MEDIA CONTACT: Tory Olson, 515-271-1834, tory.olson@drake.edu
Drake University pharmacy students have a new opportunity for summer internships, thanks to a $20,000 grant from the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation (NACDS).
The two-year grant was awarded to help fund internships that will promote entrepreneurial leadership in community pharmacy practice and improve the quality of patient care.
The “Internship Program Partnering Pharmacy Students with Chain Pharmacy Entrepreneurs” seeks to place future practicing pharmacists with mentors who have demonstrated a record of innovation.
The sited selected for participation during the summer of 2009 are:
- Kerr Drug, High Point, N.C.; www.kerrdrug.com
- Walgreens Pharmacy, Des Moines; www.walgreens.com
- SuperValu Pharmacy, Nationwide; www.supervalupharmacies.com
- Snyders Drug, Minneapolis, Minn.; www.snydersdrug.com
The grant will provide four students with additional activities along with their paid 10-week, 40 hours per week summer internships.
In addition to the community pharmacy’s established internship activities, students also will complete the “Shaping Your Pharmacy Future” certificate program through Drake’s DELTA Rx Institute. The focus of the program is to further develop creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship in Drake’s doctor of pharmacy graduates.
Renae Chesnut, the college’s associate dean for academic and student affairs and member of the DELTA Rx team, is the principal investigator for the program.
Other faculty members involved are:
- Chuck Phillips, associate professor of pharmacy administration and assistant dean of assessment
- Nora Stelter, assistant professor of pharmacy practice
- Denise Soltis, assistant professor and director of pharmacy experiential programs
“The goal of this internship is to help future practitioners initiate change within the profession and formulate strategic plans for their practices — ultimately advancing the profession through better patient care,” she said.
“This ties in well with the DELTA Rx Institute’s mission to instill a spirit of change and innovation in the pharmacy profession,” Chesnut added.
This program is available to students who have completed their second year in the professional pharmacy program, but consideration may be given to others under the following circumstances:
- Students who have extensive experience in a pharmacy practice setting
- Students who have an extended education, such as a bachelor’s degree
- Third-year students who are willing to delay the start of their rotations
Students will be selected through the college, and recipients will be announced in March.
Drake’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is one of four institutions that received funding from NACDS.
For more information, visit the following Web sites: