UF College of Pharmacy
Gators Give Back
Loyal alumni and friends of the University of Florida College of Pharmacy have supported the institution for more than a century and given back in countless ways. For many of these supporters, the love of their alma mater or the opportunity to mentor the next generation of pharmacists fuels their motivation for volunteering. Here are several College of Pharmacy programs that are forever shaping the futures of pharmacy students and you can answer the call to continue the tradition of excellence in pharmacy education at UF. By making a financial gift, you are investing in the next generation of pharmacy leaders dedicated to improving health care for all.
Ways to Give Back
Career Coach Program
Career coaches mentor two to five students at a given time and coach the pharmacy students across four years of the curriculum. They serve as a sounding board to help the student create and fulfill short-term and long-term career goals. More importantly, they are someone in the pharmacy profession whom student pharmacists can turn to when they need career advice or support.
Preceptor Program
Pharmacy preceptors are needed to supervise and mentor students during their clinical training rotations. Preceptors provide hands-on learning opportunities in real-world health care settings, guiding students in applying their classroom knowledge to practical patient care experiences. During the summer months when both APPE and IPPE students are on rotation, hundreds of preceptors are needed to oversee student rotations.
Residency Application Preparation Team
The Residency Application Preparation Team pairs a young alum with current pharmacy students to help them prepare for the residency application process. By providing CV and letter of intent reviews and participating in mock interviews, you are helping a UF College of Pharmacy student position themselves to secure a highly coveted residency position.
Career Coach Program
Nurture Future Pharmacists A career coach will guide the same student(s) through the entire four-year curriculum and play a key role in their maturation as a pharmacist.
1 Meeting Per Semester Career coaches will meet with a student once a semester and provide an evaluation following the meeting. The opportunity exists for coaches to meet with their students more often to provide mentorship.
Flexible Meeting Formats Career coaches can meet with their students via Zoom/videoconferencing, a phone call or in-person.
“Career coaches have the unique opportunity to mentor student pharmacists and prepare them to be well-trained professionals in the pharmacy field. These coaches can provide real-world insight into what students can expect in patient care. It’s an incredibly rewarding experience and offers a great way to give back to the profession and invest in the next generation of pharmacists.”
Priti Patel, Pharm.D., a clinical associate professor and director of personal and professional development in the UF College of Pharmacy.
How to Become a Career Coach
The college is currently recruiting new Career Coaches to begin in the fall of 2024
Program Contacts
Priti Patel Pharm.D.
Jerelle K Singleton
Preceptor Program
Train Future Pharmacists Preceptors work with rising second- and third-year pharmacy students during summer rotations and offer training to fourth-year pharmacy students during their final year in pharmacy school.
Hands-On Learning Preceptors provide hands-on, engaging experiential training in their areas of expertise. They provide students feedback and mentoring while coaching them through challenges.
The Student Experience Preceptors are key in ensuring UF College of Pharmacy students gain skills in important areas such as providing patient-centered care, working with diverse patient populations and gaining experience with an interprofessional health care team.
UF Benefits There are many UF benefits available to preceptors who supervise pharmacy students, including access to the UF library system, discounts on continuing education classes and subscriptions to the New York Times and Wall Street Journal online.
Fun Fact The UF College of Pharmacy has 700-800 preceptors actively engaged in educating students each year and more are needed to support professional learning.
“At the end of the day, it is incredibly rewarding for a preceptor to see students put it all together. We hear wonderful things from our preceptors who are proud to make a difference in ensuring future generations of pharmacists are upholding the highest standards of the profession.”
Carolynn Komanski, Ph.D., assistant director of experiential programs in the UF College of Pharmacy.
How to Become a Preceptor
The process to become a preceptor begins by completing the Office of Experiential Programs interest form below.
Program Contacts
Stacey D Curtis BPharm., Pharm.D., CPh
Carinda J Feild Pharm.D., FCCM
Carolynn Komanski Ph.D.
Residency Application Preparation Team
Prepare for Residency The Residency Application Preparation Team pairs a young alum with a rising fourth-year pharmacy student to help them prepare for the residency application process.
3-5 Hours Volunteers usually spend about 3-5 hours in the summer and fall assisting pharmacy students
Flexible Meeting Formats Meetings with the students can take place in-person or via Zoom/videoconferencing
Primary Activities Review student CVs and letters of intent for residency applications and provide feedback online via Google Docs
Additional Activities Participate in mock interviews via Zoom in January and February
Fun Fact The UF College of Pharmacy has led the nation in the total number of residency placements eight of the last nine years.
Join the Residency Application Preparation Team
Let us know how you want to be involved with the Residency Application Preparation Team.
Program Contacts
Robin M Li Pharm.D., BCACP, NBC-HWC