By: Mahdieh Danesh Yazdi
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On October 21st, St. John‘s University hosted the annual pharmacy residency and fellowship showcase, where representatives from various institutions provided information about their post-graduate programs. A total of 36 programs from the New York / metropolitan area, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Connecticut were in attendance. Many of these were represented by our own faculty and alumni.
Student pharmacists had the opportunity to speak with residents, fellows, preceptors, managers, and directors. They asked the presenters about future careers in hospitals, community pharmacies, and the pharmaceutical industry. Preceptors were content with the attendance and the questions they received. Representatives from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) were impressed with the personal interactions and encouraged more underclassmen to come to these events.
Overall, student pharmacists seemed pleased with the showcase. PharmD candidates c/o 2012, Andrew Li and James Zheng, thought that the event was very well organized, especially because the presenters were alphabetized and prepared with material to provide potential applicants. They also liked that current residents and fellows were present to discuss their experiences. When asked about what they would like to see improved, they suggested more programs, preceptors, and representatives for next year.
I would definitely encourage all student pharmacists to attend next year‘s residency and fellowship showcase. Of course, if you attended this year‘s event and wish to submit commentary regarding your experience, please feel free to contact us at [email protected].
For more information about residencies and fellowships, you can visit websites for ASHP (http://ashp.org) and ACCP (http://accp.com). Explore their directories for introductory details about program requirements, locations, stipends, and offered electives.
