Welcome to the Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy blog!

Monday, March 30, 2015

Summer Break


ENJOY IT!!!  Make sure you do tons of fun things this summer break, because this will be one your last real summer breaks.  Do not be bummed though, summer break during pharmacy school is still a time of much needed rest.  However, you might find yourself doing pharmacy related activities such as working 40 hours a week to accrue your 500 pharmacy related hours needed for the NAPLEX , or an internship with a specific company, or maybe you do a research internship, and possibly even a health related mission trip. 
Summers during pharmacy school are great and we all look forward to them, but they do not compare to the summer between undergrad and the start of pharmacy school.  SO LIVE IT UP!!!   If you have any questions about working during the summer to intern hours or any questions in general please feel free to email me at castaggs@presby.edu. 

Caleb
P2 - Class of 2017

Friday, March 27, 2015

Summer Intern Opportunities at PCSP











One of the exciting opportunities that Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy offers is a competitive eight-week Pharmacy Research Summer Internship (PRSI). It is a privilege to have professors here at PCSP that are not only educators, but are also involved in various fields of research. Dr. Alfonso Romero-Sandoval, Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical & Administrative Sciences and also Director of Research, and the Office of Research have partnered with the University of Alcala (UAH) in Spain to offer the PRSI program both at the PCSP campus here in South Carolina and at the UAH campus in Spain. Pre-pharmacy undergraduate students, pharmacy students here at PCSP and students at UAH are invited to apply for the opportunity to be paired up 1:1 with a faculty member to receive mentoring, education, and paid research experience for eight weeks in June and July.

The program currently accommodates eight student research positions at the PCSP campus, two of which are reserved for students visiting from UAH in Spain to do their internship at PCSP. The program also presents the opportunity for two students to travel to Spain to carry out their internship at the University of Alcala. The benefits of participating in the PRSI are numerous, and extend to improving the odds of landing a residency after pharmacy school, as well as, obtaining pharmacy jobs. Faculty mentoring, confidence in the lab, and the networking experience that comes from presenting your work to other professionals are just a few of the other benefits of completing a Pharmacy Research Summer Internship. Applications are due March 13, 2015 and spots are competitive. So what are you waiting for?! Head over to the PCSP website and search under Departments to find the Office of Research. There, you will find the link on the left for the Pharmacy Research Summer Internship and the applications, as well as information about what type of research our faculty is involved in and how you can participate in that research. Good luck!

Nicole
P1 - Class of 2018

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Joining Organizations


Most incoming students are overwhelmed with the amount of organizations there are to join during the first month of school …I know I was! I’m going to share my experience with you about joining the professional fraternity KE (Kappa Epsilon). A lot of girls and guys in my class decided to join during the first week of school, so I thought I would give it a go! I was in a sorority in undergrad at PC so I thought it would be similar to that. One of the main differences that I immediately noticed is that, instead of there being over a hundred members, there is a fraction of that which allows you to make closer friendships! My “big” is one of my best friends now and I am so glad I gave it a shot! There are service activities, fun parties, a big/little reveal, etc. to take part in. I would recommend anyone join whether you are an incoming student or not!

Maizie

P1, Class of 2018

Monday, March 23, 2015

Thinking about a Residency


In many ways residency can be scary. Many different people will tell you that it’s the best thing they’ve ever done, while others may say that they’re glad that they didn’t do one. Although residencies can be challenging, they can also bring a great reward. Preparing yourself and earning a residency can open up many new doors of pharmacy that you never thought existed.

When it comes to the topic of pharmacy, many people have the perception of a person who fills prescriptions and makes sure the correct customer gets the correct medication. While this is certainly part of each pharmacist’s role, pharmacists with residencies can be trained for specialty roles in pharmacy as well. Upon completion of a residency program, a pharmacist gains 5 years of work experience for every 1 year of residency. Furthermore, a pharmacist can be trained in other specialty pharmacy areas such as psychiatric, pediatric, ambulatory care, geriatric, infectious disease and many others.

