Development of a Prepharmacy Underrepresented Mentorship Program for Undergraduate Students

Abstract

Objective: To describe the development of an innovative prepharmacy underrepresented mentorship program (PUMP) to provide guidance and support to prepharmacy students who are committed to serving underrepresented communities with health disparities.

Methods: Three virtual PUMP workshops were designed and delivered per admissions cycle for prepharmacy students who were applying to any school of pharmacy and self-identified as interested in serving underrepresented communities. Faculty, current pharmacy students, staff, and school leadership provided guidance and support on the application and interview process and how to select a program once offered admission. Data collection included the number of students who attended each workshop and were accepted to and matriculated at the school of pharmacy. Preworkshop and postworkshop surveys provided insight into communities that attendees were committed to serving, perceptions of the workshops, and intent to matriculate, if accepted.

Results: During the first three admissions cycles, 189 prepharmacy students participated in 8 PUMP workshops. A favorable trend was observed with an increased number of participants annually and an increased number of attendees who matriculated (an average of 34% over 3 cycles). Attendees were committed to addressing health disparities in various communities including but not limited to Southeast Asian; Latinx; Native American; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, or asexual; Black/African American; Refugee; and Pacific Islanders. Most attendees (96%) reported that attending PUMP workshop(s) positively changed their impression of the school.

Conclusion: A pilot prepharmacy mentorship program was developed and implemented. A growth in program participation and matriculation of students over 3 cycles who self-identified as committed to serving underrepresented communities was observed.

Keywords: Mentorship; Pharmacy school application; Prematriculation program; Prepharmacy; Underrepresented communities.