Buies Creek, N.C. – Campbell University welcomed 60 new participants from colleges and universities across the country to its sixth annual Pharmacy Readiness & Enrichment Program (PREP) this week, May 16-20. The PREP program is designed to address the problem of the shortage of underrepresented and financially disadvantaged populations in the field of pharmacy and the health care delivery system in general.
As PREP participants, the students spend the week in residence at Campbell attending classes each day to prepare for the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT). They also enjoy dinner programs designed to expose them to career opportunities and pharmacy professionals and mentoring sessions with pharmacy faculty, staff and students. Each evening the PREP students join in a wrap-up and reflection session with their counselors and current Pharm.D. students.
Known as a “pipeline” program, PREP has been very successful in recruiting students for Campbell and the pharmacy profession, said Kimberly Dunn, Director of Student Affairs & Admissions for the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences. In the class of 2014, for example, the College reports 21 percent of the graduating class as underrepresented and financially disadvantaged, while 20 percent of these students are graduates of the PREP program.
“Campbell’s College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences’ diversity initiative has made many achievements,” said Dunn. “Among them are the incorporation of cultural sensitivity and competency training for faculty, staff and students, and the recruitment and preparatory activities of the PREP program which has shown great value and very positive outcomes.”
Photo Copy: Students enrolled in Campbell’s PREP program enjoy lunch in the Alumni Room and a presentation by Tom Colletti, director of the Physician Assistant program for Campbell’s College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences. (Photo by Bennett Scarborough)