The Division of Experience Programs provides oversight and support for the Introductory and Advanced Pharmacy Practices Experience Programs. Together, these programs make up at least 30% of the Doctor of Pharmacy degree program. 

Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPEs) 

The IPPE program spans the first through third years of the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum and is composed of a variety of experiences and exposures including community practice, health system practice, ambulatory care, immunization delivery, postgraduate residency training, and public health.  Although the majority of IPPEs incorporate direct patient care with opportunities for interprofessional interaction, some simulated practice (e.g. standardized patient program) is included to ensure the development and mastery of patient care skills and knowledge.   

Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs) 

The APPE program consists of eight 5-week experiences during the 4th year of the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum.  Of these, five are required experiences while three are elective experiences.  Required APPEs include Advanced Institutional (1), Advanced Community (1), Acute Care Medicine (1), Acute Specialty Care (1), and Outpatient Ambulatory Care (1).  Electives can include up to 2 indirect (i.e. non-patient care) APPEs; one additional community, acute medicine, or ambulatory care APPE; and/or additional acute specialty course types or outpatient specialty course types. 

Experiential Curriculum

Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPEs) 

1st Year:

  • Immunization Clinic (6 hours) – Fall
    • Students complete 1 mock influenza vaccination clinic and 1 actual vaccination clinic experience where they provide influenza and other ACIP approved vaccinations in a community-based setting 
  • Public Health Mass Dispensing (3 hours) – Fall
    • This mock flu pandemic scenario has students rotate through various roles/responsibilities of a points of dispensing site to provide basic skills for responding to a public health emergency 
  • Simulated Patients (3 hours) – Fall/Spring
    • Students complete a total of three patient care simulated encounters that center around new prescription counseling, improving medication adherence, and providing self-care recommendations 
  • Public Health – Mass Outbreak (3 hours)– Spring
    • This interprofessional experience, including pharmacy, nursing, epidemiology, and medical translation students, simulates a public health response to a Giardia outbreak.  Students gain skills with providing team-based care and professional reporting responsibilities to inform public health investigations.  
  • Community IPPE (135 hours) – Spring (final 3 weeks of semester)
    • This 3-week (45 hours/week x 3 weeks) takes place in a community pharmacy setting and focuses on exposure to medication use processes and patient care services.       

2nd Year 

  • Postgraduate Residency Training (4 hours) – Summer between P1 and P2
    • Students interact with a residency director and current residents to gain an exposure to this potential career pathway  
  • Immunization Clinic (3 hours) – Fall
    • Students provide intramuscular and/or subcutaneous vaccinations in an approved community-based vaccination clinic to solidify knowledge and skills associated with this activity 
  • Community Pharmacy Services (5 hours) – Summer, Fall, or Spring
    • Students practice patient counseling skills and provide patient care that goes beyond filling a prescription.  Activities vary per site, but can include medication therapy management, medication adherence interventions, and medication/vaccine counseling 
  • Ambulatory Care (11 hours) – Fall or Spring
    • Students complete a mock (3 hours) ambulatory care patient visit and 3 actual ambulatory care experiences (8 hours) where they review patient charts, conduct patient interviews, perform patient assessments, develop care recommendations, and provide patient education. 
  • Health System I IPPE (121 hours) – Summer between P2 and P3
    • This 3-week (40 hours/week x 3 weeks) takes place in a hospital/health system setting and focuses on exposure to medication use processes and pharmacy patient care services.       

 

3rd Year 

  • Immunization Clinic (3 hours) – Fall
    • Students provide intramuscular and/or subcutaneous vaccinations in an approved community-based vaccination clinic to solidify knowledge and skills associated with this activity 
  • Health System II (20 hours) – Fall and Spring
    • Students complete a simulation (2 hours) followed by 18 hours (9 hours per semester) of pharmacy patient care services in a hospital setting.  Activities are site specific and may include medication reconciliation, medication/disease state education, transitions of care interventions, and other direct patient cares opportunities.   

