All Frequently Asked Questions About the HPM Pathway

Will I be competitive for post-graduate positions (residencies, fellowships)?

Yes. Our recent graduates say it was their Pharmaceutical Health Policy & Management (PHPM) Pathway experience that distinguished them from other candidates in the interview process.

Will the pathway give me enough clinical experience?

Yes. It is true that depending on how the student chooses to undertake and accomplish The Practicum that some time can be taken from certain additional clinical experience. However, the educational curriculum for all pathways in the School of Pharmacy is designed to provide every student the coursework and clinical experience they need to pass the boards, function as pharmacists, and if they choose augment their clinical experiences in post-graduate positions. In addition, there are several strategies to optimize the clinical experiences for Pharmaceutical Health Policy & Management (PHPM) Pathway students.

Won't it be just as easy for me to get the HPM skills after I graduate?

No. Since the coursework and practicum experience is not typical of a pharmacy education or other health professional education, acquisition of the skills through the Pharmaceutical Health Policy & Management (PHPM) Pathway represents a significant jump start to your career.

Because this pathway was not available when a number of the PHPM faculty obtained their degrees, like others who do not take the pathway, they obtained PHPM skills through on-the-job experience and post graduate education. This is a longer and more expensive overall process.

Will the Practicum Research Project be demanding?

Yes. Our focus in the Pharmaceutical Health Policy & Management (PHPM) Pathway is on data evaluation and interpretation for real-world decision making. This is inherently a challenging and exciting process, requiring commitment. Our specialized coursework, low student to faculty ratio, and focus on applied projects ensure that our students will be successful.

Generally speaking, our graduates have looked back on their research experience as an important step to defining their unique character as professionals of pharmaceutical care. For details, see The PHPM Research Project.

How does the HPM Practicum Research Project differ from projects in the Pharmaceutical Care Pathway and Pharmaceutical Sciences Pathway?

All PharmD students must complete a project. The Pharmaceutical Health Policy & Management (PHPM) Pathway allows students to potentially use a broad array of investigative methods to study their research topics.

Students in the Pharmaceutical Health Policy & Management Pathway investigate clinical, economic, patient outcomes, as well as law and ethics issues, in the context of answering health policy or business/management questions. Generally, senior projects in the Pharmaceutical Care Pathway emphasize clinical issues, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Pathway projects focus on drug delivery and pharmaceutics.

A more in depth explanation can be found under The HPM Research Project.

Is there a selection process for the HPM pathway?

Yes. All students considering the Pharmaceutical Health Policy & Management (PHPM) Pathway will be interviewed by PHPM faculty and selected based on their GPA, expressed interests about joining the pathway, and the faculty's view as to the likelihood each student can be successful in achieving the pathway requirements.

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