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Paying it Forward - Student to Preceptor
Paying it Forward - Student to Preceptor
Western New England alumna Emily Scurka, PharmD (left) poses with her first IPPE student, Antonia Santos, Class of 2029, at her practice site.
Antonia Santos, Class of 2029
Hartford Healthcare HealthCenter, Primary Care, Vernon, Connecticut
My first IPPE rotation at Hartford Healthcare in Vernon, CT was an incredible opportunity that showed me how vast the world of pharmacy really can be. Learning about Ambulatory Care Pharmacy while under the tutelage of Dr. Emily Scurka was a pleasure and an honor.
Emily has a mind and heart like no other, she taught me the importance of effectively treating patients while in the confines of a tight budget. She openly welcomed questions and was happy to answer and explain anything she saw I wasn’t 100% sure about. Even the other providers and medical assistants within the office were welcoming and happy to have a student in the room. They all quickly made attending my rotation spot my favorite day of the week.
We worked within a primary care clinic, managing many types of chronic diseases with a concentration on Type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Between patients, we were asked for recommendations on medications by providers, filed prior authorizations for GLP-1 medications, and answered calls from patients who were experiencing issues controlling their blood glucose levels. As anyone who has ever treated or has Diabetes can tell you: the work is never done.
Our patient population mostly consisted of older adults who were experiencing diseases that were hard to manage and needed a readily available provider who could meet, up to multiple times a week to quickly control their blood pressure, blood glucose levels, cholesterol or triglycerides levels. Many of these patients are on a fixed income which would restrict the medications and services we could use to treat them. Often, we would have to find ways to make medications cheaper, or find creative ways to effectively treat patients within the confines of a tight budget.
During my rotation I developed multiple skills including and not limited to, interpreting continuous glucose monitoring device charts, insurance billing, insulin therapy management, and polypharmacy management. Perhaps the most important skill I learned was creating a relationship with patients full of trust and respect. Emily places an importance on patient-provider relationships, while being able to skillfully control difficult situations.
I had the opportunity to shadow not only my preceptor, but an MA in the office, to experience their role within the healthcare field. Under Lisa, I was able to see what rooming patients was like, along with helping to manage scheduling for Dr. Brown. It was an enlightening experience and showed me the importance of every member of the healthcare team.
For this being my first IPPE, and Emily’s first student, I cannot help but feel so special to have experienced every moment I had by her side. The people and patients I had the chance of working with or beside were always so happy to be a part of my learning experience. They have all placed a passion in my heart for ambulatory care pharmacy and helped me find direction for my future endeavors and career within pharmacy. For that, I am forever thankful to every member of Suite 1.
Emily Scurka, PharmD, WNE Class of 2023
Hartford Healthcare HealthCenter, Primary Care, Vernon, Connecticut
I had the pleasure of precepting my first-ever student, IPPE student Antonia Santos, this past spring semester. Antonia was an absolute pleasure to work with throughout her rotation. She was consistently punctual, engaged during patient visits, curious, and genuinely excited to learn. From the very beginning of the rotation, she demonstrated professionalism, maturity, and a strong desire to become involved in every aspect of patient care. She truly made my job as a preceptor, especially as a first-time preceptor, easy.
I completed my PGY2 residency last June (2025) and recently started my first post-graduate job as an ambulatory care clinical pharmacist in primary care with Hartford HealthCare, where I primarily manage diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. As someone who is still relatively early in my own career, it was especially meaningful to have the opportunity to begin giving back through precepting. Antonia made that experience incredibly rewarding.
Antonia not only excelled as a student for me, but she quickly became adored by both our patients and office staff. She was personable, kind, and able to connect with patients naturally, which made them feel comfortable during visits. She always approached patient interactions with compassion and professionalism, and patients truly appreciated having her involved in their care. Since her rotation ended, multiple patients have asked where she is and why she is no longer joining our visits, which speaks volumes about the positive impression she made in such a short amount of time.
Throughout the rotation, Antonia consistently showed initiative and a willingness to challenge herself. She asked thoughtful questions, actively participated in discussions, and was eager to expand her clinical knowledge. During her time with me, she completed a drug information question that greatly impressed me. The level of detail, organization, and thoughtfulness she demonstrated in her work was exceptional, especially given her stage in pharmacy school. It was clear that she took pride in producing high-quality work and genuinely cared about learning the “why” behind clinical decisions.
