Medicinal milestone
First pharmacy class prepares for fourth year, advanced rotations
Ken Long
Issue date: 5/1/08 Section: News
Third-year pharmacy student Brandy Bratcher does not mind being a guinea pig.
"If anything, it's a different experience," Bratcher said.
Being part of the first class of the School of Pharmacy has its ups and downs.
"We had a lot of input for the school, but there's no upperclassmen to ask about how classes go," Bratcher said. "In general, it's good and bad."
The third-year class, known as P3s, will soon become the first P4 students at SIUE's School of Pharmacy. The largest part of the P4 year is the start of advanced rotations.
SOP's Director of Experimental Education Bill Wuller said the P3's introductory rotations were successful.
"The perceptive pharmacists were very complimentary of the (P3s)," Wuller said. "They were very well-prepared."
The introductory rotations involved assisting pharmacists from locations in the immediate area, such as Madison County health centers and St. Claire. Advanced rotations can branch out as far as Mexico and South Dakota.
"(The locations) are prized throughout the country," Wuller said.
School of Pharmacy Dean Philip Medon said the P4 year is experimental.
"P4s work with pharmacists and learning new things," Medon said. "They're getting experience to give better patient care."
The P4 curriculum contains eight five-week rotations, with four required at community sites such as hospitals, clinics and pharmacies. The pharmacists who will work with the P4s, known as preceptors, will supervise the P4s.
"They serve as models for the students," Medon said.
After seven rotations, the P4s will take federal pharmacy tests necessary for licensure. Expected graduation for the current P3s will be in May 2009.
"The program has done extremely well," Medon said. "Even in the third year, we've won awards and are making accreditation."
Bratcher said the curriculum for the first three years of the pharmacy program might have been experimental, but ultimately beneficial.
"If anything, it's a different experience," Bratcher said.
Being part of the first class of the School of Pharmacy has its ups and downs.
"We had a lot of input for the school, but there's no upperclassmen to ask about how classes go," Bratcher said. "In general, it's good and bad."
The third-year class, known as P3s, will soon become the first P4 students at SIUE's School of Pharmacy. The largest part of the P4 year is the start of advanced rotations.
SOP's Director of Experimental Education Bill Wuller said the P3's introductory rotations were successful.
"The perceptive pharmacists were very complimentary of the (P3s)," Wuller said. "They were very well-prepared."
The introductory rotations involved assisting pharmacists from locations in the immediate area, such as Madison County health centers and St. Claire. Advanced rotations can branch out as far as Mexico and South Dakota.
"(The locations) are prized throughout the country," Wuller said.
School of Pharmacy Dean Philip Medon said the P4 year is experimental.
"P4s work with pharmacists and learning new things," Medon said. "They're getting experience to give better patient care."
The P4 curriculum contains eight five-week rotations, with four required at community sites such as hospitals, clinics and pharmacies. The pharmacists who will work with the P4s, known as preceptors, will supervise the P4s.
"They serve as models for the students," Medon said.
After seven rotations, the P4s will take federal pharmacy tests necessary for licensure. Expected graduation for the current P3s will be in May 2009.
"The program has done extremely well," Medon said. "Even in the third year, we've won awards and are making accreditation."
Bratcher said the curriculum for the first three years of the pharmacy program might have been experimental, but ultimately beneficial.
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