As a first step in the training of pharmacists for SNS activities, Dr. Scharman held an SNS orientation program open to all School of Pharmacy students, faculty, and staff on February 28, 2003. The Academy of Student Pharmacists (ASP) president, Charlotte Shope, lead the ASP in their hosting of this meeting. After the meeting, those attending were provided a form to sign and return if they wished to become a member of the WVU School of Pharmacy WMD Task Force. Questions and answers about the Task Force were also posted on a School website. Potential Task Force Members had to agree to participate in a two-day training session and an up-coming State SNS drill.
On April 25th and 26th, 2003, the first training session was held. Sixty-four students (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year), 2 staff, and 3 faculty participated. Participants met from 3:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. on Friday night. On Saturday the 26th, students met from 8:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.. They participated in a smallpox vaccination clinic drill, disaster phone bank training, smallpox vaccination training, and a SNS dispensing drill. Two WVPC staff members (Ms. Lynn Durback-Morris, BSN, RN, CSPI, MBA and Mr. V. Dalton Noffsinger, RN, CSPI), a school of pharmacy faculty member (Dr. Betsy Meredith), and the WVPC Medical Director (Dan Brooks. M.D.) assisted with Saturday’s activities.