It was also especially rewarding to precept a student from the same school I graduated from. Because of the amazing preceptors and mentors I had as a student at WNE, I became passionate about precepting and teaching future pharmacists. I have always looked forward to the opportunity to give back to WNE students once I became a pharmacist myself. Working with Antonia reminded me so much of the positive experiences I had during my own pharmacy school journey and reinforced why I was excited to become a preceptor in the first place.
WNE played a tremendous role in shaping me into the pharmacist I am today. The school provided me with outstanding IPPE and APPE opportunities, incredible mentors, and a strong clinical foundation that helped me match into my #1 PGY1 residency program in 2023. That experience then allowed me to match into a great PGY2 ambulatory care residency program and ultimately land my current role in ambulatory care practice (my dream job!). I will always be grateful for the support, guidance, and opportunities WNE provided throughout my education and training.
It was refreshing to work with an IPPE student like Antonia who was so eager to learn and who genuinely enjoyed ambulatory care. Students like her make precepting enjoyable and remind us why investing in future pharmacists is so important. I am incredibly thankful for everything WNE has provided me, and I am excited to continue precepting both IPPE and APPE students in the future (and hoping some of them become my residents). I look forward to continuing to mentor students and watching them grow and blossom into incredible pharmacists.
Jamie Gamble, Class of 2027 (center) with her preceptor Mikayla Greenwald, PharmD (left of Jamie) and the team at ValueRx
Finding Value in Long Term Care Pharmacy
Finding Value in Long Term Care Pharmacy
Jamie Gamble, Class of 2027
ValueRx, Middletown, Connecticut
I completed the first of my six advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) at ValueRx , a long-term care (LTC) pharmacy in Middletown, CT. Transitioning from my background in retail, I discovered the unique dynamics of an LTC “closed-door” facility, which operates behind the scenes to fulfill medication orders for eleven healthcare facilities throughout Connecticut. I am deeply grateful to Dr. Mikayla Greenwald for her exceptional mentorship and support, which led to significant professional and personal growth.
During my time in the LTC pharmacy, I gained hands-on experience across multiple specialized areas. I accomplished specialized medication packaging , such as blister packs, strictly logged narcotics, and gained a deep understanding of IV preparation under the mentorship of Dr. Greenwald. I am particularly proud of successfully mastering aseptic techniques, from proper garbing and hand hygiene to passing my gloved fingertip test.
Dr. Greenwald consistently fostered a supportive environment, encouraging open dialogue and making me feel welcome to ask questions at any time. She regularly checked in to ensure my experience was going well and sought feedback on how she could improve. I am especially grateful for the opportunity to present an interesting patient case on a rare medication in LTC.
What truly set this experience apart was the exceptional level of hands-on, practical training I received. I was given responsibilities that are rare to find at this stage, such as entering daily medication orders and communicating directly with facilities to resolve prescription discrepancies, allergy clarifications, and IV therapy questions. I regularly filled controlled substance and narcotic orders while maintaining highly accurate inventory logs. Additionally, I gained continuous experience typing and filling IV orders. A particular highlight was being able to don sterile garb, enter the clean room, and observe Dr. Greenwald compound a complex order for a medication I had never seen before.
I highly recommend this APPE site to any pharmacy student, regardless of where they are in their career planning. Since long-term care (LTC) is often an overlooked field, I strongly encourage students to step out of their comfort zones and experience it firsthand. My clinical rotation at ValueRx Pharmacy under the mentorship of Dr. Greenwald has been an incredibly rewarding experience that I will deeply cherish. I am deeply grateful for the hands-on experience and the invaluable knowledge I gained, which has thoroughly prepared me for the next chapter of my career.
Hope for Vulnerable Patients in Maine
Hope for Vulnerable Patients in Maine
Abby Andrews, Class of 2027
Hope House Health and Living Center, Bangor, Maine
I had the pleasure of completing my second APPE rotation at Hope House in Bangor, Maine. As part of Penobscot Community Health Center, Hope House Health and Living Center is a health clinic dedicated to providing care for individuals who are experiencing homelessness and those with substance use disorders. The clinic is uniquely connected to both a shelter and transitional housing, allowing patients to access healthcare and housing support in one location.
The primary care pharmacist provides comprehensive medication management at no cost to patients, treating conditions such as hepatitis C, HIV, diabetes, asthma, COPD, and many other chronic diseases through a collaborative practice agreement. The pharmacist also prepares weekly medication boxes for residents of the shelter, helping to improve medication adherence and health outcomes.
