Student Scholarships Awarded, Educational Events Held
By Allison Carew
The GAPNA Maryland Chapter has been busy in 2021! We started the year with a virtual chapter board meeting to establish goals for the year.
The chapter awarded two student scholarships to the GAPNA Pharmacology Conference in March 2022, in addition to GAPNA student memberships.
The recipients were Mary Zekan, an adult/gerontological nurse practitioner student at Johns Hopkins University, and Olubukola Aina, an adult/gerontological nurse practitioner student at University of Maryland Baltimore.
In May, Elizabeth Galik, PhD, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, member and a past president of GAPNA, presented virtually to our chapter on benzodiazepines and Z drugs in older adults. Pharmacology continuing education credit was awarded to attendees.
Throughout the summer, chapter leadership committee reviewed and updated the chapter’s bylaws. The bylaws were approved by chapter members and went into effect September 1, 2021.
In late September, another virtual pharmacology continuing education meeting was held. Brenda Windemuth, DNP, CRNP, presented “Medication Management of Pulmonary Obstructive Disease in Older Adults.” Again, one pharmacology continuing education credit was awarded.
The chapter participated in the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Ellicott City on September 25, 2021. The chapter raised $1,626 for the Alzheimer’s Association (see photo).
The Maryland Chapter was excited to hold its first in-person chapter meeting since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic on October 21. The presentation on hyperkalemia management in long-term care was sponsored by AstraZeneca. We were very much looking forward this educational activity!
Allison Carew, MS, CRNP
Chapter President
acarew5@gmail.com
Left to right – Allison Carew (President), Claire Regan (Treasurer), Maria Baxter (President Elect) at the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Ellicott City, Maryland on September 25, 2021.