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Washington State University
Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Archives

Pharmacy students training to fill rural health care gap

WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences has accepted five students into the rural health track. These first-year students will be the inaugural class in the track and will undergo specialized training and education in rural health care. Upon their graduation in 2025, they will be equipped with the skills, tools, and network needed to work in a rural setting.

“We look forward to working with this small group of talented students. Health care providers in rural areas face a unique set of challenges. This includes advising patients on how to access care if they don’t have phone or internet services, or if the nearest … » More …

Prosser resident hopes to provide pharmacy services in her community

First-year student pharmacist Catalina Yepez, age 29, is one of five students in the inaugural class in the rural health track. The track is part of the college’s Rural Health Initiative to recruit, educate, and embed pharmacists in rural communities across Washington state.

I was born and raised in Prosser, Washington a town of roughly 6,000 people nestled in central Washington where access to medical services are limited. Most of the people in Prosser work in agriculture and my family was no different. My mother worked in a cherry factory for 28 years and my father at a potato packaging plant. In 2011, … » More …

Love of chemistry transforms to career in rural health

First-year student pharmacist Bradley Brown, age 22, is one of five students in the inaugural class in the rural health track. The track is part of the college’s Rural Health Initiative to recruit, educate, and embed pharmacists in rural communities across Washington state.

I was raised in Rochester, Washington the youngest of 13 children, where I grew up in a 100-year-old farm house. Rochester is a rural agricultural community with a population of about 2,500 situated between Seattle and Portland. Like many rural communities, everyone in Rochester willingly lends a hand to help a neighbor. This town has raised me as much as … » More …

Personalized Medicine and the Future of Pharmacogenomics

Pharmacogenomics, a budding field of personalized medicine, is the study of how genes influence an individual’s response to treatment with medications. Drug-related morbidity and mortality due to unoptimized medication therapy is estimated to cost the United States $528 billion annually. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adverse drug events (ADEs) have been categorized as a leading cause of preventable death in the United States. » More ...

Student pharmacists work across disciplines to solve complex patient cases

Working with future physicians, nurses, and health care providers across disciplines is a vital part of the WSU Doctor of Pharmacy program. It prepares student pharmacists for a real world setting where they may be collaborating with providers on the best plan of action for unique patient situations. For example, how does one treat a 72-year-old patient who is recovering from prostate cancer and living with type 2 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis? » More ...

WSU pharmacy graduates lead residency matches in Washington state

WSU PharmD students led in accredited residency matches in Washington state this year. More than 67% of fourth-year pharmacy students seeking a residency matched, according to the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists (ASHP) data, which coordinates the official match process for pharmacy schools nationwide. This year, 47 WSU PharmD students matched, up from 41 students last year. Residencies are post-graduate training programs which allow new pharmacists to perform as a licensed practitioner to train under the supervision of an experienced preceptor. Residencies are highly sought-after positions to help pharmacists gain experience, leadership skills, advance their growth of clinical judgement, and hone their skills as a practicing pharmacist. » More ...

WSU and Columbia Basin College set new path for pharmacy students

Students in the Tri-Cities area can now complete pre-requisite courses for the WSU Doctor of Pharmacy program at the cost of attending CBC. In a collaboration between Columbia Basin College (CBC) and Washington State University (WSU), students who complete the approved transferable Associate of Science-Transfer (AS-T) degree will be eligible for admissions into the WSU Doctor of Pharmacy program.

“As someone who grew up not too far from Tri-Cities, I’m proud that we can now offer students new opportunities and career pathways that did not exist before. This new collaboration fulfills WSU’s mission as a land-grant university, which is rooted in accessibility and public service,” … » More …

Students raise funds for virtual care in Yakima nursing homes

Nursing homes have been ground zero for the havoc caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As of October 11, 60,491 of COVID-19 deaths were nursing home residents. That’s more than a quarter of all deaths nationwide caused by COVID-19. Several pharmacy students from Washington State University have decided to take matters into their own hands by providing virtual care to elderly patients in Yakima Valley nursing homes. While students will be creating videos to advise elderly patients, they need help to raise funds for tablets so that their patients are able to view these videos. The WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences caught up … » More …

Lauzier grant to serve rural and homeless populations in Yakima Valley

The Paul Lauzier Foundation has awarded the Washington State University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CPPS) a $47,500 grant. The grant will fund patient care services for those experiencing homelessness and rural communities in the Yakima Valley in central Washington state. 

“The work being done by the students, faculty and volunteers who participate in this program is extremely important.  We are pleased to have this opportunity to join in the WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences’ efforts to provide health care services to rural communities,” said Paul Lauzier Foundation trustee, Michael Rex Tabler.

Working with the Yakima Union Gospel Mission Medical Center, … » More …

Embedded: Student pharmacist on the frontlines of COVID-19 testing in Yakima

When a spike in COVID-19 cases made Yakima county a West Coast hot spot for the disease, Yakima Doctor of Pharmacy students quickly stepped up to help with mitigation efforts. Working alongside the Yakima Health District and the US National Guard, WSU student pharmacists volunteered to help direct people in improvised testing centers. The college sat down with third-year pharmacy student Brian Wu to hear about the experience. » More ...