Representatives from Wisconsin’s three pharmacy schools, including Concordia University Wisconsin, attended an Aug. 2 bill signing at the Wisconsin State Capitol. Representatives from Wisconsin’s three pharmacy schools, including Concordia University Wisconsin, attended an Aug. 2 bill signing at the Wisconsin State Capitol. Two representatives from Concordia University Wisconsin’s School of Pharmacy were present yesterday for a bill that Gov. Scott Walker signed into effect which allows pharmacy interns the opportunity to gain practical experience in immunizing children.
Concordia’s Dean of Pharmacy, Dr. Dean Arneson, and Kelly Kempen, a fourth-year pharmacy student at CUW, attended the signing of Act 42 at the Wisconsin State Capitol on Aug. 2. Representatives from Wisconsin’s other two pharmacy schools also attended.
Act 42 allows a pharmacy intern who has completed at least two years of pharmacy school and an approved course in immunization administration to immunize patients ages six and older. While pharmacists in Wisconsin can immunize patients as young as six, before this act was signed interns could only immunize patients 18 and older.
The new law closes the experiential gap and will provide pharmacy interns the opportunity to gain practical experience in immunizing children, which develops their pharmacist skills and improves self-confidence.
“The enactment of this piece of legislation is a great addition to the training of pharmacy students,” said Arneson. “It allows interns to can gain valuable experience so that they are more fully prepared when they begin practicing as a licensed professional.”
— This story is written by Kali Thiel, director of university communications for Concordia University Wisconsin and Ann Arbor. She may be reached at kali.thiel@cuw.edu or 262-243-2149.
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