Aspiring pharmacists visit the UF College of Pharmacy through the SHPEP Program

girls compounding
SHPEP students participating in the skills lab.

The Summer Health Professions Education Program, or SHPEP, is a free national  summer program aimed at enhancing access to information and resources for college students interested in health care careers such as medicine, density, nursing, pharmacy, public health and more.

With around 80 students enrolled in the University of Florida’s SHPEP program from all over the U.S., nine students participated in an introduction to pharmacy session on May 31.

Under the guidance of Janet Schmittgen, Ph.D., Cary Mobley, Ph.D., and Chardaé Whitner, Pharm.D., the students participated in a compounding exercise where they learned how to make a lip balm using beeswax. In addition, they toured the college’s History of Pharmacy Museum.

SHPEP, has a clear mission of enhancing the academic proficiency and career development of students who are underrepresented in the health professions. In 2016, SHPEP expanded its scope to include a wider range of health professions, recognizing the importance of fostering diversity and inclusivity in various health care fields.

The students ended their day with a museum visit led by Dr. Schmittgen.
The students ended their day with a museum visit led by Dr. Schmittgen.