The School of Pharmacy partnership with the New Haven Public School System was initially established to encourage minority students to pursue a career in pharmacy.  The genesis of this program is due to the efforts of Dr. Marlon Fuller, a 2004 graduate of the School.  Dr. Fuller is an African-American who is committed to serving as a role model for minority high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The initial effort of the partnership consisted of conducting several high school assemblies in New Haven, Connecticut.  These programs exposed students to pharmacy as a career and provided information about how to prepare to study pharmacy at the University of Connecticut.  Selected students visited the UConn campus and participated in a presentation in the School of Pharmacy that focused on the pre-pharmacy and professional academic programs, career opportunities in pharmacy, and University of Connecticut programs and services for minority students.  Following the presentation, students toured the campus, visiting the Homer Babbidge Library, Gampel Pavilion, the UConn Co-op and a model dorm room.  Students were treated to lunch in the Northwest Dining Hall.

During the 2004-2005 academic year, Walgreens joined the partnership and helped to develop a community pharmacy shadow program that will expose students to the daily activities of the community pharmacist.  Once the community pharmacy shadow program is successfully implemented, it will be expanded to the hospital pharmacy setting.  To reinforce these shadowing experiences, UConn pharmacy students will serve as mentors for students.

Future goals of the partnership include developing a work assistance program in cooperation with local community and hospital pharmacies and developing an educational support system at the University and School of Pharmacy that enhances minority students’ ability to successfully complete the professional program. 

Cooperative efforts and educational experiences, such as this program, enable the School of Pharmacy to provide the citizens of this state with pharmacists who are truly representative of the population served.