Navigating a New Way of Learning

By Kara Sweet

With most courses shifting online, PharmD students have had to adapt to a very different way of learning and connecting with one another.

RhoChi.

Rho Chi is a national pharmacy honor society to promote high scholarship in pharmacy. Consultants provide weekly one-one-one and therapeutics review sessions to help their peers. Students are encouraged to take advantage of these services to ensure understanding of course content and to improve grades.

Fortunately, members of the Rho Chi honor society were prepared to help their fellow students navigate this new academic landscape.

The "Rho Chi P1 Survival Guide” was developed to help first-year students adjust to the challenge of pharmacy school, especially during this unique academic year. The new initiative received overwhelmingly positive feedback. “We worked hard to develop this handbook of resources for P1s to use on a class-specific basis,” says Nicholas Cashman, PharmD/MBA ’22, president of the UB Rho Chi chapter. “We also included administrative information for them to have at their disposal to stay in touch with faculty and staff.”

View the Rho Chi P1 Survival Guide

Rho Chi therapeutics review sessions have seen an uptick in attendance. The virtual meetings are easier for students to view from home and are an opportunity for collaborative studying. Students also set up class-wide group chats to make sure everyone is on the same page for assignments and exams.

Staying Connected Beyond the Classroom

Beyond the virtual classroom, students have gotten creative, combining education with socialization.

“We’re signing up for wellness clinics together so we can help the community and catch up with each other at a safe distance,” says Marisa Masi, president of the PharmD Class of 2023. “We’re also trying to do more outdoor things like socially distant hikes. We hope to be able to do more of these types of events.”

Professional student organizations have worked hard to ensure that students remain engaged with one another.

“It has been pretty amazing to see that membership has remained high,” says Anant Shah, PharmD ’22, president of UB Formulary. “Student organizations have been diligent in creating unity by hosting Netflix parties and social nights over Zoom. We’ll do everything we can to get the most out of our education.”