Welcome to the Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy blog!

Friday, April 24, 2015

Finals Week


FINALS week in pharmacy school can be very hectic.  I often find myself thinking back to my undergraduate days of final week and remembering how great that was.  If a student in my classes worked really hard during the year and had a 90 or higher a lot of professors would allow you to skip the final if you were okay with your current grade.  In pharmacy school, there is no skipping a final.  If you go into finals with a 100 or a 60 you still have to take the final.  Cramming in pharmacy school will do no good there is simply too much information to wait until a few days before to study.  I would recommend making study guides for each topic as you go throughout the year, and then maybe a week or two weeks before finals you can go back and look over all your previously made study guides.  When I do this I notice how quickly the older material comes back to me and I find that studying for the final this way is easier for me.  What works for me may not work for you, but I can promise you cramming will not work.  No doubt you will develop your method of reviewing older material and new material during your first finals week.  If you have any questions about this article or questions about school in general please feel free to email me at castaggs@presby.edu.

Caleb
P2 - Class of 2017

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Preparing Your CV

Preparing your CV
In pharmacy school, when applying to internship, future jobs, or other career advancing opportunities, PharmD candidates should apply with a curriculum vitae (CV) instead of a resume. A resume is usually one page summary of your job history and applicable skills whereas a CV is an in-depth document that can be laid out over two or more pages.

A CV contains a high level of detail about your education, accomplishments, publications, awards, etc. It conveys your personal details in the way that presents you in the best possible light. A CV is a marketing document in which you are marketing something: yourself! You need to "sell" your skills, abilities, qualifications and experience to employers.

What should go on a PharmD candidate’s CV? A pharmacy student’s CV should contain the following sections:
1. Education
                On a pharmacy student’s CV it is necessary to include your undergraduate education. If you did not graduate, you can refer to your pre-requisites as pre-pharmacy coursework. Make sure to include the dates of attendance and the location of your school. It is not necessary to include any high school information.
2. Professional Experience
                This is the section where you tell about your work experience. You will list paid internships and any pharmacy-related work experience. A brief description of your job duties is important to include as it can show future employers the qualifications you have.
3. Rotational Experience
                Rotations are your Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPEs) and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs). List these in order of most recent. Make sure to list the institution’s name, your preceptor’s name and title, and the location of the experience.  You can include special projects under this section.
4. Pharmacy Licensures and Certifications
                Most of your pharmacy licenses and certifications such as HIPAA and Bloodbourne pathogen training will be obtained once you start pharmacy school. It is important to keep these updated.
5. Leadership
                This is where you shine! Once you become involved at Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy, you have many opportunities to lead. Whether you become an ambassador, president, or committee chair—make sure to tell everyone how awesome you are!
6. Professional Organizations
                Every pharmacy student is required to join one professional organization while at school. Make sure to list these here and include dates of membership.
7. Professional Service
                In addition to joining a professional organization, it’s required to serve our community with pharmacy-related and non-pharmacy-related service every year. Our profession is a career of service so it’s great to get a head start on helping others!
8. Professional Development
                As a professional, it’s important to make sure you are up-to-date with the most recent information. Pharmacists and pharmacy students “develop” themselves by attending at least one professional meeting each year. Include the title of the meeting, date, and location.
9. Presentations (if applicable)
                There are numerous opportunities to present throughout pharmacy school. You may include the information from a class presentation but it is recommended to include a presentation that was delivered to an audience outside of school.
10. Posters (if applicable)
                If you are involved in any research throughout your pharmacy school career and are chosen to present your poster at a meeting or symposium, make sure to let everyone know how talented you are!
11. References (attached)
                Always have 3 references available on a separate sheet of paper if asked. You may include the phrase “available upon request” on your CV.
12. Extra
Shadowing, Research, Honors and Awards, etc. may be listed where you feel necessary.

Alex
P3 - Class of 2016

Monday, April 20, 2015

Volunteering in the Community


At PCSP, we follow the motto of, “While we live, we serve.” As future pharmacists, we must be sensitive to the idea of the Care for the Community. Since our patients live in the communities we will one day practice, we must be sensitive to the needs of our communities, to ensure the healthiest patients. As healthcare professionals, we have a duty to the upmost care of our patients and communities as a whole.