 

Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs) 

Structure: 

  • The APPE curriculum consists of eight 5-week rotations during the 4th professional year (1600 Hours). It is composed of 5 Required and 3 Elective APPEs.
    • Summer Semester (2 APPEs) 
    • Fall Semester (3 APPEs and a 5 week off block) 
    • Spring Semester (3 APPEs)
  • Required APPEs (5 APPEs) 
    • Advanced Community (1 APPE) 
    • Advanced Institutional (1 APPE) 
    • Acute Care Medicine (1 APPE)
    • Acute Specialty Care (1 APPE) 
    • Outpatient Ambulatory Care (1 APPE)  
  • Elective APPEs (3 APPEs) can be any of the following: 
    • Acute Care Medicine (maximum of 1 additional APPE)
    • Acute Specialty Care
    • Outpatient Ambulatory Care (maximum of 1 additional APPE)
    • Outpatient Specialty Care
    • Advanced Community (maximum of 1 additional APPE)
    • Indirect / Non-Patient Care (maximum of 2 APPEs) 

 

APPE Region and Rotation Assignment 

Students are assigned their 4th year APPE region in one of the following manners: 

  • 2+2 Campus students
    • Assignments are made on admission with limited opportunities to swap 2+2 campus locations (process handled through UGACOP Office of Student Affairs) 
  • Non 2+2 campus students
    • Assignments are made at the beginning of the 3rd year based upon the APPE Regional Matching System Policy.  
Information for Current and Prospective Preceptors
Information for Current and Prospective Students
Contact Us

General Experience Programs Information

Assistant Dean for Experience Programs
Lori Duke, Pharm.D.
Phone: 706-542-5315
Fax: 706-542-6022
Email: Ljduke@uga.edu
Office: Athens – R.C. Wilson, Rm 150A

Office Manager and APPE Administrative Lead
Anna Cash
Phone: 706-542-5328
Fax: 706-542-6022
Email: anna.cash@uga.edu
Office: Athens – R.C. Wilson, Rm 152A

Clinical Affiliation Agreements
Pattie Holly
Phone: 706-542-8755
Fax: 706-542-6022
Email: Pholly@uga.edu
Office: Athens – R.C. Wilson, Rm 149G

Senior Public Service Associate
Linda Logan, Pharm.D.
Phone: 706-542-2153
Fax: 706-542-6022
Email: Ldlogan@uga.edu
Office: Athens – R.C. Wilson, Rm 152B

Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPE)

IPPE Associate Director – Community
Kay Brooks, MEd, RPh
Phone: 706-542-1402
Fax: 706-542-6022
Email: Klbrooks@uga.edu
Office: Athens – R.C. Wilson, Rm 149C

IPPE Associate Director – Health System
Andrew Darley, Pharm.D.
Phone: 706 583-0223
Fax: 706-542-6022
Email: Badarley@uga.edu
Office: Athens – R.C. Wilson, Rm 146

IPPE Associate Director – Ambulatory Care
Ashley Hannings, Pharm.D.
Phone: 706-542-0732
Fax: 706-542-6022
Email: Ahanning@uga.edu
Office: Athens – R.C. Wilson, Rm 148

IPPE Faculty
Michelle McElhannon, Pharm.D.
Phone: 706-542-9572
Fax: 706-542-6022
Email: Mmcelhan@uga.edu
Office: Athens – R.C. Wilson, Rm 270F

IPPE Administrative Lead
Monica Williams
Phone: 706-542-3893
Fax: 706-542-6022
Email: Monicaw@uga.edu
Office: Athens – R.C. Wilson, Room Rm 149A

Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences

APPE Director
Lindsey Welch, Pharm.D.
Phone: 706-542-5280
Fax: 706-542-6022
Email: Lhwelch@uga.edu
Office: Athens – R.C. Wilson, Rm 150

Distant Campus Directors, Pharmacy Practice Experiences

Albany/Southwest Georgia Campus
Melody Sheffield, Pharm.D.
Phone: 229-312-0110
Email: Rx@uga.edu
Office: Albany

Atlanta
Mindi Miller, Pharm.D.,
Phone: 770-551-7021
Fax: 770-369-9361
Email: millerms@uga.edu

Augusta Campus
Dianne May, Pharm.D.
Phone: 706-721-4450
Fax: 706-542-3994
Email: Dimay@augusta.edu
Office: Augusta – HM Building, Room 125

Savannah/Southeast Georgia Campus
Misha Thomason Watts, Pharm.D.
Phone: 912-819-8425
Fax: 912-819-7731
Email: MThomaso2@uga.edu
Office: Savannah – Professional Office Bldg, Suite 225

 


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