The University of Appalachia College of Pharmacy (UACP) held its First Annual Career Fair on Friday, October 27, 2006. The fair was held at the newly renovated Garden Creek campus, located in Oakwood, VA. Students in the P1 and P2 classes were able to meet and network with over 40 representatives from 22 companies. P ractitioners, recruiters, and students met to provide and exchange information regarding career opportunities, mentoring, experiential opportunities, tuition assistance, and scholarships. Students were able to gain a better understanding of future career opportunities, discover employment opportunities, develop their networking skills, and obtain information about tuition assistance programs.

The Joint Organization Committee (JOC) sponsored the fair. JOC is a student-run organization that encompasses three professional pharmacy organizations: the American Pharmacists Association, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, and the National Community Pharmacists Association. Jennifer Frye, president of JOC and a P2 student; and Kynsi Kline, a P1 student, organized student involvement in the fair. Faculty advisors were Dr. Sarah Melton and Ms. Whitney Caudill.

Organizations that participated in the fair included the following: Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Inc; Buchanan General Hospital; Centra Health; Charleston Area Medical Center; Clinch Valley Medical Center; CVS/pharmacy; Holston Valley Medical Center; KMart Pharmacy; Kroger Pharmacy; MediCorp Health System; Mutual Wholesale Drug Co.; Pikeville Medical Center; Raleigh General Hospital; Safeway Pharmacy; Wal-Mart Pharmacy; Walgreens; Cardinal Health; US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps; Medco of Richmond, LLC; Brooks Eckerd Pharmacy; Rite Aid; and the Virginia Pharmacists Association.

The career fair is an important part of the professional development program at UACP. Many students have been able to follow up with representatives after the fair to arrange interviews, internships, and experiential opportunities. Eural Viers, president of the student body, stated, “ I was very impressed with the number of vendors that participated in our first annual career fair and the great distance that some of the vendors traveled to meet the students at UACP.”

Amanda Blankenship, another P2 student, found attending the career fair to be a reaffirmation of her desire to be a pharmacist. She stated, “After I visited the fair, it was as if my dream of becoming a pharmacist was going to come true. I felt as though everything was going to be worth all of my and my family’s investments. In fact, due to the fair, a company has already contacted me, and I have participated in an informal interview.”
UACP looks forward to the Second Annual Career Fair, which will be held on Friday, November 9, 2007. Please visit check back in the spring for registration information.

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