Community engagement and improving equity is highly emphasized at Xavier University of Louisiana. On Saturday, March 11, several Xavier College of Pharmacy students and faculty, seeking to make positive change, participated in the Health and Wellness Day in New Orleans East. The students and faculty provided interested community members with education and resources that can contribute to an overall healthier lifestyle.

Approaching 100 years of service, Xavier University of Louisiana recognizes the stark disparities in health for vulnerable populations and seeks avenues to lessen the gaps. Since Xavier’s College of Pharmacy was established in 1927, it has been dedicated to training culturally competent pharmacists to impact health disparities in underserved communities. The Health and Wellness Day in New Orleans East was sponsored by Ochsner Health, the New Orleans Recreation and Department Commission, and Verizon. The now annual event began in 2022 to give community members and residents of New Orleans East access to educational resources concerning their health. Because of the institution's long and storied partnership with Ochsner, Xavier has been central in the execution of this philanthropic event from the start. This year, the initiative was spearheaded by Dr. Bobby LeDuff, College of Pharmacy Academic Fellow in the Division of Clinical and Administrative Sciences.

“The health fairs that we participate in, such as the Health and Wellness Day in New Orleans East, provide a way for us to connect with and help underserved patients. We as pharmacists and student pharmacists are not only able to screen patients for certain health conditions, but we are also able to educate patients and guide them to the appropriate care if warranted,” said Dr. LeDuff.”

Xavier University of Louisiana emphasizes the importance of equitable health policy, education, and advocacy. Pharmacy students at Xavier are instilled with strong values and cultural awareness to elevate their skills as future healthcare providers. Advocacy for improved health outcomes is highly stressed for students to pass on to the communities they serve. 

“We must make sure that the community is involved in the creation of policies that will affect their health and their health outcomes since they are better able to communicate their own needs.” said the Dean of the College of Pharmacy, Dr. Kathleen Kennedy.

Xavier’s curricula, while highlighting the need for community engagement, goes one step further and gives high-level students the opportunity to explore hands-on experience in their fields. P3 and P4 students in Xavier’s College of Pharmacy attended the Health and Wellness Day in New Orleans East. They were able to teach interested community members about the detriments of smoking cigarettes, the nutritional value of different types of food, and even conduct BMI screenings on patients willing to participate.

“These events also allow us to collaborate with other health care professionals to optimize patient outcomes and increase access to care, especially for patients who are underinsured or uninsured,” said Dr. LeDuff, “Lastly, students are able to apply patient care skills learned in the classroom to real situations; moreover, they can see the impact pharmacists have in the community by participating in these events.”

Gaining knowledge to better assist the community is only the first step; applying that knowledge and sharing it with the communities encompasses the practice of pharmacy as a whole. At Xavier, pharmacy students upon graduation will proudly have vital experiences they need to positively serve already underserved communities and fulfill the mantle of being the next generation of changemakers.