RPHARM Concentration

The RPHARM concentration is a series of 6 elective courses that prepare students for practice in a rural community after graduation.  Participants take 1 elective course every semester for the first three years of pharmacy school.

1st Year Curriculum

  • Topics
    • Population-Based Approach to Rural Health Care
    • Agricultural Hazards, Toxicology, & Farm Safety
    • Development of Health Resources in Rural Communities
    • Rural Mental Health Issues
    • Community-Based Rural Health Research
  • Trips
    • No Harm on the Farm
    • Central Exposure (Central Illinois)
  • Projects
    • Shadowing Rural Pharmacist
    • Shadowing Rural Physician

2nd Year Curriculum

  • Topics
    • Community-based Health Education
    • Community Health Needs Assessment
    • Rural Ethical Situations
    • Essentials for a Community-Oriented Primary Care (COPC) Project
    • Clinical Case Simulation
  • Trips
    • Northern Exposure (Northern Illinois)
  • Projects
    • Health Jam
    • Shadowing 3rd Healthcare Professional

3rd Year Curriculum

  • Topics
    • Institutional Review Board (IRB) Process
    • Practice Locations and Career Options
    • Clinical Case Simulation
  • Projects
    • Rural Community Health Needs Assessment
    • Development of Community-Orientation Primary Care (COPC) Project
    • IRB COPC project submission

4th Year Curriculum

  • Hands-on learning in selected rural community for 18 weeks
  • Implementation of COPC Project
  • Poster presentation at Rockford Research Day

By Graduation, All RPHARM Students Will Have:

  • PharmD degree
  • A concentration in rural pharmacy services
  • Completed their own research project
  • Connections to rural healthcare professionals throughout the country

Healthcare Professionals Involved with Mentoring RPHARM Students:

  • Pharmacists
  • Advanced Nurse Practitioners
  • Physicians
  • PhDs in Public Health
  • Social workers
  • Rural EMTs
  • Rural Firefighters
  • Flight nurses
  • Healthcare lawyer