharmacy students recently completed training for HIV Counseling and Testing at Nashville Cares. The training was sponsored by the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) and is a part of their Remember the Ribbon initiative to improve HIV/AIDs awareness, education, and prevention in minority communities.

SNPhA members from Belmont, including advisor Dr. Edgar Diaz-Cruz, learned through hands on training and role playing how to properly administer the HIV rapid oral test, as well as how to deliver those results with compassion and understanding. Additionally, students learned invaluable education tools about safe practices and the prevention of HIV. The students who completed the training are now officially certified in HIV Counseling and Testing through the Tennessee Department of Health. The students plan on using the skills learned to serve the surrounding communities through education and prevention.

Students completing the training include: Jennifer Chisum, Ricky Church, Marion Compton, Kyla Cunico, Erin Todd, Fernando Diggs, Joshua Farrell, Michelle Krichbaum, Gia Nguyen, Fredrick O’Neal, Ugoeze Onuoha, Sara Thompson and Bailey Bolten.