If you’re unsure of what area of pharmacy you’d like to pursue always keep residency in mind just in case you decide that you’d like to specialize or gain more experience so that you’re more competitive in the job market. To prepare for a residency make sure that you’re involved in community service, take on a leadership role of an organization, participate in extracurricular activities, do independent studies/research,  poster presentations on research, keep your grades up as much as possible, and attend national/local pharmacy meetings to network with other students and established pharmacists. All of these are not only important to your career, but also for getting a residency as well. While residency isn’t for everyone, it’s good to be open to it since you never know how much your mind may change or what types/areas of pharmacy that you may find that you enjoy. As always, if you have any questions or want to learn more, many students and faculty would be glad to talk about residency programs.

Casey

P3 - Class of 2016

Friday, March 20, 2015

Representing PCSP as a Place We Love


When first arriving at PCSP there were some defining moments that really stood out, namely how every professor had an ability to make you feel like family. This really set the precedent. We were shown how professional this program is and how PCSP is an environment well suited for the best pharmacy education you can get.  They showed so much pride in the program and the people that comprise it, that it came natural for us to show enthusiasm about what they had going on here. That state of mind is contagious. PCSP delivers an outstanding education and cultivates such a great atmosphere to do so in, that being said, it is easy to show our respect for this program and represent PCSP as a place we truly love.  The students here at PC are easily recognized around the community and all around the state. What we stand for and how we conduct ourselves is truly representative of how much pride we have in our program. Whether it is our humanitarianism efforts or when we are out on rotation, we characterize what we love about PCSP. We as a student body try to exemplify what we are about and will carry that into our careers as pharmacist.  The level of education and professional development that a student receives while with the PCSP family is something that we all are proud to represent, not only as pharmacists but in our daily lives.

Michael

 P1- Class of 2018

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Words of Wisdom

So you’re a pharmacy student now. Welcome to the profession! How do you survive you may ask? Here are some words of wisdom from one student to another.

1)      Find a stress reliever. No matter how on top of everything you are, there will be times in your school career when you become stressed. Find what you love and go for it!
2)      Never doubt yourself.  You made it to pharmacy school because of your drive and your knowledge. Never forget that you are here for a purpose!
3)      Find your people. Vague I know, but it’s the truth. Find the people who make you laugh, who make each day better, those who you can study with.
4)      Take some personal time.  Pharmacy school will quickly become your life. No matter how much time you feel like you don’t have, be sure to set aside some for YOU.

I hope these pearls will help as you go through your pharmacy school journey. You have picked a career that is challenging, exciting, and most importantly, rewarding. Welcome!  

Jessica

P2

Monday, March 16, 2015

Getting Involved


As a P2 I have found it very vital to be involved.  Whether you’re an active member in an organization, hold a leadership position, or sit on the Honor Council.  For me I feel that you can really make the most of your experience in school if you are a student that is involved.

During my P1 year I joined a couple of organizations that I found interesting.  At the end of the year I chose which organization I felt most passionate about and chose to run for office.  I was elected Publicist for NCPA for the 2014-2015 school year and have truly enjoyed my time on the Executive Board planning fundraisers, community service opportunities, and just helping make decisions for the future of our organization.  I also chose to get involved as an Ambassador and the Honor Council during my P1 year and have really enjoyed it thus far.  Being an ambassador allows you to be a face for the school and represent what we are all about.

Getting involved is all about what you make it.  As pharmacy school is already busy as it is, it is important to set boundaries for how involved you want to be and to not over commit yourself.  I highly encourage you to get involved during your time at PCSP because I can assure you that you won’t regret it!

Sara
P2 - Class of 2017

Friday, March 13, 2015

Incoming/Accepted Students


First and foremost, welcome to our PCSP Family!  As an incoming P1 this is a very exciting time for you.  It seems like just yesterday I was getting the phone call letting me know of my acceptance at PCSP.  Before you know it, it will be August and you all will be here for Orientation and the beginning of a new chapter in your lives.  I’m so excited for each and every one of you, because you’ve picked a great Pharmacy school to attend and be apart of.  I would not trade my experiences here for anything else neither could I see myself at any other school.  

As August is quickly approaching, I hope you all are planning to attend the Meet and Greet on April 18th.  This is a wonderful time to get a jump-start on meeting your classmates along with other students at the school.  The Meet and Greet is also a great place to meet a potential roommate or find a place to live.

