Student pharmacists help with COVID-19 testing on campus

Real-life healthcare experience was gained by ten students from the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, who assisted with COVID-19 testing at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Friday, August 21. Held in the UH Hilo gym, the testing was hosted by Premier Medical Group and was open to UH Hilo students in the morning and to the public in the afternoon.

Several hundred people, including students, staff, faculty and the public, received the simple nasal swab procedure and were told to expect to get results by mail in three to five days. Pharmacy students assisted with collecting screening paperwork, checking vital signs, managing traffic flow and sanitizing all resources between each person.

Participating DKICP students included Steve Aluoch, Marie Cidera, Kendrick Dalmacio, Tiana Enos-Dano, Jayden Kim, Tristan Magdalera, Analeslie Martinez, Madalyn McCaulley, Daijiro Oshitari and Tricia Stevens.

“I would absolutely go back and help out at another screening event,” said P3 student Tricia Stevens. “Volunteers are a valuable resource, especially during these uncharted waters. As the healthcare system works to solve the COVID-19 crisis, student pharmacists are able to step up and fill vital roles that make this process available to the community.”

Having gone through the deep nasal swab testing twice, herself, Stevens said the experience was swift and felt like a tickle deep into the nose. “The nurses were very comforting through the whole process.”

The next COVID-19 testing on campus will be held September 1.