The UCSOP Fellowship program began with the Class of 2014. Designed as a scholarship and leadership skill development program, prospective UCSOP students are selected through a competitive process. Selection criteria includes at minimum:
Grade Point Average > 3.25
Pharmacy College Admission Test Score > 50
Interview Score > 18
Once selected, finalists must compose a 500 word essay. Recipients qualify for scholarship assistance, which is renewable over a three year period. Fellows are engaged in a range of leadership activities and must meet requirements, including a minimum 3.25 GPA, in order to maintain the fellowship. Activities include participating in health related community events, attending professional meetings, developing posters, publications or presentations.
Meet Our Current Fellows
Amy Barr (Class of 2015) from Pomeroy, Ohio, feels that being a (UCSOP) Fellow has been helpful. Beyond the financial assistance “the leadership opportunity is tremendous!” She has started building her resume, using Fellow activities as a starting point. Some of her first UCSOP friends are other members of the Fellow program.
Mike Brown (Class of 2014) from Huntington WV, says “the (UCSOP) Fellow program pushes you to go beyond just showing up as a student to get involved with all aspects of how the pharmacy school functions. I have been fortunate to sit on committees and learn how the academic world works. Additionally, I learned good networking skills through my involvement with the Fellow program.”
Heather DeAtley (Class of 2015) from Maysville, KY, has learned “teamwork on a professional level.” Team–oriented work environments are very common, so Heather feels this aspect of the Fellow program is very valuable.
Hannah Hutchinson (Class of 2015) from Scott Depot, WV, has learned “that we each bring something unique to the Fellows organization, whether these talents are for planning, networking, writing, acting, or coordinating. Being able to contribute to the group cause and follow through with that commitment are keys to success.”
Lyssa Miller, (Class of 2014) from Charleston, WV, says the UCSOP Fellow program has allowed her “to grow as a student leader and presented opportunities for me to network and learn about the profession without the financial burden I would have had otherwise.”
Kathy Nguyen, (Class of 2015), from Houston TX, has learned “how to become more active and involved within the pharmacy community as well as improving my networking abilities.”
Saul Pandey, (Class of 2015), from Kathmandu, Nepal, says the UCSOP Fellow program allows him the “freedom to venture into some ideas that I have, but have a support system to help me accomplish those goals. At the same time, I benefit from input from my peers, and our diverse set(s) of cognitive abilities help us to identify problems and solutions from different aspects.
Allison Richmond, (Class of 2015), from Talcott, WV, has learned “that it is important to be involved in many different events at the school…..I have also learned that it is important to work as a team to make decisions that are better for more than just our group.”
Faculty Advisors
Ms. Barbara Smith, (RPh, CDE), Instructor of Pharmacy Practice, is a Co-Advisor SOP Fellow Program. She earned her degree in pharmacy at WVU School of Pharmacy. Prior to joining UC School of Pharmacy, she worked as pharmacist in a community pharmacy setting. In addition to classroom lectures, Ms. Smith leads the Diabetes Management Clinic at Roane General Hospital.
Dr. Jessica Robinson, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice, is a Co-Advisor SOP Fellow Program. Dr. Robinson earned her PharmD at WVU School of Pharmacy and completed a one year residency at St. Mary’s Hospital in Huntington, followed by a second year of specialty residency in infectious disease at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Her practice site is CAMC Internal Medicine Clinic.