Student visiting hometown saw a woman collapse—one observation helped him figure out what to do to save her
A few skills might come in handy in the most critical but unforeseen circumstances. A pharmacy student, Diego Rosso Gonzalez, was back in his hometown in San Juan, Puerto Rico, for spring break when he noticed something crucial in a woman who had collapsed in front of his eyes. They were outside a crowded bar in the Old San Juan district at that time. Gonzalez checked her eyes and knew what to do in that situation, per Midwestern University's website.
The situation confirmed that the man was ready for real world healthcare and made his university proud. Gonzalez checked for a crucial symptom that confirmed the reason behind the woman's state. "She had pinpoint pupils, so I pretty much noticed, OK, this may be something she took or she was laced with something," the man recounted. Fortunately, the man had been trained through the Midwestern’s American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Substance Use Disorder program and could immediately identify opioid overdose. Another lucky thing was that the student was used to carrying naloxone, a medicine used to treat such an overdose and could immediately give it to the woman. The man was glad that he could use his learning in a real-life situation and save a person's life because of his skills.
"I pretty much took action, gave her the doses of naloxone, did the typical steps that I was trained for here at Midwestern. She responded after the treatment and I waited for the ambulance to come by," Gonzalez recounted. He added, "It gave me the sense that I was applying what I learned in a real-life scenario. I didn’t think twice. It was pretty much muscle memory." The experience made his belief in pharmacy studies stronger and he realized that pharmacists can actually save lives. "All these hours of education, of training, hard work, it is a benefit, not only in our day-to-day, but for the people we’re serving." The man went on, "I always carry my Narcan. I have two with me always, just in case."
The man was thankful to his university and faculty for giving him the confidence to act swiftly in emergency situations. "Coming from another country, cultural differences—it was all new to me. But I always felt supported by the faculty. They opened so many doors." The role of pharmacists is changing in the healthcare landscape, per Uppsala Universitet. They are now seen as primary care providers and can become a significant part in improving an individual's health outcomes. Gonzalez had developed a strong passion for patient care during his time at the university and hoped to use his skills for the betterment of his community.
The man volunteered through the American Pharmacists Association and provided care and services to underprivileged people at Bolingbrook Christian Health Center, according to the website. "I’ve grown from being a quiet person who moved here two years ago to someone who’s developed leadership skills I’m proud of. Midwestern gave me that opportunity." Brooke Griffin, Pharm.D., Vice Chair, Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Downers Grove, explained, "In healthcare, we have to be as prepared as possible for the unexpected and Gonzalez rose to the occasion and offered help immediately."