Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPE)

IPPE rotations give students their first opportunity to apply what they have learned in the classroom to real-life patients. It allows students to directly interact with diverse patient populations in a variety of practice settings, collaborate with other healthcare professionals, and work with pharmacy staff in a real-life pharmacy practice.

Students will start their IPPEs by completing a shadowing experience with local partners Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center or Mountain View Medical Center as their first experience to observe how healthcare professionals operate as a team. Students will then progress to their community and health system IPPEs where they will build upon skills learned in the classroom. To wrap up their IPPEs, students will return to their community site for a one week outreach experience focused on vaccination clinics and/or wellness education.

IPPE Timeline

You can also view or download the following IPPE timeline as a pdf, which can be read by screen readers.  IPPE Timeline: Intro to IPPE, Community IPPE, Health System IPPE, Community Outreach Week

IPPE Dates for 2024-25 Academic Year

Students can complete their health system or community IPPE during either session listed below.

  • Session I: 05/13/2024 - 06/07/2024
  • Session II: 06/24/2024 - 07/19/2024

During their IPPE rotations, students will be evaluated on the following learning objectives:

IPPE Community Learning Objectives

  • To facilitate and actively participate in the medication use process at every step from patient drop-off to pick-up in the community pharmacy setting under direct supervision of a licensed preceptor.
  • To work collaboratively with the pharmacy team members to ensure both patient and pharmacy needs are met.
  • To demonstrate ethical and professional behavior at all times, including, but not limited to respect and sensitivity for others, punctuality, reliability, meeting deadlines, adapting to new/unexpected situations and assuming responsibility for one’s actions.
  • To demonstrate verbal and written communication is clear, concise, logical and responds to patient/provider/team members’ needs.
  • To conduct an effective self-care/ over the counter product consultations by completing a patient interview and communicating safe, effective, and patient-specific recommendations to the patient (OTC Consult).
  • To conduct an effective prescription consultation and communicate all necessary information for the patient to use the medication safely and effectively (Prescription consult).
  • To provide and receive feedback in a respectful, constructive manner that demonstrates the desire to improve your skill set.
  • To correctly prepare and administer immunizations following protocols utilizing appropriate technique.
  • To demonstrate a growth mindset through the ability to gracefully accept direction and criticism from others even in times of stress. If necessary, be able to modify behavior and demonstrate the desire to improve your own skills.
  • To perform constant self-reflection to identify professional strengths and areas for improvement/growth and create a specific plan to improve throughout the rotation.
  • To provide and receive feedback in a respectful, constructive manner that demonstrates the desire to improv your own skills set.
  • To demonstrate a growth mindset through the ability to gracefully accept direction and criticism from others even in times of stress. If necessary, be able to modify behavior that demonstrates the desire to improve your own skills.

IPPE Health System Learning Objectives

  • To facilitate and actively participate in the medication use process at every step from order verification to medication delivery within the health system setting with direct supervision of a licensed preceptor or designee (i.e. pharmacy technician, nurse, etc.).
  • To work collaboratively with the pharmacy team members to ensure both patient, health care team member, and pharmacy needs are met.
  • To demonstrate ethical and professional behavior at all times, including, but not limited to respect and sensitivity for others, punctuality, reliability, meeting deadlines, adapting to new/unexpected situations, and assuming responsibility for one’s actions.
  • To demonstrate verbal and written communication is clear, concise, logical and addresses patient/provider/team members’ needs.
  • To perform constant self-reflection to identify professional strengths and areas for improvement/growth and create a specific plan to improve throughout the rotation.