Temple University Pharmacy students organized a blood drive on Monday, October 27, 2025, to give back to the Philadelphia community and support the blood supply used to aid patients undergoing critical surgeries, traumatic injuries, and even cancer treatment. Student volunteers were able to spread awareness of the pharmacist’s role in health and patient care, while making a real-world difference.

In partnership with the American Red Cross and the American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP), student volunteers ensured the event met safety and collection standards, and related to APhA’s core values of service, outreach, and advocacy.

“The blood drive had an excellent turnout, with 21 donors participating and 20 units of blood collected. The American Red Cross states how each unit can help save up to three lives; meaning this event could potentially impact up to sixty patients,” said Barrington Bucknor, a PY3 student at Temple’s School of Pharmacy and the President of APhA-ASP, “The success reflects both the commitment of our student volunteers and the generosity of the TUSP community.”

Encouraging students to gain hands-on experience in running community events and applying classroom knowledge to real-world impact, trains students to be proactive, service-driven healthcare professionals and expands the role of pharmacy.Students are able to develop critical leadership, teamwork, and communication skills while going through their education, and gain experience in what it takes to put together a complex event, such as a blood drive. Each student volunteer attended an orientation on donor eligibility, confidentiality, and infection control to ensure all participants were prepared. On top of that, it was up to the students to communicate with the public about the blood drive and work alongside the Red Cross team.

Around the world, hospitals and patients are in dire need of blood donations. Holding blood drives engages the community directly with patient care and supports a proactive relationship between community members and healthcare professionals. Congratulations to the Temple student volunteers who were able to apply their learning to real-world experience and potentially save the lives of sixty patients.