University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

Students from USciences' Philadelphia College of Pharmacy had an opportunity to display their research while attending the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists Midyear Clinical Meeting held in Las Vegas, NV, from Dec. 2-6, 2012.

"This research is over and above what is expected for rotations," said Dr. Steve Sheaffer, PCP's Vice Chair Experimental Learning. "They are gaining valuable experience that will make them more competitive for residency training programs."

Photo 1: Jade Kozuch PharmD'13 (center) with faculty advisor Dr. Michael Cawley and USciences President Dr. Helen Giles-Gee.
Photo 2: Joseph Sciasci PharmD’13.
Photo 3: Raymond Scott PharmD’13.
Photo 4: (from left to right) Katie Stegura PharmD’13, Jasmine Mencia PharmD’13, and Palak Shah, PharmD’13.
Photo 5 : Selvin Soby PharmD’13.

The students, who are for the most part in their fourth and final professional year of the doctor of pharmacy program were mentored primarily by faculty and in some case site preceptors.

"One of the main reasons that I had always planned on attending the Midyear was because I knew that I wanted to pursue a residency," said Jade Kozuch PharmD'13. "Not only would the Midyear allow me to communicate with current residents and gain insight into the process of applying and interviewing for residencies, but it would also provide me with the opportunity to familiarize myself with programs that are out of the area. I was definitely able to fulfill these hopes while at the Midyear. I am interested in pursuing a residency in a different part of the country, and this vast gathering of programs provided the perfect setting for me to communicate with representatives from these sites face to face. Without the Midyear, I would not have had this opportunity, and seeking a residency would have been a much more stress filled process."

PCP had 42 students present 22 posters at the ASHP meeting and a record 108 overall in attendance. According to Dr. Sheaffer, many were actively seeking PGY1 pharmacy practice residencies or fellowship training positions in the pharmaceutical industry Last year, PCP placed 52 students (almost 25 percent of the 2012 PharmD graduates) in these postgraduate training programs.