On the morning of June 11, the University of Florida Center for Experiential Learning and Simulation was buzzing with curious questions and exclamations of awe, as 29 rising Florida high school seniors were immersed in the world of pharmacy professions during the 2025 UF Gator Pharmacy Exploration Camp.
For Isabel Jerome from Sarasota, participating in Gator Pharmacy Exploration Camp, or GPEC, provided ample opportunities to stoke the flames of her curiosity about a career in pharmacy.
“The simulation center was very, very cool. I’m big on hands-on learning, so I liked the direct conversations I got to have with the doctors and the professors at the center,” she said. “I was asking a bunch of questions about seizures and how they perform certain procedures. It was very interesting for me.”
Florida high schoolers entering their senior year can apply for GPEC, a weeklong residential program hosted by the UF College of Pharmacy that aims to inspire students to choose a career in pharmacy. Through introducing students to varied clinical and research environments on the UF campus and by pairing them with knowledgeable student ambassadors, faculty members and pharmacy community partners alike, students discover the many forms a pharmacy career can take.
“Our goal is to provide a perspective on health care careers for students who may not have access otherwise,” said Chardaè Whitner, Pharm.D., a clinical assistant professor of pharmacy education and practice and the UF College of Pharmacy’s director of community engagement. “Our planning team, which includes Mary Beth Yokomi, interim assistant director of admissions for the college, and Nazandria Jackson, program coordinator for the college’s Office of Student Success, Wellness and Community Engagement, has made efforts to reach out to Title I schools across Florida to recruit students who may live in communities with limited access to or knowledge of pharmacy practice. Here, students can learn that everyone’s path to pharmacy is different, and they can begin to recognize their own path.”
Coral Springs student Joseph Mullins discovered that his path to professional success might just begin with a pharmacy degree from UF. When he arrived at campus at the start of the week, he felt certain that he would apply to other universities to obtain his higher education degrees, but after a week of candid and in-depth conversations about student life with the college ambassadors, he felt like he had already become a member of the Gator Pharmily.
“I knew any medical profession you get into is tough, but what I learned this week is it’s not all school, school, school. It’s getting out in the community,” Mullins said. “Some of the ambassadors told me they run free blood sugar tests out in the community. That really interested me. I also like the emphasis placed on teamwork for students here. That’s another reason why I’m leaning toward applying here for pharmacy school.”
During the course of the week, students heard presentations from an array of pharmacy professionals, tested their own skills in lab exercises, dove into faculty-guided case studies, toured the college’s facilities, classrooms and museum, and participated in a variety of team-building activities. Whitner said the week was a welcome reminder that a little guidance can create a wellspring of inspiration for young minds.
“My favorite part of speaking with the students and really getting to know them is seeing their light bulb moments. I may be biased, because I think pharmacy is one of the best professions in the world, but when I see that light bulb go off in a student’s mind and see their inspiration to want to become a pharmacist, that’s a great feeling for me,” Whitner said. “We know the impact that we can have in the community through our work, so seeing that light bulb moment in these students makes me feel like we’re already reaching our future generation of pharmacists.”
GPEC 2025 was held June 8-14 at the UF College of Pharmacy’s Gainesville campus.
Gator Pharmacy Exploration Camp Photos
June 8-14, 2025
