IPPE

Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPEs) are essential and required for all students entering the professional pharmacy curriculum. They provide a broad overview of pharmacy clinical practice and the various roles and responsibilities of pharmacists within the health care system. The broad educational outcomes for these courses include professional socialization of the student, development of a practice philosophy focused on the provision of pharmacist-delivered patient care, and an appreciation for the importance of life-long learning as a health professional.

The IPPE courses provide students exposure to pharmacy practice in community, hospital, ambulatory care, and transitional care. Clinical settings help assess student progression in knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to be practice ready at graduation. The majority of the student’s time is spent away from the School of Pharmacy in actual pharmacy practice settings. Preceptors will engage students in active, clinically relevant, learning activities that require critical thinking and communication skills. Preceptors include practicing pharmacists, faculty, and pharmacy administrators who assess, mentor and coach students in safe practice environments allowing students to safely apply their new knowledge, skills and attitudes. The benefit gained by each student from experiential education is directly related to the extent the student takes direct responsibility for her/his own learning “active learning.” Over these courses, students will be required to learn and remember vital general pharmacy practice information.

Students enrolled in the IPPE courses will acquire 300 intern hours over the first three years of the curriculum. In the summer between the first professional year and the second professional year, students will complete 160 intern hours of practice experience in the community setting. The next summer between the second and third professional years, students will complete 120 intern hours in the hospital setting. In the fall of the third professional year, students will complete 20 additional intern hours in the ambulatory care and transitional care settings providing patient medication recommendations to providers, facilitating access to medications for patients, and working with patients to increase health wellbeing leading to better quality of life.