Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

UConn Pharmacy students listen to a lecture in a classroom

Committed to Inclusion

 

The UConn School of Pharmacy will be a leader in education, research, and service committed to delivering a transformative academic and professional experience to students, faculty, and staff in a diverse and inclusive environment that is focused on improving the health of all communities.

The School of Pharmacy values diversity and inclusion of students, faculty, and staff. We strive to provide a supportive environment where all members can have a voice and feel represented in the profession regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability, class, age, or other identifying characteristic. Our program prepares students to address the unique healthcare needs of diverse, underserved patient populations by establishing a foundation in public health and cultural competency. Through this awareness, the School of Pharmacy further aims to model a commitment towards inclusive healthcare practice.

Initiatives and Opportunities

Diversity Committee
One or more students from each class is selected to serve on this committee composed of students, staff and faculty members with the charge of enhancing diversity in the professional pharmacy program. Previous Diversity Committee initiatives have included volunteering with KUBE (Kids and UConn Bridging Education), coordinatingLunch and Learn talks on topics of diversity and public health, organizing School of Pharmacy diversity awards, and hosting sensitivity training for UConn Metanoia. Interested students should contact advisor Dr. Adrian Hernandez at adrian.hernandez-diaz@uconn.edu.


Urban Service Track
The Urban Service Track (UST) is an interprofessional education (IPE) program that unites 6 health profession schools, 4 campuses, 2 universities, and multiple community organizations and clinicians. The main goal of this unique curricular track is to develop a group of health care professionals dedicated to caring for urban, underserved populations and who are committed to interprofessional teamwork. UST Scholars and faculty provide community outreach to 4,000-5,000 of Connecticut’s neediest citizens each year. The UST program also places strong emphasis on public health and primary care as a career pathway. The core values of UST are Urban, Underserved, Interprofessionalism, and Primary Care.


Pharm.D./MPH Dual Degree Program
A dual degree Pharm.D./MPH program is offered to highly motivated students who seek to combine pharmacy education with special skills in public health as it relates to pharmacotherapy and health promotion, disease prevention and medication safety. After completing the first two years of study in the School of Pharmacy, students enroll in the MPH program for the third year and then return to the School of Pharmacy for the last two years of the Pharm.D. program, which would consist of both pharmacy and public health courses. Students must meet the admission requirements of both programs and apply to the MPH program in the spring semester of the P2 year as they complete the Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy Studies. Both the Pharm.D. and the MPH will be conferred simultaneously after the program requirements have been successfully met.


Education Abroad: Summer Program in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Students spend five-weeks at the beginning of the summer, in Beijing, China at Peking University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences studying Traditional Chinese Medicine, which covers a range of medicinal practices that have developed over thousands of years, including herbal medicine, massage therapy and acupuncture. Students are also required to take 28 hours of instruction in Mandarin. This is a for-credit course.

Anti-Racism Resources from Concerned Student Pharmacists

Resources compiled by the pharmacy students listed with each document:

Resources on Anti-Racism, Systemic Racism, and Diversity for Pharmacy Students
Information compiled by pharmacy students: Melanie Groof, Isabella Hernandez, Amanda Idusuyi, and Hannah McCarthy

Sourcing Anti-Racism Organizations
Document information compiled by pharmacy student Lava Kareem

June 2020

May 2020

"The tragic death of George Floyd is symbolic of the unfathomable number of black deaths and injustices that have occurred in this country since its earliest beginnings. We see and feel the nation's pain. It is time to stop inequality and racism in all of its forms. We will do our part by amplifying our listening and expanding our education efforts in order to better communicate this critical mission."

Philip Hritcko, Pharm.D., RPh, Dean

 

Exploring the Impacts of Social Determinants of Health

The Cliff of Good Health – via the Urban Institute