A series of free webinars on a variety of healthcare topics is being offered to the public in April and May. The webinars have been developed and are being presented by students of the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy (DKICP) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, with the guidance of Roy Goo, DKICP associate professor and Pharmacy Practice Department chair.
“The ability of our students and faculty to interact with the community has been limited by the COVID-19 pandemic, and that’s likely to continue for the foreseeable future,” Goo said. “So just as healthcare, in general, is shifting its model of care to more remote contact, we are doing the same thing in education. We have to continue to fulfill the mission of our college to increase health literacy.”
In fall 2020, two DKICP students conducted a webinar about COVID-19. The presentation was so popular the college decided to host additional webinars and broaden the subject areas.
- Related UH News story: Pharmacy students to hit airwaves with health tips, March 5, 2021
Second-year pharmacy student Michael Abundo wanted to provide answers to the most common questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. He and fellow DKICP student Lillian Tran will be addressing those concerns in their webinar, The Truth About Vaccines.
“There have been distortions and misinformation about vaccines on social media and in the news, and we want to address these using evidence-based data,” Abundo said. “I hope our webinar will educate viewers about the safety and advantages of vaccines.”
Samantha Okubo, a third-year pharmacy student, is conducting a webinar about sexually transmitted infections (STI) and pregnancy prevention, and said her goal is to provide viewers with basic information about STIs, where to go for help and what to ask. “I also want them to be aware of their confidentiality rights and their options for testing and treatment.”
All webinars are free to the public but interested participants need to register ahead of time to receive the webinar link.
Webinars include:
- Tuesday, April 13, 12 p.m.
Protecting yourself from STI and pregnancy by knowing your rights and options
Sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy prevention can seem alarming and uncomfortable, but the right knowledge can keep you safe and prepared.
Register online
- Thursday, April 15, 12 p.m.
The truth about vaccines
Are vaccines safe? Can they make you sick? There are many questions you might ask when you are considering a vaccine for yourself. DKICP students will provide answers.
Register online
- Wednesday, May 12 , 12 p.m.
Relieving cold symptoms
There is nothing worse than waking up with a cold. When should you treat it and what options are appropriate? Student pharmacists will help to educate you on what’s most effective.
Register online