Preparing for pharmacy school can be a little nerve racking, but if I could give you any advice I would advise you all to review the Top 200 Drugs, as that would be extremely helpful for your first semester.  It’s never too early to start getting organized now!  I look forward to seeing you at the Meet and Greet and meeting you during your P1 year! 

Sara
P2 - Class of 2017

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Professor Spotlight

Hello everybody! Welcome to Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy’s student ambassador blog. This month I would like to do a professor spotlight in order to highlight just one of the many wonderful professors that work at the school of pharmacy. Read my interview with Dr. Nancy Goodbar to learn more about her and all that she does in her personal and professional life.

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

Response: “I was born and raised in Union, South Carolina.  I am so blessed by wonderful, supportive parents, along with my precious younger brothers (they would hate that I called them "precious" considering they are 22 and 28 years old!).  I am married to my wonderful husband Neal, who is a physician here in Clinton at Advanced Family Medicine, and we have 2 absolutely perfect, precious children, Katie Hope (2) and Henry (4 months).  I live for the times I get to spend with my family and friends, just love watching my children grow and learn about the world around them, and of course, during this phase of my life, 8 straight hours of sleep would be a dream come true (but the lack of sleep is so totally worth it).  My biggest role model was my grandmother, who passed away at the age of 101 2 years ago, and she taught me the importance of living a life of happiness, always putting others before yourself, and seeing the sunshine even when it may be cloudy.  I hope that I can give to this world half of what she contributed to it through her spirit of love and generosity.” 

Question: “Where did you go to college, pharmacy school, and what other credentials do you have?”

Response: I got by Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Presbyterian College and my Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy.  I completed 2 years of residency at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, TN specializing in Internal Medicine.  I became a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist in 2011.  I chose pharmacy as a profession to follow in my father's footsteps.  He owns an independent pharmacy in my hometown, and I always thought that I may go back and take over his store.  God had different plans for my life, though.  When I was in pharmacy school, I became very interested in clinical pharmacy so I decided to take a leap of faith and pursue residency training.  When I heard that Presbyterian College was going to be opening a pharmacy school, I thought that it would be a perfect fit for me, if in fact I decided I liked teaching.  While a resident, I took a Teaching Certificate course and actually loved teaching more than I ever thought I would (especially since I used to dread public speaking).  I was lucky enough to have gotten hired as a faculty member at Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy right out of residency, and I have loved every minute of what I do.  I still go work at my dad's pharmacy quite often, too!  

Question: “Have you been involved with any research or ever been published? I know you are quite involved with pharmacy legislation can you comment about that?”

Response: I have had the opportunity to be involved in quite a lot of research opportunities and publications throughout my short career.  Some of the highlights include case reports that I have come across in clinical practice, evaluation of the negative impacts of the HCG diet, negative patient impacts secondary to inappropriate clonidine prescribing, working with the family medicine residency program at Self to establish a pharmacist-led longitudinal curriculum for their medical residents, evaluation of prescribing practices correlated to published guidelines, and the list goes on but I will not bore you with any more!  I am very involved in pharmacy advocacy on a state and national level.  I will be installed as President of the South Carolina Society of Health-System Pharmacists in March, and I serve on the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Council on Education and Workforce Development.  I am very honored to have the opportunity to serve my profession in these capacities, and I look forward to watching the future of pharmacy unfold through continued advocacy.  

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

Response:  My opinion on why someone should choose to come to PCSP is plain and simple: we are a big family here.  Each faculty member is dedicated to the success of each and every student and ensures that students are trained in an environment that values honesty, integrity, and professionalism.  

By: Rachel
P2 - Class of 2017

Monday, March 9, 2015

Open House


Interested in a career in pharmacy? If so, join Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy for their open house event on Saturday, March 14th.  Check-in and Registration is between 1:15 PM and 2:15 PM.  Faculty and staff will introduce you to our wonderful field of study, and then current students will give tours and answer any questions.  A reception will follow around 4PM.  Please come and join us.  Hope to see you and your family there.

