Summer Institute offers intro to pharmacy

The UB School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SPPS) recently welcomed aspiring health care professionals to its annual  Pharmacy Summer Institute.

Pharmacy Summer Institute (PSI), a three-day immersive program designed to introduce high school and college students to the evolving fields of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences.

Held July 13-15, the program brought together 70 students representing New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Florida, Minnesota, North Carolina, Washington State, and the People's Republic of China. Participants gained firsthand insight into the educational pathways and wide range of career opportunities available in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences.

“For 11 years, UB SPPS has proudly welcomed more than 1,000 students through one of the nation's premier pharmacy summer programs,” says Jennifer Rosenberg, associate dean for student success and engagement.

“In cooperation with our remarkable faculty, staff, students, alumni, preceptors and on- and off-campus partners, we aim to deliver an institute that offers relevant workshops, meaningful experiences and opportunities for personal and professional growth. We look forward to continuing to inspire and support the next generation of leaders in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences for years to come.”

Students participated in interactive workshops, hands-on activities and discussions led by UB faculty, alumni, current students and local health care professionals. Programming explored a wide range of topics, including patient counseling, mock vaccine administration and the role of interprofessional collaboration in health care, while highlighting the many ways pharmacists contribute to patient care and health outcomes.

Students visited all three of UB’s campuses, exploring the Pharmacy Building on the South Campus, the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences on the Downtown Campus, and multiple academic buildings on the North Campus, providing participants with a glimpse into campus life and the collaborative nature of health professions education at UB.

In addition to exploring scientific and clinical concepts during the institute, students learned about the school's academic programs and received guidance on preparing for future studies and careers in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences.

Tyler Bingham, assistant director for recruitment and advisement in the Office of Student Success and Engagement, coordinated the 2026 program.

“Pharmacy Summer Institute continues to be the highlight of my summer,” says Bingham. “I am so grateful to bring together so many wonderfully engaged and thoughtful students from across our region, country, and around the world to explore health care and health sciences education. PSI is a great opportunity for faculty, staff and students from across all three of UB’s campuses to come together and share what makes our community such a special place to become a future health care leader.”

The PSI Student Leadership Team, a group of current UB PharmD students, including several former PSI participants, helped facilitate the program and played a key role in creating a dynamic experience for this year’s participants.

“When I attended PSI six years ago, the program opened my eyes to how diverse and impactful pharmacy can be as a potential career path,” says 2028 PharmD candidate Leia Nandwani, PSI 2026 co-chair and Advisory Committee Member.

“Being a team leader for PSI now, I have the opportunity to give prospective students a glimpse into what a future in pharmacy could be like for them,” adds Nandwani, a 2020 PSI graduate. “I highly recommend this program to students interested in pharmacy or health care because it has the perfect blend of traditional lecture style and hands-on learning which gives students a good representation of what pharmacy school at UB is actually like.”

Adds 2027 PharmD student Samantha Haertel, who is also a PSI co-chair and Advisory Committee Member: “Being a part of the PSI Student Leadership Team has been an incredibly rewarding experience because it allows me to share my experiences and advice as a current pharmacy student while helping others explore whether this profession is the right fit for them. PSI offers participants a unique opportunity to step into the shoes of a pharmacy student through hands-on activities, meaningful conversations with faculty and current students, and exposure to the many career paths within pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences. It's inspiring to see participants discover new interests and leave feeling excited about the possibilities that lie ahead.”