I have been able to give back to the community of Clinton by serving as a weekly volunteer at the Palmetto Therapeutic Riding Program, located right here in Clinton, SC. This program provides horseback riding lessons to children and adults with different disabilities. At the lessons, I help prepare the horses, and assist in the actual lessons. I will sometimes lead the horses, or serve as a side-walker to some riders. Not only has this given me the chance to give back to others, but the experience has been extremely rewarding to me as well! This gives me a few hours each week that I can have a break from school and studying. Being around the horses and animals is a relaxing experience. In addition, it is very fulfilling to watch the progression of the riders and the joy they experience from the lessons and the time with the horses.


Overall, volunteering in the community has been extremely beneficial. I have the opportunity to serve the community and have learned more about the importance of the care for the community motto. Not only am I helping others, but I look forward to attending the lessons each week! I highly encourage you to be actively involved in the community during your time here at PCSP. You won’t regret it!

Annie
P1 - Class of 2018

Friday, April 17, 2015

End of the Year Picnic


Every year we have a “Welcome Back” picnic and at the end of the year we have an “End of Year (EOY) Picnic”.  It is very important to attend both of these events because as a newcomer or a person leaving, networking and touching bases with your future co-workers is important.

My first year attending the picnic was very significant for me. Beginning pharmacy school was an overwhelming process for me. Being able to meet current students already in the program helped to ease my worries a little into starting my first couple of months.  Conversing with some of the students gave me an idea of what to expect and how to approach my beginning stages of pharmacy school. Not only was it effective to know more about the program that I was beginning to start, but as a P3 I am still friends with current and former students. One day soon I will be graduating from pharmacy school, being able to create relationships are important for networking and a possible opportunity to expand my career options.

The EOY picnic is definitely a much less overwhelming process because not only have I made it through the first year of pharmacy school, but it is close to summer break!  Spending time with classmates in school every day is different than hanging out with classmates outside of the school setting.  It is very important to create those relationships and friendships not only in a professional setting but in a personal setting.  These relationships that can be created can take you a long way in your journey as a future pharmacist professionally and personally.  So my advice is to have a great time and attend the picnics and other events, especially the EOY picnic, you never know where the road might lead you.

Sienna
P3 - Class of 2016

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Preparing for Finals


My first semester in pharmacy school I was so nervous for finals week.  I had no idea how I was going to study for cumulative finals in multiple classes to be taken within the same week.  Throughout my time here at PC I have been able to talk with other students and professors to learn some helpful ways to study for finals.

The way PC sets up the curriculum, finals week is not a challenge course wise if you keep up with the material throughout the semester.  If you learn better by making flashcards or study guides, I recommend making them for each section you are learning at that time.  This will allow you to have the information in a condensed and organized form to study from.  The material really does build upon itself so if there is something you are unsure of when a professor is explaining it, do not be afraid to ask!  Clarifying material early on will help you to remember it better and have less to learn or relearn for when it comes time for finals.  I found that it is very beneficial to keep on top of your material.  For example, even if exams may not be cumulative throughout the year, go back and review previous material.  Doing so will help you study a little at a time instead of trying to study everything all at once for the final.

Finals week may be more stressful for some than others so take time out for yourself if you need to.  Go for a hike, see a movie, or have dinner with family and friends.  Pharmacy school is a wonderful time.  Try not to be too stressed when it comes to finals week, everyone here at PC is here to help!

Nicole
P1 - Class of 2018

Monday, April 13, 2015

Third Year Competency Exam


As P3’s we are required to take the third year competency exam before we can move on to our P4 year and rotations. This is a way that we can show the knowledge and skills that we have accumulated over the past three years, and the professors can assess our competence for moving forward as practitioners. The TYCE is a three hour exam consisting of multiple hands-on sections, such as counseling and performing calculations. It is administered twice in one day, with a morning session and an afternoon session, and students are assigned a time to be there (either 9 am or 1 pm). This year, the TYCE will take place on Tuesday, April 7th.  I will be honest with you and say that I am a little nervous as we are about to go into the exam, but I hope that the things that I have learned over the past three years will “kick in” as I perform each section. As nerve-wracking as it is, I am glad that we are tested before moving on to rotations, as we will need to be able to perform these skills on a day-to-day basis. Wish us luck!

