Pharmacy students got a glimpse of how the political process impacts their careers at Legislative Day, held Oct. 17 at the Davidson Conference Center.

The event provided a forum for various perspectives on the pharmacy profession and the legislative issues that surround it.

Immediately following the formal program, students hosted a health fair at Alumni Park, giving guests an opportunity to be checked for diabetes, cholesterol, hypertension and osteoporosis by student pharmacists.

Legislative Day promotes student awareness and involvement in legislative issues and educates legislators about pharmaceutical issues. It also gives pharmacists a chance to voice their concerns to politicians.

“Our profession is impacted by numerous outside forces,” said David Breslow, School of Pharmacy alum and CEO of United Pharmacists Network Inc. “The legislature will make changes happen. Pharmacists must be on the political frontlines to have their voices heard.”

Breslow was among the speakers at a breakfast attended by nearly 200 people. Elected officials speaking at the event included California State Assemblymembers Mike Eng and Anthony Portantino, State Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas and chair of the State Board of Equalization Judy Chu.

Other speakers included John Tilley, past president of the National Community Pharmacists Association; Jeffery Goad, president-elect of the California Pharmacists Association and an associate professor at the School of Pharmacy; and Victor Law, chairman of the United Pharmacists Network Inc.

USC School of Pharmacy Dean R. Pete Vanderveen and Kathleen Johnson, chair of the Titus Family Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Economics & Policy, also spoke.

The event was sponsored by the United Pharmacists Network, the California Pharmacists Association, Albertsons-SavOn, the USC Graduate and Professional Student Senate and the Associated Students of the School of Pharmacy.

Pharmacy students Maryam Nowakhtar, director of legislative affairs for the school’s National Community Pharmacy chapter, and Tim Bensman, director of legislative affairs for the American Pharmacy Student Alliance, organized the event.