About 50 high school students from across the country who are considering a career in pharmacy or pharmaceutical sciences will take up residence at The University of Toledo this week for a pair of summer camps that provide an inside perspective of the industry.
The College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences has hosted a summer camp for those interested in pharmacy practice since 2001. More recently, a second camp was added for those interested in pharmaceutical science and research.
Dr. Gabriella Baki, UToledo assistant professor of pharmaceutics and director of the Cosmetic Science and Formulation Design Program, worked with campers last summer.
Both camps offer plenty of hands-on learning opportunities.
“We want students to learn and grow,” said José Treviño, director of transfer services and recruitment in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. “There’s a lot of lab experience. There’s also a shadowing day where students will either be paired with faculty who are doing research or practicing pharmacists so they get real-world experience in the area they’re interested in.”
Programming at both camps includes faculty presentations, research lab tours, a crime scene chemistry demonstration and professional speakers. Students also get a look at UToledo’s high-tech Jacobs Interprofessional Immersive Simulation Center.
In some years, as many as half of all participants in the Pharmaceutical Science Camp have ultimately enrolled at UToledo, and roughly 20 percent of students in the Doctor of Pharmacy Program are summer camp alumni, according to Treviño.
“It’s a good pipeline for us, and it gives students an opportunity to take us for a test drive,” Treviño said. “We want them to experience The University of Toledo, to get familiar with our people, our program and our campus.”
The students are on campus through Wednesday evening.
