Third-year Doctor of Pharmacy students in the inaugural cohort of the Research and Scholarship in Pharmacy pathway presented their research findings to peer students, faculty and guest alumni as part of the RASP 3 (PHCY 726) course. The poster presentation simulated what students would experience at a professional meeting and served as an opportunity for the students to share their project results and develop their presentation skills.
Guest alumni included Amy Meadowcroft, BSPHR ’93, Pharm.D. ’95, of GlaxoSmithKline and Susan Marchant, BSPHR ’86, Pharm.D. ’03, of Eli Lilly and Company.
When asked about the work being presented by the students, Marchant said, “At their age and experience level, they’re incredibly impressive. They’re able to speak to a practical application for their findings, it’s very impressive.”
A few weeks prior to the poster session, guest alumni Jim Minor, BSPHR ’70, Pharm.D., of HealthStat and Jivan Moaddeb, Pharm.D. ’10, of Duke University also met with RASP students to share perspective and advice on career planning.
The UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy’s Research and Scholarship in Pharmacy pathway gives Doctor of Pharmacy students the opportunity to pursue a mentored, in-depth, scholarly project as part of the elective curriculum. Students in the RASP pathway enroll in three elective courses during their second and third year of pharmacy school where they learn about the research process, gain skills through self-directed learning and integrate into the world-class research programs of School faculty.
“Ultimately, the goal of RASP is to expose students to research and scholarship so that they are better prepared to serve patients, create new knowledge and lead in the arenas where health-care decisions are made,” said RASP Program Director Craig Lee, Pharm.D., Ph.D. “Students will complete work on their project during the PY4 year, and are encouraged to present their final project results at a professional meeting.”