Members from Alpha Theta Chapter at the University of Buffalo and the Beta Alpha Chapter at D'Youville as the host chapters as well as the 2016-2018 Grand Council and Region Supervisors welcomed us to the city of Buffalo, New York for the 2018 LKS Convention.  The weather was just wonderful which was great as many of us were able to enjoy the warm weather and were also able to go to Niagara Falls. 

Thursday morning convention started out with our Keynote Speaker, Jim Ryan, the author of Simple Happiness:  52 Ways to Lighten Up.  ( www.jimryantalks.com)

He was uplifting and even sang and played the guitar.  His talk focused on 8 Characteristics of Happy People which were: 

1. Intention (You choose to be happy.  You make the decision);
2. Accountability (Happy people are responsible for your happiness);
3. Know what you love to do and find time to do it (Make time for you and what you enjoy to do.);
4. Follow your bliss ("When you follow your bliss, doors will open that you didn't even know existed." Joseph Campbell);
5. Recasting (Recast mournful events.  Every cloud has a silver lining)
6. Options (We have options.  Don't be afraid to take a chance.)
7. Appreciation (He quoted the Book of Psalms from the Bible.  "This is the day the Lord has made.  Let us rejoice and be glad in it.")
8. Giving (We should give to others and practice compassion.)

2018 Awards Luncheon

2018 Distinguished Young Pharmacist Award

• Justine Dickson (Alpha Beta Alumni)
• Nominated by Afton Wagner

2018 Advisor Award  

• Mary Beth O'Connell (Omicron)
• Nominated by Brittany Stewart (Omicron)

2018 Award of Merit

• Lauren Aleksunes (Alpha Beta Alumni)
• Nominated by Christine Perry (Alpha Alumni)

2018 LKS/Merk & Co. Vanguard Leadership Award  

• Gayle Brazeau (Alpha Mu Chapter)
• Nominated by Christine Perry (Alpha Alumni)

2018 Distinguished Service Citation

• Sharon Brown (Alpha Iota)
• Nominated by Gloria Bernstein (Nu Chapter Alumni)

Collegiate of the Year Award-  This was a new award this year which will now be given annually to a collegiate member who embodies our five core values of leadership, scholarship, sisterhood, service, and integrity in an exemplary manner within Lambda Kappa Sigma, the profession of pharmacy, and/or the community.  Nominations will be open for any member of the organization (collegiate or alumni) to nominate a collegiate who they believe goes above and beyond to demonstrate the core values.

2018 Collegiate of the Year Award

• Sarah Chin (Xi)
• Nominated by Paige Kennedy

2018 Ruth Davies Flaherty Service Award Recipients (Alumni)

• Sara Kheboian (Alpha Alumni)
• Marissa Salvo (Alpha Beta Alumni)

Dr. Leigh Briscoe-Dwyer, Vice President of Network Pharmacy for the Westchester County Medical Center Health System in Valhalla, New York maintains an Adjunct Clinical Faculty position at Albany College of Pharmacy, and is an Affiliate Associate Professor at St. John's University presented on "Advocacy, Leadership, and the Future of Health-System Pharmacy."

Dr. Elizabeth Kukielka, is an associate medical writer on the clinical communications team at Michael J. Hennessy, Associates, where she writes and develops clinical content for numerous healthcare publications both in print and online, including Pharmacy Times and the American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC); she presented on "Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancers:  How Pharmacists Can Help".

There was also a breakout session open to collegiate and alumni members that was presented by Timothy R. Ulbrich, who is the creator of Your Financial Pharmacist blog, co-host of Your Financial Pharmacist Podcast and co-author of Seven Figure Pharmacist:  How to Maximize Your Income, Eliminate Debt and Create Wealth.  His workshop was entitled "Building a Strong Financial Foundation"

Blue & Gold Dinner

Thursday evening closed with the Blue & Gold Dinner with special entertainment with a hypnotist and, yes, we were really entertained by our fellow sisters that were put under.  Even our Grand President, Chris Grass, was involved and of course the hilarious Kathy Huff as she was a fabulous conductor.  Way to go ladies!!!

Leadership Program

Friday opened up with a dynamic Leadership Program that was sponsored by Albertson's Pharmacies.  

Christine Perry, Manager of Pharmacy Recruiting and College Relations for the Shaws Osco, ACME Savon and Safeway divisions of Albertson's Pharmacies and Sharon Brown, Pharmacy Manager at Houston Methodist St. Catherine Hospital in Katy, TX spoke about "Manager=Leader" and "Crucial Conversations: Tips for Managing High Stake Conversations".  

This Leadership program also provided a panel discussion which also included Dr. Elicia DeParolesa, Patient Care Service Manager for Shaws Osco Pharmacy, Dr. Chistine Procaccianti, owner and pharmacist of Green Line Apothecary in Wakefield, RI, Dr. Gayle Brazeau, Dean of School of Pharmacy at Marshall University School of Pharmacy in West Virginia and Past Grand President, Ruth Brown, who is currently retired works as per diem pharmacist at a local medical center, but has had a career in health system pharmacy where she has moved up the ladder as supervisor, associate director and director for Crozer Keystone Health System and brings over 45 years of experience.  This was an exciting leadership program and both collegiate and alumni were able to learn and be engaged throughout the discussion.

Alumni Conference

Our Alumni Conference on Saturday morning was led by our now Grand President, Chris Grass.  We were able to reconnect with each other and also were able to welcome new alumni members to the fold and of course play BINGO.  

The Social Media Committee Chairman, Christine Perry, provided an update on the LKS Social Media Committee and was able to provide the alumni members the low down on the 4 social media platforms that LKS utilizes.  These 4 social media platforms are:

Facebook (FB):

Purpose:  to give people a voice and help people connect.  Users have an account and a newsfeed. 

Instagram (IG) (open to public)-

Twitter-

Convention concluded with the final banquet which included the installation of the 2018-2020 Grand Council.  We also recognized Mary Grear for her 50 Years of Membership in LKS,

Starlin Haydon-Greatting, IPhA Director of Clinical Programs and Population Health, has been reappointed to the Specialty Council on Ambulatory Care Pharmacy for the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) for the 2019-2021 term.   Congratulatio ns Starlin, thank you for representing IPhA on a national level!  Starlin also received the Bowl of Hygeia.

Psi Mu Omega's HBCU Hidden Figure, Tameya Sam, is a graduate of Texas Southern University, where she was initiated into the Gamma Psi chapter.   While at TSU, she was on the Dean's list, won 2nd Place in the European Poetic Interpretation, and was Class & Fraternal Presidents. She was also on the Debate Team, LKS, APhA, SNAPHA, and NOBBCHE.  She earned a Doctor of Pharmacy and minored in Biology .  She's a Compounding & Community Pharmacist.  Outstanding achievements in her field include APhA One-To-One Counseling Winner, and CVS District Paragon Winner.   Besides being the Secretary of Psi Mu Omega, she's an Immunizer, Top Teens Mentor, and Shadowcreek PTO Mom.