Kris Stone, PharmD (left) Hope House pharmacist and preceptor
and Abby Andrews, Class of 2027 (right) on site at the Hope House Health and Living Center
Throughout this rotation, I had the opportunity to engage with the Bangor community through outreach initiatives. Members of the Hope House healthcare team, including the clinical pharmacist, nurse practitioners, and physicians, visited community locations such as the Brick Church, Foot Bridge, and the Bangor Homeless Shelter to provide care for individuals experiencing housing and financial instability. During one outreach visit, I witnessed a nurse practitioner administer Cabenuva in the field to a patient living outdoors who had difficulty adhering to daily oral antiretroviral therapy. Seeing long-acting HIV treatment delivered directly to a patient in the community demonstrated the importance of meeting patients where they are and reducing barriers to care.
As a member of the pharmacy team, I also performed free rapid HIV and hepatitis C screening for community members who were interested. These finger-stick blood tests provide results in approximately 20 minutes. During these encounters, we also assessed whether patients needed additional services, including medication refills or walk-in medical appointments, helping connect them with ongoing care.
On July 15, we hosted a "Brown Bag" medication review event at Theresa's Place, a supportive housing community for individuals who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness. This event gave residents the opportunity to ask questions about their medications and learn more about the pharmacy services available to them. We also provided healthy snacks, including fresh apples, for residents to enjoy.
As part of this event, I created a wallet-sized medication tracker for patients to carry with them. The tracker includes space for allergies, vaccinations, prescription and over-the-counter medications, medical conditions, emergency contacts, and other important health information. This resource helps patients better understand their medications, improve medication management, and communicate their health information with healthcare providers.
My experience at Hope House has shown me the significant impact that interdisciplinary, patient-centered care can have on underserved populations. Through outreach, harm reduction, medication management, and preventive health services, Hope House is making a meaningful difference in addressing the local HIV outbreak while providing compassionate care for individuals experiencing homelessness. This rotation has strengthened my appreciation for community pharmacy practice and reinforced my commitment to improving healthcare access for vulnerable populations.
Celebrating the 2026 WNE Preceptors of the Year
Celebrating the 2026 WNE Preceptors of the Year
Kasey C. L'Heureux,
PharmD, BCPS
Kasey C. L'Heureux,
PharmD, BCPS
Preceptor of the Year for Community/Ambulatory Care
Southcoast Health - Outreach Pharmacy
Fairhaven, Massachusetts
"Dr. L'Heureux and Southcoast Health was such a great APPE rotation (it was my first) and really set the bar high for the ones to follow. She encouraged my growth, in the professional and clinical realm. I would love the opportunity to work for and with her one day."
Raymond Hau,
PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP
Raymond Hau,
PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP
Preceptor of the Year for
Acute Care/Institutional
Greenwich Hospital
Greenwich, Connecticut
"Dr. Raymond Hau is an outstanding clinical pharmacist and preceptor who consistently exceeds expectations in supporting students in the critical care setting. He creates a learning environment that is both intellectually challenging and welcoming, encouraging me to think critically while always making me feel comfortable asking questions. His ability to break down complex critical care concepts into clear, practical teaching points greatly enhanced my understanding of patient management in the ICU."
Tim McMath,
PharmD, BCPS
Tim McMath,
PharmD, BCPS
Faculty Preceptor of the Year
Baystate Medical Center
Springfield, Massachusetts
"I believe I learned the most during this rotation, single-handedly due to Dr. McMath's interactive teaching style and 'do not give up' approach. He made every effort to turn a question into a learning experience, which allowed me to make the most out of my time at Baystate Medical Center. I truly enjoyed this rotation because of Dr. McMath."
Where in the World is Heather??
Where in the World is Heather??
Heather DeMar, Director of Experiential Education, on site visits with students across the country!
You may have noticed a familiar face popping up at rotation sites lately! From Washington, D.C., to Connecticut, Massachusetts, and beyond, I have been hitting the road to visit students and preceptors at their experiential sites.
One of the best parts of my role is getting to see our students in action. Site visits allow me to connect with students, meet with preceptors, see the incredible learning experiences happening in real time, and celebrate the partnerships that make experiential education so meaningful.
Each visit is a reminder that experiential education is where everything starts to come together. Students are applying what they have learned in the classroom, building confidence, asking great questions, and growing into future pharmacists. It is exciting to see those moments firsthand.
