Welcome to the May 2021 National Hispanic Pharmacists Association Quarterly Newsletter!
Dear NHPA Members,
It is with great pleasure that the NHPA Board Members reviewed all the applications for our 2021 leadership positions. We are deeply inspired by all nominees and we wish we could have elected all to NHPA leadership positions. If you were not elected, please do not be discouraged. You will have a leadership opportunity at NHPA in the future, whether it is in a different national leadership position, as an active member of a committee, or even as a board member. In addition, consider reaching out the NHPA Board Members and new NHPA National Leaders to introduce yourself. Share with us what you are currently doing, your dreams, and your aspirations. In my experience, having a face-to-face (or zoom-to-zoom) interaction or a telephone call have made a difference in obtaining my next desired position.
The NHPA Board Members and I are excited to announce the newly elected NHPA National Leaders.
 
NHPA Board of Directors Member:
  • Dr. Gabriela C. Cipriano, PharmD, BCACP (Greece, New York)
  • Dr. Tina Christi Marie Lopez, PharmD, MSPhr, BCACP (San Antonio, Texas)

NHPA Board of Directors Subcommittee Chairs 
  • Pipeline: Dr. Jason M. Cota, PharmD, MS, BCIDP (San Antonio, Texas)
  • Research: Dr. Beatriz Manzor Mitrzyk, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP (Northville, Michigan)
  • Patient Education: Dr. Anibal Ubaque, PharmD, RPh (Miami, Florida)
  • Legislative: Dr. Diana De Vore, PharmD, MPH, CPH (Redwood, California)

NHPA Regional Directors:  
  • Southwest: Dr. Christopher Hernandez Alvarado, PharmD, RPh (San Antonio, Texas)
  • West: Dr. Mario Jimenez, PharmD (Walnut, California)

NHPA Assistant Regional Directors:
  • Southeast: Dayana Pimentel-Dominquez (University of Georgia College of Pharmacy; Athens, Georgia)
  • Southwest: Claudia Alejandra Zamarripa (University of the Incarnate Word, Feik School of Pharmacy; San Antonio, Texas)
  • West: Yvonne Alva (Western University of Health Sciences; Pomona, California)

Congratulations and welcome aboard!!
 
We are conducting a second round of nominations and elections for the following positions.

  • Professional Development Subcommittee Chair
  • Sponsors Subcommittee Chair
  • Membership Subcommittee Chair

  • Midwest Regional Director
  • Southeast Regional Director
  • Northeast Regional Director

  • Midwest Assistant Regional Director
  • Northeast Assistant Regional Director

All nominations are are due by Friday, May 28, 2021.
Please email nhpa@nhmafoundation.org with any questions.

NHPA staff will contact nominees and those who accept need to submit Letters of Intent, CV/Resume, and Unofficial Transcripts (students only) due by Friday June 11th, 2021.
Please submit your complete application material early.
If you have any questions about these positions, please feel free to contact me directly, I would be happy to talk to you more about these positions over the telephone. My e-mail is: Maria.Hearns-Rivas@alumni.ucsf.edu.
 
Once all new NHPA National Leaders have been elected by Monday, June 21st, 2021, NHPA staff will send out a doodle poll for the New Leadership Orientation date by Thursday, June 24th, 2021. All responses will be due on Thursday July 1st, 2021 so we can notify the new leaders for their orientation.
 
Last, but not least, save the date for our Annual NHPA National Conference on Saturday, July 24th, 2021!! Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this annual meeting will also be virtual. Stay tuned for the conference agenda we have in store for our members.

With great appreciation,

Dr. Maria M. Hearns-Rivas, PharmD, APh, BCGP, CDCES
President
National Hispanic Pharmacists Association 
Thank you and Farewell

We extend a special thank you to Christopher Alvarado, PharmD, RPh for his time serving on NHPA's Board of Directors! We appreciate your leadership and look forward to your continued contributions to NHPA's mission.
Opportunities
The Hispanic Health Professional Student Scholarship — Now Open!

Applications are due by September 24, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Founded in 2004 by the National Hispanic Health Foundation, this scholarship opportunity is designed to support health professionals with outstanding academic records, proven leadership, and a strong commitment to serving Hispanics. Please share within your networks. Click to explore more information and apply today!
CardinalHealth is Hiring!
CardinalHealth is seeking to hire rising P2-P3 students who are bilingual in Spanish at a healthcare professional level to engage in MTM on their remote team!
CardinalHealth is also seeking to hire for a full-time bilingual pharmacist position!
Donate to NHPA
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We ask that you please consider making a $25 donation to help NHPA improve the health of Hispanics through the pharmacy arena.
NHPA Member's Corner
Why Join NHPA?

