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The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy (SOP) is creatively connecting with high school students in the region to inspire and share the possibilities within the pharmacy profession with the launch of its new Rxcellence program.

Through the program, current pharmacy students are visiting high school classrooms to engage students with a greater understanding of how the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) material they’re learning can be applied to real world pharmacy.

In early May, 15 SOP students offered 84 presentations reaching more than 2,000 high school students at local schools, including Belleville East and West, Althoff Catholic High School, Edwardsville High School, Bethalto Civic Memorial, Alton High School, Freeburg High School, Collinsville High School and O’Fallon High School.

“The pharmacy students were responsible for reviewing Advanced Placement Biology and Chemistry objectives per national standards, as well as the National Science Standard Guidelines that most high schools use. They then developed and implemented their lesson plans with great passion for their chosen career path,” explained Jessica Kerr, PharmD, SOP interim associate dean of professional and student affairs and professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice, who established the Rxcellence program. “Their level of commitment has been impressive!”

Kerr is excited with the responses she’s received from participating schools, many of which have requested to continue the Rxcellence programming in the future.

“Presentation topics focused on chemistry, biology, anatomy and physiology, and overall health,” she added. “Our pharmacy students were happy to engage with the high schoolers through hands-on activities that demonstrated how pharmacists interact with patients.”

Presentation topics included:

• The Chemistry of Compounding
• The Chemistry of the Stomach and Drug Absorption
• The Evolution of Bacteria and Antibiotic Resistance
• Immunology and Immunizations
• Diabetes and its Impact
• High Blood Pressure and its Complications
• Opioid Crisis

Additionally, SOP third-year students Dalton Dieckow and Deja Finley presented on the “Chemistry of Oral Drug Delivery” at O’Fallon High School. Their presentation allowed students to see first-hand how pharmacists would recommend a drug product to a patient.

“Deja and I exposed high school students to the diverse practice sites pharmacists work in, and fostered ideas that allow them to think of pharmacy as a future career path,” explained Dieckow, of Bartonville. “Our learning objective for the students was to understand the differences between extended-release, immediate release and enteric-coated tablets. We gave students an opportunity to run an experiment to test a hypothesis.”

“This experience allowed me to mentor high school students and share my experiences when I was choosing my career,” Dieckow added. “I have learned much from those older and more experienced than myself. It felt good to share some of that wisdom.”

As a SOP student pursuing the education specialization, the experience presented many benefits for Finley.

“Unfortunately, the pharmacy profession is underrepresented at college/job fairs in high schools, so an increase in our presence is imperative to maintain competitive enrollment rates and emphasize the importance of pharmacy as a whole,” Finley said.

“I hope to become a professor,” she continued, “therefore, any opportunity to instruct a class, especially about pharmacy-related curriculum, allows me to strengthen and solidify my skills in academia. I hope Rxcellence continues to be a learning tool for pharmacy students while simultaneously being a creative way to connect with high school students.”

Photos: Rxcellence program participants included the School of Pharmacy’s (top row L-R) Dallas Banning, Deja Finley, Jasmine Williams, and (bottom L-R) Sameer Nagamiyan, Nicholas Neeley, Paris Smith, Michael McGee, Sarah Surmeier, Dr. Jessica Kerr, Jazmine Rosales, Catherine Gilmore, Steven Jannick, Michael Patterson and Corey Wachter. Participants not pictured are Dalton Dieckow and Libby Graef.

SIUE SOP third-year student Deja Finley leads an experiment with O’Fallon High School students in connection to her presentation on the “Chemistry of Oral Drug Delivery.”

SIUE SOP third-year student Dalton Dieckow engages high school students in thinking about pharmacy as a future career path.