'Operation Seizure First Aid'
AAPP Chapter Awarded Grant for Campuswide Initiative to Enhance Emergency Response to Episodes
With grant support from its national parent organization, the University of Houston College of Pharmacy chapter of the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists (AAPP) is launching “Operation Seizure First Aid” to strengthen seizure safety and emergency preparedness across the UH campus.
Operation Seizure First Aid aims to strengthen public health preparedness across campus, reduce stigma toward epilepsy, and equip future health care providers with essential emergency response skills.
As nearly 3 million people in the U.S. live with epilepsy, seizure encounters are not uncommon in health care settings or community environments. Without proper training, bystanders may react based on fear, misconceptions, or outdated information, increasing the risk of preventable complications.
The AAPP Foundation-funded initiative will address these concerns through in-person training sessions delivered at multiple campus locations over six months through March 2026. Although the training will focus on pharmacy, medicine, nursing and optometry students and faculty, the training also will be opened up to the broader campus community. Project organizers estimate approximately 180 participants will go through the training.
Interprofessional Focus
Although training sessions will be conducted by pharmacy and medical students, the interprofessional projects is being over seen UHCOP Clinical Associate Professor Austin De La Cruz, Pharm.D., BCPP, who serves as the project principal investigator, and Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine Assistant Professor Shayne Hassler, Ph.D., who serves as co-investigator.
A clinical psychiatric pharmacist at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center De La Cruz brings extensive experience in neurology and psychiatric pharmacotherapy and teaches neurological and psychiatric content throughout the pharmacy. Hassler offers a strong scientific foundation in neurobiology and medical instruction. His role ensures that medical students engage thoughtfully in the design and delivery of the training while reinforcing a truly interprofessional learning environment.
"Our goal is to make ensure that members of our campus community feel ready to help during a seizure," De La Cruz said. "Seizures can happen anywhere, so bringing this training directly to students, faculty and staff gives people the skills to respond safely. What makes this effort even stronger is the collaboration between pharmacy and medical students, who are leading the training together and expanding its impact across campus."
Beyond Basic Life Support
While all health professions students must complete Basic Life Support training and certification as part of their respective curricula, the component covering seizures doesn't go into much depth.
"Our Seizure First Aid Training includes more about the clinical context and education about seizures, dispelling common myths, and a step-by-step first aid response," De La Cruz said. "Overall this training ensures that participants can assist individuals during and after a seizure, while demonstrating empathy and professionalism."
De La Cruz said this effort underscores the psychiatric pharmacist's value showcasing their mastery across neurology mental health and collaborative patient management which are critical tenets of the AAPP Impact Grant program.
Project results will be shared through presentations at the 2026 AAPP Annual Meeting and a planned manuscript for The Mental Health Clinician.