Program to prepare pharmacy students for their postgraduate training search.
OBJECTIVE
To design and assess an educational program for preparing pharmacy students for success during the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Midyear Clinical Meeting (ASHP-MCM) and postgraduate training search.


METHODS
An informational handout packet was prepared and a 1-hour educational forum was conducted prior to the 2007 and 2008 ASHP-MCMs. Following the ASHP-MCM, participating students were invited to complete an anonymous online survey instrument.


RESULTS
Among the 66 participating students, 73% agreed they were adequately prepared for the ASHP-MCM, with 89%, 80%, and 79% agreeing the educational forum equipped them for their activities preceding, during, and following the ASHP-MCM, and 90%, 83%, and 69% agreeing the informational handout packet equipped them for their activities preceding, during, and following the ASHP-MCM. Among 14 students seeking a residency during the 2008 ASHP-MCM, 86% were successfully placed with a program.


CONCLUSIONS
An educational program was useful in preparing students for success during the ASHP-MCM and postgraduate training search.
Prescott
William Allan
WA
University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA. prescott@buffalo.edu
D002321:Career Choice; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007397:Internship, Nonmedical / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D012957:Societies, Pharmaceutical / Q000592:standards; D013339:Students, Pharmacy; D014830:Vocational Guidance / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*