In your P2 year, all students take Pharmacology and Medicinal Chemistry for both semesters. In this course, you will learn about different classes of drugs and how they produce their effects in the body. The medicinal chemistry part focuses on chemical structure and what functional groups are required for receptor interaction, known as Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR). Pharmacology focuses on how the drug produces an effect, including receptor interactions and signaling mechanisms, as well as side effects and interactions with other drugs. One of the most difficult things is keeping all of the drugs separate. The course is divided into different modules, such as cardiovascular pharmacology, so all drugs used to treat various cardiovascular conditions are talked about together. Also, it is important to remember your Anatomy & Physiology from P1 year, because it will be referenced in the course. For example, in cardiovascular pharmacology it is important to know the anatomy and physiology of the heart in order to understand how certain drugs can treat disease states of the heart. In Pharmacology, a lot of the Top 300 drugs are covered, which is helpful in preparing for the Top 300 exam at the beginning of the P3 year.
The beginning of my P1 year…
Hey Friends. My name is Erin and I am currently a P-1 here at Campbell University College of Pharmacy. I had the privilege of doing 3 years of undergraduate work at Campbell before being accepted to Pharmacy School, so I am proud to call Buies Creek “home”. We are finishing up our last full week of class for the semester and it is so hard to believe! No doubt, I was busier than I have ever been this past semester between pledging a professional pharmacy fraternity, honing in on my study skills to make my study time more efficient, working on campus, and making hilarious, fun, new friends… but I would not change anything about my first semester of Pharmacy School. I was asked today what one thing I did to make the transition from undergraduate to graduate school easier. My answer was simple: dive right in there, jump in head first, try everything you can and then become involved in something you are passionate about. Whether you are starting to think about graduate school or even what major to declare, just remember to give it your all. I am glad I poured myself into this first semester of pharmacy school… yes, it has been tough and I have studied more than I thought possible, but it has been a fantastic experience. I cannot wait for next semester!!
Talent Show!
Tonight the College of Pharmacy put on a talent show here at Campbell. There was a total of 11 acts that performed and Miss North Carolina was the emcee. One of my P1 classmates, Monica, and I decided to do a lip sync of Ike and Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary”. It was so much fun! This was definitely something that I needed right now to relieve the stress of dealing with what feels like all of my classes running together with exams and assignments, as well as with pledging Phi Delta Chi Pharmaceutical Fraternity. I’m glad that the pharmacy student executive board decided to have this because it was a lot of fun and a nice get away from reality for a couple of hours. After the show, it felt great to hear how everyone loved our act and how we made them laugh. I was making myself laugh while performing, but hid it really well during the performance. I loved how Dr. Cisneros, our P1 advisor, came up to Monica and I and told us that we “embodied Ike and Tina” and how much he loved them. He said that we took him back to the 70’s with that act. This is something that you can look forward to while here at Campbell, great outlets like this.
~Andrea
Top 100 Exam…
P1’s will be taking the Top 100 Exam on November 3rd. For each drug we have to know the brand name(s), the generic name, therapeutic class (like anti-inflammatory, etc.), indications, dosage forms (oral solid, oral liquid, injection, etc.), dosage strengths for tablets & capsules only, & controlled substance schedule. Also, if the drug is spelled incorrectly, the answer is wrong. This is a lot of information to learn so it is best to begin studying as early as possible. If you make it a part of your everyday routine, it is not as difficult. The more pharmacy experience you have, the easier it is to memorize all the components of the Top 100 because you have had hands on experience with the drugs.
In order to be able to complete our first scheduled early pharmacy experience over the summer of 2010, we must make at least a 70% on this exam. Also, the exam is 25% of our final grade in Pharm 309 – Drug Information. This year is the first year that Top 100 will be given on the computer, instead of on paper like the previous years.
This exam seems easy when I think about the Top 300 Exam administered during the P3 year!
I hope this gave you a little insight on being a P1!
~Brittany
My name is Brittany…
I am a CU College of Pharmacy & Health Science Student Ambassador. Student Ambassadors help with the interview process as well as future & hopeful students. We are here to answer all of your questions about Pharmacy School, CU, the admissions process, and whatever else you can come up with.
Although I am not completely sure what specific area of pharmacy I would like to go in (that’s what rotations are for), I really love the clinical aspect of pharmacy. I have had experience in hospital pharmacy & I really enjoyed it.