These visits also give me the chance to say thank you in person to our preceptors. We know how much time and energy you put into teaching, mentoring, and encouraging our students. Your role is so important, and we are truly grateful for the difference you make in their professional growth.
And of course, if I come to visit your site, be ready for a picture! I love capturing these moments and highlighting the amazing work our students and preceptors are doing. You never know where I may show up next, so keep an eye out for future
“Where in the World is Heather?” updates.
Students, I hope to see many of you out at your sites soon.
Preceptors, thank you for welcoming me, sharing your time, and continuing to support our students in such meaningful ways.
So… where in the world will Heather be next? Stay tuned!
WNE IPPE Student Presents at AACP
WNE IPPE Student Presents at AACP
Sumaiya Zakir, Class of 2029
Grapevine, Texas
I was honored and grateful to present our research at the 2026 American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy annual conference! One of the most striking findings from our study was that more U.S. Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) programs offer required or elective pharmaceutical industry courses than courses dedicated to pharmacognosy, herbal medicines, and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). While understanding the pharmaceutical industry is valuable, knowledge of natural products and CAM is equally important because millions of patients use these therapies alongside conventional medications. From pharmacists and physicians to physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses, we should approach conversations about herbal supplements with curiosity, not dismissal. Clinicians should be equipped to identify potential drug-herb interactions, safety concerns, and evidence-based alternatives to provide the best patient-centered care.
Special thanks to Dr. Shcherbakova for this incredible opportunity and guidance, and my sincere gratitude to Dr. DeFilipi for his mentorship. I am also grateful to my co-author Kayla Hoey for her hard work and collaboration throughout this project.
Left to Right: Dominic DeFilipi, PharmD, BA; Sumaiya Zakir, Class of 2029; and
Natalia Shcherbakova, PhD present their research poster "Courses on Pharmacognosy, Herbals, Supplements, and other CAM Modalities within Curricula of US Pharmacy Programs" at the AACP annual pharmacy education meeting.
Save the Date:
WNE Preceptor Development Conference
Save the Date:
WNE Preceptor Development Conference
The Office of Experiential Affairs is pleased to invite you to our annual Preceptor Development Conference. Please join us virtually on Thursday, October 15th, from 8:45 AM to 2:30 PM EST. The event is free for all registered WNE preceptors, and offers multiple live CEs with topics including best precepting practices, setting up an effective teaching model at your site, and an update on pharmacy law and regulation, presented by Michelle Chan, Quality Assurance Pharmacist for the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Pharmacy.
More details and a registration link will be incoming! We hope to see you there.
Experiential Lunch & Learns
Experiential Lunch & Learns
The Western New England Office of Experiential Affairs is continuing our Lunch & Learn series. These are 30-minute presentations, presented live via Zoom at 12:00 PM EST, and recorded for later access.
If you would like to browse through our past Lunch & Learns, click here to view the playlist on YouTube.
Recent Lunch & Learns Include:
Updates to ACPE Guidelines <--- Please check this out!
It includes important changes to precepting set by the new 2025 ACPE guidelines
Our next Lunch & Learn will be on Tuesday, September at 15th at 12:00 PM EST
We hope to see you there!
We have more Lunch & Learns to Come!
Join us at 12:00 PM EST for the following dates:
Tuesday, November 17th
Tuesday, December 15th
Pharmacy Preceptor Orientation Course available through CEimpact
Pharmacy Preceptor Orientation Course available through CEimpact
As a Preceptor By Design® subscriber, you already have access to the Pharmacy Preceptor Orientation course as part of your subscription. Simply log into Core ELMS and click on the External Resources tab to access CEimpact. You can also enroll via this link.
Whether you're preparing to precept for the first time or getting ready to welcome your next learner, this course is designed to make precepting easier. You'll walk away with practical teaching strategies you can use immediately to set expectations, engage learners, provide meaningful feedback, and build confidence throughout the rotation
Great preceptors aren't born – they develop practical teaching skills over time.
The Pharmacy Preceptor Orientation course helps you strengthen the skills that matter most in everyday precepting.
You'll learn how to:
Create meaningful learning experiences
Set clear expectations from day one
Deliver constructive feedback that promotes growth
Assess learner performance with confidence
Support professionalism and accountability
Create a positive learning environment
Whether you're precepting your first learner or your fiftieth, you'll gain practical techniques you can apply during your very next rotation. Your next learner will benefit from the time you invest today.
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