Allie

P1 - Class of 2018

Friday, March 6, 2015

A Typical Day in the Life of a PCSP Student

Most people hear about the work involved in pharmacy school, and I think it’s safe to say that many prospective students (maybe even you!) wonder what a typical day in the life of a pharmacy student looks life. Hopefully this post will put all the rumors and your worries to rest!

I am a second year student so while I can’t speak for what third year is like, I will do my best to shed some light! The first class of the day usually starts at 8:30. You can most always count on classes going until 11:30-noonish (this is a ballpark figure as your schedule will change each semester). The afternoons usually start around 1:30 (enjoy some lunch, have a quick study session or both!) are reserved for an occasional class and labs (that changes when you’re a third year). Days you have lab (twice a week) are usually your longest days. I want to say the latest I’ve had a lab scheduled to was 4:30 PM. Once you get into a rhythm of how your days work, they flow pretty nicely! Time management and scheduling are KEY to staying sane. The semester goes by pretty fast, so having things written/ planned out will help more than you ever realize! While some days will feel longer than others, the journey is well worth it!

Aurezu
P2 - Class of 2017

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Volunteering

One of the things I love most about PC is their immense desire to reach out and give back.  One of my favorite service opportunities is being able to volunteer at La Clinica Gratis. It is a free medical clinic located in Greenwood, South Carolina. This clinic is very unique because some of the patients speak Spanish, while others speak English. These experiences, as well as the other service opportunities available, are awesome ways to give back to surrounding communities.

Danielle
P2 - Class of 2017

Monday, March 2, 2015

Clinton Residency

Living in Clinton, SC is an experience that every pharmacy student should have!  I appreciate where I come from, but then I appreciate the cute little town that Clinton has to offer and the unity displayed every day.  Coming from a much bigger town, “BIG” Greenville, I can say that moving here was a lot different. Deciding to move from Greenville to Clinton was not a hard decision for me. Even though the traveling distance from my home in Greenville to Clinton is only 45 minutes one way, I knew that in my heart of hearts that I was not a morning person. Being close to the school provided me with less pressure of worrying about waking up early in the morning to get to 8:30 classes on-time! Also, deciding to reside in a smaller town was a benefit for me because that meant I would have less time to shop, dine-out, or go to the movies. The only place to shop in Clinton is online; however they do have cute little boutiques in the town square. So, if I did buy something from the boutiques, there was a slim chance to none that no one else would have the same outfit on the same day.  The closest place to dining out at a well-known restaurant is Fatz’s.  You can have Fatz’s undoubtedly 60 times in a month and then after that you have to cook at home. So, I was able to save money and also become a better cook.  These are just some of the perks of living in Clinton, SC!  On the contrary, I think that the most important perk about living in Clinton is the unity.  If you have ever watched the Lifetime movies or the Hallmark movies then you are in luck! If not, do not worry because you will experience your own Lifetime or Hallmark movie living in Clinton. My first couple weeks that I started residing in Clinton, I would get warm hellos and lovely people in the community conversing with me and wishing me good luck during my years of pharmacy school.  The community seemed blissful that we were here and thankful that we were also providing our services to better enhance the community.  I felt like I belonged here and that made me feel good and like I was in the right place for all the right reasons.  Then I cannot forget about the little town here called “The Square”.  “The Square” does not exist in any other town I have ever visited or resided in but here.  “The Square” or the little downtown area of Clinton is so quaint and cute. In “The Square” you will find two of the best local restaurants that will cause you to gain some love handles but be a benefit to your soul, called Jitters and Steamers.  Once you swing by these two spots, you will be asleep about a half hour later.  Last but not least, every year the town of Clinton gathers together on the first Thursday in December. They all gather up and become Christmas carolers, enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides, drink numerous cups of hot cocoa, and then at a certain time in the evening they have a countdown to lighting up of the town and street Christmas lights and décor!

Residing in Clinton, SC was not a requirement, but making the decision to reside here is the best decision I have made. In all reality, passing my classes have never been easier, thanks to Clinton! So give it try and experience the warm community, hassle-free parking, lots of waves and smiles, and a sense of being a part of a real community.

Sienna
P3 - Class of 2016