The University of Houston College of Pharmacy (UHCOP) chapter of the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists (AAPP) has been named the inaugural recipient of the 2026 AAPP Collegiate Chapter of the Year, recognizing the student organization’s commitment to psychiatric pharmacy, mental health education, community service and professional development during the 2025-26 academic year.
The chapter also received an honorable mention for Outstanding Chapter Activity, another inaugural award, for its Seizure First Aid Training initiative, a student-led educational project designed to improve knowledge, confidence and preparedness in responding to seizure emergencies.
As UHCOP’s newest student organization established in October 2024, the national recognition follows a year of extensive programming by the chapter whose 16 members organized educational meetings, community outreach activities, interdisciplinary collaborations and professional development opportunities focused on psychiatric pharmacy and mental health.
Expanding the Reach of Psychiatric Pharmacy
Throughout the academic year, the chapter hosted meetings covering topics ranging from psychiatric pharmacy practice and substance use disorders to student burnout, dietary supplements in mental health and psychiatric medication knowledge. Guest speakers included psychiatric pharmacists and other health professionals who shared clinical expertise and perspectives on careers in the specialty.
The chapter also developed educational activities addressing eating and gambling disorders, person-centered language in substance use disorder care and other behavioral health topics. Several activities were conducted in collaboration with fellow UHCOP student organizations, extending the chapter’s reach while encouraging interdisciplinary and peer engagement.
Beyond the college, members participated in community outreach efforts addressing emotional regulation, suicide awareness and prevention, pediatric health, veteran support and seizure education.
Turning Education Into Measurable Impact
The chapter’s Seizure First Aid Training initiative, which earned the Outstanding Chapter Activity honorable mention, grew from an identified need for accessible, evidence-based seizure first aid education.
Supported by a 2025 AAPP Collegiate Chapter Impact Grant, chapter members developed original educational materials using clinical guidelines and primary literature. The UH Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine collaborated on the project, with students helping facilitate selected sessions and a neurology faculty member reviewing educational materials alongside the chapter’s faculty advisor Austin De La Cruz, Pharm.D., BCPP.
Rather than relying on lengthy online training modules, the students developed a concise, approximately 10-minute educational presentation that could be delivered at high-traffic campus events. The training addressed seizure recognition, appropriate first-aid responses and common misconceptions, including why individuals experiencing a seizure should not be restrained or have objects placed in their mouths.
Across six outreach events, the chapter provided seizure first aid education to 156 University of Houston students, faculty and staff representing disciplines including pharmacy, medicine, nursing and optometry. Approximately 150 educational brochures also were distributed to reinforce the training and allow participants to share the information with others.
The project also helped connect seizure and epilepsy education with the broader role of psychiatric pharmacists. Students emphasized the effects of seizure disorders on quality of life, mental health and stigma while highlighting pharmacists’ roles in medication management, patient counseling and interdisciplinary care.
Building a Chapter for the Future
Looking ahead, the chapter plans to continue and expand several mental health and community education initiatives, including seizure first aid training at community health fairs, suicide awareness activities, programming on emotional regulation and additional collaborations focused on substance use and behavioral health.
“We don't play to not lose, nor do we play to win,” said Najat Abu-Hmidan, Pharm.D. candidate and 2025-26 chapter president. “We play for a purpose, and our purpose is to bring mental health awareness and psychiatric pharmacy closer to our students and our community.”
The AAPP Collegiate Chapter of the Year Award recognizes chapters for their overall engagement in areas including chapter development, community service, collaboration, psychiatric pharmacy education and professional activities.