Engaging Students and Pharmacists in Medical Missions

Medical mission trips help meet the needs of underserved populations in the United States and abroad. As the medication experts, pharmacists play an important role in providing pharmacy services during these trips. Students can serve as pharmacist extenders by applying the knowledge, skills, and values learned in the classroom to reach more patients in resourcelimited settings. This paper describes the experience of the Gregory School of Pharmacy in sponsoring faithbased domestic and international medical missions. We believe that medical missions not only benefit those in need, but also foster professional growth and provide an opportunity for participants to develop a servantleadership mindset. Unlike the traditional leader, the servant-leader shares power, puts the needs of others first, and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible.