This year, the UConn School of Pharmacy celebrated its 100th anniversary and its new name—the UConn School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences—recognizing the many PhD students and researchers who contribute to the school’s success.
The past academic year also marked an expansion of outreach efforts across Connecticut. Hundreds of high school students explored careers in pharmacy through hands-on activities, campus visits, and presentations from faculty and current students. Such events both on and off campus were made in large part due to a generous award from CVS Health. In addition, CVS pharmacists were active participants across different events, offering students perspectives from a variety of backgrounds and careers within pharmacy.
Led by Associate Dean Dr. Rickles, outreach visits brought pharmacy directly into schools and at the Connecticut Science Center, where students practiced administering injections on simulation arms and learned about the profession firsthand. On-campus visitors toured the school, compounded lip balms and scrubs, and participated in interactive demonstrations, including Dr. White’s human body simulator, which allowed students to see how medications are used to make emergency clinical decisions. During the summer, 15-18 high school students from across the region come to UConn’s Storrs Campus to learn about pharmacy and engage in many interactive activities. These students graduate from the ome-week immersive experience with the designation of being CVS Health Junior Scholars. Dr. Rickles had a team of faculty, staff, as well as the project coordinator and recent UConn grad, Alexandra Torres Munoz, to collaborate with to make all events successful and enjoyable.
In addition to the hands-on events and school visits, the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences has rolled out PHARM 1002: Fundamentals of Pharmacology, as a UConn course offering through the Early College Experience program. In this course, high school students can gain a strong foundation in essential components of drug therapy and key aspects of pharmacy practice. The plan is to offer more UConn courses through Early College Experience that lead to a pharmacy technician certification pathway for high school students, providing them with the tools and credentials required to work as 
certified pharmacy technicians. By establishing programs like these, we aim to provide students with meaningful opportunities to gain hands-on pharmacy experience and earn college credit early, helping to set them up for future success. We look forward to inspiring the next generation of pharmacists and sparking excitement for one of healthcare’s most vital professions.
Through partnerships with schools such as New Haven’s Hill Regional Career High School, Seymour High School, Norwich Free Academy, Glastonbury High School, and more, the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals and demonstrating the impact of pharmacy in communities across Connecticut. n