Jenny
P3 - Class of 2016

Friday, April 3, 2015

Professor Spotlight

Hello everybody! Welcome to Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy’s student ambassador blog. Last month I wrote about one special faulty member and for the month of April I would like to do that again by spotlighting Dr. David Eagerton. He is just another amazing faculty member at the pharmacy school! Read my interview to learn more about him!

Question: “Share with me some things about your personal life.”

Response: “I grew up in a small town in South Carolina and moved to the Columbia area when I went to college. My wife is a pharmacist and I have 2 brothers that are physicians and 2 sisters who are also in healthcare.  This, along with my career in Forensic Toxicology has given me an interesting perspective on health care.”

Question: “Tell me about how you got to where you are today, I know your path to this pharmacy school is bit unique!”

Response: I have a B.S. in Biology form USC and was accepted to the USC College of Pharmacy.  After completing the first year, I decided that I wanted to focus on pharmacology and entered the graduate program at the USC College of Pharmacy where I earned my Ph.D. in Pharmacology.  After graduation, I was fortunate enough to get a job with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division as a Forensic Toxicologist.  Within a few years, I became board certified in Forensic Toxicology and shortly thereafter became the Chief Toxicologist and ran the toxicology lab for over 12 years before I retired from SLED and joined the faculty of PCSP.

Question: “Have you been involved with any research or ever been published?

Response: While I was at SLED, our focus was not on research, but now I have the opportunity to do many of the projects that I could not do there.  Much of my work has involved some aspect of forensic and analytical toxicology.  I have been fortunate to collaborate with some amazing clinical colleagues and have begun publishing in areas involving the effects of diet products, drug overdoses, and drug take back programs.  One of my interests is education about drug abuse.  I have had the opportunity to be involved in several programs here at PCSP which are instrumental in drug abuse education.  We have developed drug take back events here at PCSP and I have taken students to the Utah School on Alcohol and Other Drug Dependencies for the past 3 years.

I am also very involved with the use of simulation in pharmacy education.  We have developed a week-long course and several laboratories that involve the use of our high fidelity simulation mannequins.  I am also currently using our driving simulator to investigate the effect of ADD/ADHD medications on cognitive ability.

Question: “have you had the opportunity to travel or do any sort of mission trip?”

Response:  I have had the opportunity to travel to New Orleans, LA on a mission trip to help rebuild some of the houses that were devastated by Hurricane Katrina.  It was an incredible experience and I look forward to going on more.  Most of my service since the New Orleans has been more community-based which has also been very rewarding.  I have also had the opportunity to travel some for fun and have been to France, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Hawaii.  

Question: “Why in your opinion should a prospective student decide to come to Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy?”

Response: I think that students should choose to come to PCSP for many reasons.  I believe that we have developed a unique environment where students can grow and develop into world class pharmacists and community leaders.  We have unique faculty who have a variety of pharmacy and real life experience and are dedicated to teaching, scholarship, and service.  We have built a culture that encourages student interaction with the faculty, which is key to stimulating the growth of the students.   


By:  Rachel
P2 - Class of 2017

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Highlights of the Diverse World of Pharmacy

Pushing pills behind a counter may be one’s first inclination of a stereotypical pharmacist. Counseling patients and consulting with physicians, all while managing staff and checking prescriptions may be the typical tasks one may count off for a typical pharmacist. However, the world of pharmacy is more than typing on a keyboard and talking on the phone all day. There are many careers to explore within the realm of pharmacy, as I have experience in my premature tenure in pharmacy school. A pharmacist can work with radioactive material to help doctors diagnosis diseases, formulate compounds to avoid administration problems, work with law enforcement to solve criminal cases, and supervise pharmacies for the Board of Pharmacy, to ensure safe and legal practice. There are many more occupations a pharmacist can fill, but these were just a few of the exciting experience pharmacists have the capability of performing. I am excited to learn more about the options I can take to begin the path to my career in pharmacy.

Chase
P1 - Class of 2018