  • Receive discounted registration to the NHPA Annual Meeting
  • Serve as a Mentor in NHPA programs
  • Serve as a Mentee in NHPA programs
  • Serve as a Speaker for NHPA Webinars/Student Chapters
  • Access to other members in our Social Circles
  • Apply for the NHHF Hispanic Pharmacist Student Scholarship
Click to see our membership options:
Membership options include individual, institutional, and corporate memberships with varying benefits. Learn more!
Start an NHPA Student Chapter at your school
If you are interested in starting a student chapter at your school, please visit this page for more information and fill out an online application.
Important Announcements & Upcoming Events
We're happy to welcome Marisa Lewis to the NHPA team—working along with Dr. Elena Rios, Executive Director, Jeanne Duvall, Controller, Dylan Garcia, Communications Manager, and Wanda Salcedo, Executive Assistant.

Please note that Marissa will be the new point of contact moving forward for all things related to the National Hispanic Pharmacist Association.

For question regarding programs:
Marisa Lewis, MA 
Programs Coordinator 
National Hispanic Health Foundation
Direct email: mlewis@nhmafoundation.org 
Direct Phone number: (202) 920-6356 Ext:115

For more information, please contact nhpa@nhmafoundation.org or (202) 628 5895.
REMINDER: Looking for your next CE credit? Session 2 of NHPA 's Pharmacist CE Webinar Series will be on Wednesday, May 19th 2021, from 8:15 - 9:15 p.m. Eastern Time. Register today!

This webinar is free to attend! Please note that NHPA members will receive free CE credit and nonmembers will need to pay.
Mark your calendars for Session 3 of NHPA's Pharmacist CE Webinar Series on Wednesday, August 18th, 2021 at 8:15 p.m. ET.

Speakers to be announced. Registration will go live at: https://www.nhmafoundation.org/pharmacist-webinars.
Thoughts on NHPA merchandise?
We're created a form to gauge interest in NHPA Merchandise. Please respond by August 6, 2021 to share your thoughts
NHPA Student Corner
April NHPA Student Webinar Spotlight
Thank you to the students and speakers who joined us on April 21, 2021, for an NHPA Student Pharmacist Webinar: Career Interview Preparation.

We appreciate our speakers Amilda Medina, PharmD, RPh; Christina Maria Carrizales Cortez, PharmD, BCPS; and Board Member Lisa Serrano, PharmD for hosting this insightful webinar designed to prepare students for career interviews.
Student Spotlight
This quarter’s Student Corner shares an interview with Michael Lainfiesta, a Doctor of Pharmacy Candidate at Long Island University. Lainfiesta had a patient who faced many cultural and linguistic barriers when seeking healthcare after moving from Mexico to the U.S.
Interview Summary:
My patient is a Mexican immigrant who is a liver transplant candidate living with AIDS here in New York City. He wanted what he considers a better life and moved to New York, noting poverty and healthcare as factors. He found the healthcare system challenging in his native Mexico due to the lack of healthcare professionals and the lack of accessibility. Despite easier access to healthcare here, he acknowledges the immense obstacle of a language barrier. His first proper translation wasn’t with any doctors, but with a social worker. He goes on to explain the difficulty seeking and accepting care when a common language isn’t used between healthcare providers and patients. He admits to not seeking healthcare at times because he is worried he won’t be understood and will waste his time and money by visiting a provider. 
...
About Michael Lainfiesta
I’m a Doctor of Pharmacy Candidate at Long Island University with a bachelors in English from Queens College. I am of Puertorican and Guatemalan descent with both parents being born in their respective countries. Born and raised in New York City, I’ve seen exactly how immigrants are treated throughout my life whether it be through life, work, or school experiences. I believe cultural awareness and minority representation must be emphasized in all structures of daily life. While not a fluent Spanish speaker I do my best to help all that need translation services and continually practice in order to improve in the hopes that a complete fluency level is reached. My goal after graduation is to complete post graduate training in order to lend a hand where needed and provide care to underrepresented groups and take on a national leadership role within the Phi Delta Chi Professional Pharmacy Fraternity. When I’m not in school my hobbies/interests include watching and playing sports, cooking, yoga, hiking, traveling, and writing.