Pharmacy Student Experiences

Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE)

Experiential education at Cedarville University School of Pharmacy (CUSOP) is designed to provide the student with skill development in pharmaceutical and direct patient care during each year of the four year program. The Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) Program begins in the first semester of the first professional year with direct training in a community pharmacy for 50 hours each semester, with one semester being in chain community pharmacy and the other semester being in an independent community pharmacy. Students then obtain direct training in a hospital pharmacy throughout both semesters of the second professional year (50 hours each semester). During the third professional year, the experiences will be pharmacy focused service learning opportunities. IPPES can include medical mission trips, rural health promotion and screenings, indigent clinics, "free pharmacy" experiences, and education at local elementary and secondary education institutions.

These experiences help students by:

1. Allowing the student the integrate a biblical worldview into healthcare
2. Promoting health and preventing diseases in different communities and at risk populations
3. Providing opportunities to exhibit servant leadership.

Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE)

The fourth year of the pharmacy program is devoted to 9 months of full-time APPE rotations. Each rotation is one calendar month in length and includes advanced community practice, advanced health systems pharmacy, ambulatory care practice, and adult acute care practice. The students will also select a rotation in either advanced community practice or advanced health systems pharmacy and in either advanced ambulatory care practice or advanced adult acute care. There are also opportunities for three elective rotations to complement the program. P4 APPE rotations allow the student to bridge didactic training and IPPE with real-life experiences in several areas of contemporary pharmacy practice emphasizing problem solving, clinical skills, and critical thinking. Knowledge, practice skills, and professional attitudes and values must be integrated and applied, reinforced, and advanced throughout the curriculum, including the pharmacy practice experiences.

Student Organizations

Throughout the pre-pharmacy and professional pharmacy program, there are many opportunities for students to be involved in pharmacy-related organizations. Regardless of pharmacy experience and clinical knowledge, any student can get involved. Student organizations have meetings throughout the semester, where speakers discuss career options or planning, clinical concepts, or policy/advocacy in pharmacy. Examples of speaker presentations include: antibiotic use in hospitals, state legislature related to pharmacy, and preparing for pharmacy residencies.

In addition to meetings, our student organizations engage with the community and organize service projects to meet local needs as well as advocate for the profession at the local, state, and national level. Our student organizations participate in health fair screenings, educate patients on their medications and various health concerns, and travel to the state capitol to meet with representatives about pharmacy-related issues. Students also develop leadership skills, as they plan events and learn how to effectively manage resources. Participating in these organizations facilitates student growth and preparation for the profession of pharmacy, and enables students to develop lifelong leadership skills and service-oriented hearts.