Pharmacy school hosts eighth annual Pharmacy Summer Institute

From July 10-12, the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SPPS) hosted the eighth annual Pharmacy Summer Institute (PSI), providing rising high school and college students with the opportunity to explore exciting topics and career paths in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences.

The three-day program, held in the Pharmacy Building on the South Campus, welcomed 55 students from across New York, New Jersey, Florida, Washington, Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico. Students participated in a variety of learning experiences hosted by UB SPPS faculty and alumni on a broad range of topics including patient care and ethical scenarios, vaccinations and medical marijuana, and explored the many diverse career opportunities a pharmacy degree can provide.

“The UB SPPS community looks forward to Pharmacy Summer Institute every year,” says Jennifer Rosenberg, associate dean for student success and engagement. “We are thrilled to offer exciting new and interactive programming and to bring talented high school and college students with an interest in health care to our school to explore the many opportunities available to future pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists.”

New programming this year featured a pharmacy practice compounding session, interactive clinical research session and a “Friday Night at the ER” interprofessional activity. Students also participated in drug dispensing, patient counseling and Narcan training. In addition to interactive sessions, PSI highlighted the numerous educational opportunities offered by SPPS and provided recommendations on preparatory high school courses focusing on undergraduate pharmacy coursework.

The 2023 program was organized and led by the PSI PharmD Student Leadership Team, a group of UB PharmD students who are former PSI alumni. The students helped plan and guide PSI programming to create a dynamic and engaging experience for all attendees.

“I love being part of the PSI Student Leadership Team because the choice to pursue pharmacy can be a tough one, but sharing my experiences and advice as a current student enables me to support and guide students that are interested in the profession,” says Rachel Romanowski, PharmD/MBA’26, 2023 PSI student affairs chair. “The hands-on activities at PSI really give students a realistic look into the life of a pharmacy student, and when combined with the opportunity to talk to UB SPPS faculty, students and admissions officers, PSI is a unique resource that helps students make important decisions about their future.”

Adds Leanna Hodge, PharmD’24, 2023 PSI co-chair: “I really enjoy having the opportunity to meet students who also have an interest in pharmacy and helping them to explore the different paths and aspects of the various careers in pharmacy. I really enjoy sharing my own experiences with students with the hope that it can help someone else figure out their own path in the future.” 

For more information, visit UB Pharmacy Summer Institute.