Belmont University College of Pharmacy has partnered with the Tennessee State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to provide student volunteers to assist with counseling senior citizens about their drug and health plan choices.   Belmont is one of three pharmacy schools in Tennessee working with TN SHIP to help individuals with their decision-making during the Medicare Part D Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) in the fall.

Four Belmont pharmacy students – Leah Dickerson, Emily Russell, Sara Thompson, and Chris Kepinski  – participated in AEP events last year as part of their IPPE rotation at Walgreens with Dr. Robert DePreist.  The four students completed the project as part of their academic concentration in Pharmacy Missions/Public Health, one of four areas of specialized study within Belmont’s PharmD program.   In August, additional students received training to assist individuals in the coming months.

The volunteer training program was recently featured in a newsletter published by the National Council on Aging.