Student Ambassador Program


What is the SPPCP Student Ambassador program?

The SPPCP Student Ambassador program provides an opportunity for students to serve as a Student Ambassador for SPPCP.  Student Ambassadors are passionate about exploring and advocating for the pharmacist's role in pain management, palliative care, and /or hospice. Student Ambassadors explore their interests in learning more about pain management, palliative care, and/or hospice (PMPCH) pharmacy through professional service, networking, and leadership. Student Ambassadors will gain leadership experience by serving as a liaison between their student body and SPPCP, a national organization.  Student Ambassadors will work together to organize events, encourage engagement by their local student pharmacist colleagues, and work with local student organizations to expand the reach of pain management, palliative care, and hospice pharmacy services within their community.

Qualifications

Students selected to be a Student Ambassador must:

  • Join and maintain membership in SPPCP throughout their Ambassador Term. Membership in SPPCP is not required to apply for the program.
  • Maintain enrollment at an ACPE-recognized college or school of pharmacy as a P1, P2, or P3 student pharmacist.
  • Have an interest in exploring pain management, palliative care, or hospice (PMPCH) as specialties in pharmacy.

Responsibilities

SPPCP Student Ambassadors serve a one-year term from August 1 to July 30th.  SPPCP members coach and support Student Ambassadors in fulfilling the following responsibilities:

  • Attend SPPCP Student Ambassador meetings (held monthly to quarterly)
  • Serve on a committee within SPPCP
    • Each Student Ambassador will rank committees they prefer to serve on according to the student’s interests, which will be considered when committee assignments are finalized. Committee descriptions can be found here.
  • Collaborate with other Student Ambassadors, SPPCP members, and local student pharmacy organizations to organize and host at least one educational event per semester about pain management, palliative care, or hospice at your college or school of pharmacy
    • Example: panel on pain management careers at your local SNPhA meeting
  • Promote student engagement in SPPCP events to your school/college (e.g. Advertising SPPCP’s Fall virtual residency panel to school.)
  • Coauthor and publish a collaborative student column in the quarterly SPPCP newsletter
    • Examples: an article about an event held at your school(s)/college(s), disease state article of interest to SPPCP members, current events related to pain management, palliative care, or hospice, student research projects

Student Ambassadors receive guidance and support from SPPCP members and other Student Ambassadors as they engage in these responsibilities.

How to Apply

Applications for Student Ambassador positions can be submitted between February 1 and April 1st yearly. 

Apply Here!

 

Please review the information below to prepare and submit your application:

Your letter of interest is an important part of the application for appointment as a SPPCP Student Ambassador.  Some things that are important to include in the letter are a description of:  

  • Why you are interested in learning more about pain management, palliative care, and/or hospice (PMPCH) 
  • Why you are interested in serving as an SPPCP Ambassador  
  • Experiences that have prepared you to be successful in the Student Ambassador position. This could include but is not limited to experience in undergrad, grad school, other non-academic organizations, work, community service 
  • Ideas about how you will approach engaging students at your college/school to learn more about PMPCH 


Please be sure to also include your name on your letter of interest.

Your CV is another important part of the application for appointment as an SPPCP Student Ambassador. Be sure your CV is updated to include the following: 

  • Jobs, leadership responsibilities, and community service activities you’ve engaged in within the past year 
  • Jobs, leadership responsibilities, and community service activities you’ve committed to for the coming year 
  • Please include any leadership positions you are running for if elections are pending or occurring after the Student Ambassador Application deadline. Here is an example of how you can list these: Candidate for APhA-ASP Treasurer, 2025 – 2026, election pending 

Students seeking appointment as a Student Ambassador of the Society of Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacists (SPPCP) should submit the name and contact information (email address and phone number) of a faculty member from their School or College of Pharmacy who can serve as a reference to support their application.  The faculty member serving as a reference will be sent a reference form that must be completed on the applicant’s behalf.  

The faculty reference will be asked to share their insight on the applicant’s abilities to effectively serve as a Student Ambassador (e.g., speak to the applicant’s organizational, communication, and leadership skills).  

 

For questions about this program, please contact [email protected].