Establishing a development event for a free medical clinic

BACKGROUND - Leadership and service and difficult to learn for some students seeking professional careers. At the University of Utah College of Pharmacy, the pharmacy gala has become a student-initiated and student-led opportunity for student pharmacists to practice both leadership and service-learning. METHODS - Third and fourth year students involved in hosting the first annual pharmacy gala improved organization and recruitment of incoming students to participate in hosting the second annual pharmacy gala. Over 25 students choose to be involved at a level considered significant. RESULTS - The pharmacy gala has raised over $20,000 combined from the first and second year. The gala is also scheduled and on track to be hosted for a third time on February 17,2011. Exit survey results from the second annual gala demonstrate that nearly everyone who choose to participate would be willing to participate again in the future. CONCLUSION - The pharmacy gala is a sustainable event that provides student pharmacists an opportunity to practice and learn leadership skills and develop a genuine sense of community service while providing a real and tangible financial benefit to the Maliheh Free Clinic.