Record Number of Applicants for Third Year of MCW Pre-Pharmacy Scholars Program
The MCW School of Pharmacy’s third annual Pre-Pharmacy Scholars Program has expanded to include both high school and college participants. The program saw a record number of 124 applicants this year, with 25 scholars accepted.
“This dynamic initiative is designed to inspire future pharmacists,” said Abir El-Alfy, PhD, assistant dean for student affairs and professor. “We are excited to see the significant growth of the program and look forward to continued expansion to educate future pharmacists and emphasize the evolving role of the pharmacist."
The career exploration program begins with a four-day, immersive boot camp on the MCW campus and continues with quarterly meetings throughout the rest of the academic year. Scholars are matched with two mentors – a pharmacist mentor and an MCW PharmD student mentor – who provide support on their college and career journey.
Tamya Jackson, a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, was among the first cohort of college students to join the program. She has been a pharmacy technician for five years, beginning in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. She became a certified technician two years ago, allowing her to administer vaccinations.
“This week at the Pre-Pharmacy Scholars Program has been amazing – talking with different pharmacists and faculty – and learning more about the different career possibilities in pharmacy,” she said.
Jackson is interested in working in either pediatrics or psychiatry but enjoyed learning about ambulatory care and infectious diseases careers throughout the week also.
“As a person who has struggled with mental health, I feel it’s important for patients to interact with someone who looks like them,” explained Jackson. “I have always been interested in psychology but didn't want to become a therapist or psychiatrist. I love learning about medications and how they work in the body, so becoming a psychiatric pharmacist excites me.”
Jackson plans to participate in MCW’s Dual-Degree / Early Assurance Program, which accelerates the timeline to becoming a Doctor of Pharmacy. Students in this program spend three years at their undergraduate institution and their seat is saved in the MCW PharmD program pending completion of prerequisite courses and a successful interview. After completing their first year of the PharmD program, they earn a bachelor’s degree from their alma mater. Students can earn their bachelor’s and PharmD degree in six years total, allowing them to start their pharmacy career two years sooner than the typical trajectory.
The summer boot camp includes hands-on activities like a compounding lab where students make their own hand sanitizer and vitals lab where they practice blood pressure measurements. Scholars tour various pharmacy practice sites, including Froedtert Hospital and Children’s Wisconsin (which share a campus with MCW), plus Wisconsin Pharmacal, where they learn about careers in the pharmaceutical industry.
“The boot camp gives students the chance to see the many career pathways pharmacy has to offer,” said Sarah McDaniel, MEd, an education program coordinator who organizes the camp. “Through hands-on activities and conversations with pharmacists, faculty and student mentors, scholars get a clearer sense of what the profession looks like and what direction might be the best fit for them as they plan their future.”
The Pre-Pharmacy Scholars Program begins accepting applications for new cohorts in January of each year.