STATEWIDE ENGAGEMENT
"Many people in southwest Missouri make huge impacts in their communities. I don’t take for granted that I stand on the shoulders of those who have come before me – pharmacists and community leaders – and they continue to make me want to do better for my patients, students and community."
HEATHER LYONS-BURNEY, PHARM.D.
In addition to her work at UMKC and her other nonprofit clinic, Lyons-Burney serves as a volunteer pharmacist and board president of My Neighbor's Charitable Pharmacy in Branson, Missouri.
Professor honored for starting first charitable pharmacy in Missouri
School of Pharmacy Associate Professor Heather Lyons-Burney, Pharm.D., was named the Community Foundation of the Ozarks' 2023 Humanitarian for her work establishing My Neighbor’s Charitable Pharmacy in Branson, Missouri. The pharmacy is the only charitable pharmacy in the state.
“Being recognized for this award was an incredible surprise,” Lyons-Burney said. “Many people in southwest Missouri make huge impacts in their communities. I don’t take for granted that I stand on the shoulders of those who have come before me – pharmacists and community leaders – and they continue to make me want to do better for my patients, students and community.”
Neighbor’s Pharmacy provides those who are uninsured with medications for common chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, mental illness and breathing issues. In addition to her work at UMKC and Faith Community Health, Lyons-Burney serves as a volunteer pharmacist and board president of the charitable pharmacy, which primarily serves Stone and Taney counties.
“Neighbor’s Pharmacy and Faith Community Health have been passion projects for nearly 15 years,” Lyons-Burney said. “Being able to share the marathon work and creativity that goes into making a dream a reality with my students has been especially rewarding as they envision themselves solving problems in the future.”
Lyons-Burney was presented with her award at an event for the Association of Fundraising Professionals-Ozark Region Chapter in November 2023. In 2010, Lyons-Burney helped found Faith Community Health, a nonprofit clinic that focuses on providing care for people in the health-care gap – those who make too much money to be on Medicaid, but not enough to afford health insurance. After establishing the nonprofit, Lyons-Burney worked with the Missouri General Assembly to pass legislation to create Class Q Charitable Pharmacies, which laid the groundwork for the opening of My Neighbor’s Charitable Pharmacy.
Heather Lyons-Burney, Pharm.D., consults with a colleague at My Neighbor's Charitable Pharmacy in Branson, Missouri.
"Many people in southwest Missouri make huge impacts in their communities. I don’t take for granted that I stand on the shoulders of those who have come before me – pharmacists and community leaders – and they continue to make me want to do better for my patients, students and community."
HEATHER LYONS-BURNEY, PHARM.D.
Faculty member Cameron Lindsey, Pharm.D., M.P.H., is the driving force behind the pharmacy services offered at Our Healthy Jackson County events.
Community health initiative gives students an opportunity to give back
Students and faculty of the UMKC School of Pharmacy are key partners in the success of Our Healthy Jackson County, a community health initiative dedicated to promoting equity and access to vaccinations and other services in the Kansas City area. Formerly Our Healthy Kansas City Eastside, the program has expanded its services and community footprint to all of Jackson County, thanks in part to the county, which awarded $5 million in funding for the next phase of the program.
As an investigator on the grant, faculty member Cameron Lindsey, Pharm.D., M.P.H., has been spearheading the broad range of pharmacy services offered at the program’s community health clinics. As chair of the Division of Pharmacy Practice, she hears from students often seeking opportunities to practice their clinical skills out in the community.
“Our Healthy Jackson County is a fantastic example of a community and public partnership that elevates the next generation of health professionals by giving them the opportunity to provide inclusive, informed care,” Lindsey said. As a pharmacist, faculty member and alumna, it truly warms my heart to see our students in action and the community members who trust us.”
Pharmacy students and faculty offer vaccines such as COVID, influenza and HPV. They also give health screenings covering mental health, smoking cessation, blood pressure and cancer risk.
The success of the program is made clear by the numbers alone. In 2021 and 2022, pharmacy students and faculty worked alongside other health-care professionals to give nearly 13,000 vaccinations and provide more than 4,100 various types of health services. In fall 2023, the program held six clinics and provided services to around 400 people.
According to Lindsey, the cancer risk reduction screenings were added following the successful pilot program led by Diana Tamer, Pharm.D., a clinical professor at the School of Pharmacy.
The program educated 114 attendees on reducing their cancer risk while referring them to services in their community.
Micah Anderson is one of the students who is heavily involved with Our Healthy Jackson County, taking on a variety of roles as a volunteer. She has lived in Jackson County her entire life and says the opportunity to give back to her community was something she couldn’t pass up.
“This opportunity is really important to me, using the skills and clinical knowledge that I’ve developed at UMKC to give back to the people that have poured so much into me,” said Anderson.
Our Healthy Jackson County has 27 events already planned for 2024.
Student Micah Anderson performs a blood pressure check on a community member during an Our Healthy Jackson County event.
Faculty members taking part in the 2023 Medipreneurs Summit.
School hosts summit for entrepreneurs
In June, the School of Pharmacy hosted the 2023 Medipreneurs Summit, a national conference for health-care professionals. According to Medipreneurs’ website, nearly 80% of entrepreneurs don’t make it past the 10-year mark. The Medipreneurs conference provides attendees with a network of innovators and business development tools with the goal of increasing the success rate of health entrepreneurial businesses. This mission aligns with the school’s mission surrounding innovation, which made the School of Pharmacy an ideal host for the 2023 event.