Some advice for prospective pharmacy students, Pharmacy School is challenging & time-consuming, but there is still time to have fun! Make sure you have pharmacy experience, the more, the better. Work on your time-management skills & keep a planner because Pharmacy Students are very, very busy! I can’t believe my first semester is already halfway over — It has really flown by! Good luck!
My name is Meghan…
I am one of the Student Ambassadors at Campbell University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. I am a joint PharmD/MSCR student, currently working on my reserach project. I was working on my Bachelors in Clinical Research at Campbell when I was accepted to pharmacy school. The most impressive aspect of Campbell is the student/professor relationship and how caring and welcoming the faculty is. I am part of several organizations on and off campus which include: PLIG, SNPhA, SSHP, SAB, ONE, and BFPA. My favorite class thus far would be Medical Microbiology, which I am currently taking. I have several goals I would like to accomplish when I graduate from pharmacy school, such as enter a residency program, work in a clinical/hospital setting, travel to underdeveloped countries and help establish clinics, and hopefully I can be an outlet for healthcare information and patient care. I greatly encourage prospective students to look into Campbell University for pharmacy school and I would be more than happy to answer any questions that come my way!
My name is Leslie…
I am currently in my second year of pharmacy school. I am from Albemarle, NC, a small town about 45 minutes east of Charlotte. As a high school student, I knew that I wanted to be a pharmacist. I completed two years of undergraduate pre-requisites. I completed one semester at Elon University and then transferred to Campbell University, where I completed the remaining three semesters of coursework. I have truly enjoyed my time in pharmacy school so far. One of my favorite things about pharmacy school at Campbell is the professors. They really care about the students and will take as much time as you need to make sure you understand the course material.
I am involved with several organizations in the pharmacy school. I am Operation Diabetes Chair for APhA-ASP, Fundraising Chair for SSHP, and a member of PASA. I served on the Health Fair Planning Committee last year and I am also serving again this year. I am also an Admissions Ambassador for the School of Pharmacy and I lead diabetes exercise classes for children through a pharmacy school program once or twice a month.
After I graduate, I hope to complete a residency and my dream job would be in oncology pharmacy. To all prospective pharmacy students, I would encourage you to try to get as much pharmacy experience as you can so that you can truly be sure pharmacy is the career you want to pursue. Also, have fun! Pharmacy school is a great experience, but it is very time consuming, and a lot of studying is involved.
My name is Beth…
I am a current P1 (first year pharmacy student). Before attending Campbell, I received my B.S. degree in biochemistry and a minor in genetics from North Carolina State University. Also, I am an out of state student from New Jersey. In my first few months here, I have really come to appreciate the closeness and support Campbell offers. Because of the small class sizes, you know everyone and the class tends to work as a team. The faculty and staff really take the time to make our years here successful and memorable. To become involved and help prepare myself for my professional career, I have joined APhA-ASP, SSHP, and PASA . Upon graduation in May 2013, I hope to pursue a residency in pediatric pharmacy.
The tips I would offer any prospective student would be to keep your undergraduate science notes and to enjoy your free time! Your years in pharmacy school will be rewarding, but will require a lot of hard work and time management.
Hi, my name is Jonathan…
I was an undergraduate student for two years at Campbell before entering the pharmacy school. I’ve had a weird path to get me to this point, but I have loved my time here. I am currently seeking my Pharm. D. but am seriously thinking of pursuing the joint degree program in Pharmaceutical Science.
My name is Tara…
As a joint degree student, I take a lighter load of pharmacy classes in the morning and then travel to the RTP campus to attend clinical research courses during some evenings. This semester, I am taking a very interesting course called Physical and Clinical Assessment as part of my clinical research studies–I absolutely love the hands-on aspect of the class. We are learning valuable skills for clinical examinations that will come in handy when I eventually become a pharmacist. I’m also involved in SNPhA (a community-service based organization) and the SAB (Student Advisory Board) for the clinical research program.
As a previous Georgia resident, I have really grown to love my new life in North Carolina! Though Buies Creek may seem like a small, rural town, there’s plenty to do and the city of Raleigh isn’t that far away. I’ve found that there is always something to do on the weekend, whether it be kayaking down the Cape Fear River, listening to music at one of the Raleigh venues, or heading to the beach or mountains for a study break.
