Volunteer Opportunities

A note of encouragement and congratulations from School of Pharmacy alumni goes a long way to help welcome our pharmacists-in-training to the profession. Alumni have the opportunity to share their good wishes, advice, and stories to all members of the incoming class annually at the White Coat Ceremony for first-year PharmD students.

The White Coat Ceremony honors the first-year PharmD students as they enter the program. Each student is provided with their first white coat, which are purchased through donations by alumni and friends of the School of Pharmacy to the Student Success and Support Fund. Each student will find a donor card and a letter from alumni in their coat pocket. Additionally, white coats may be individually sponsored and personalized by family and friends.

Please submit letters from alumni for the White Coat Ceremony by September 1 each year.

Letters may be one-half to one page in length, in standard business format, and will be formatted by the School of Pharmacy to fit on our specialized paper. Please include your full name in the signature line. Additional information such as your current job title, employer, and graduation year is welcome. View an example letter.

Submit your letter by email to Alissa Karnaky, Alumni Relations and Advancement Coordinator, at karnaky@wisc.edu.

Submit a White Coat Letter

The PharmD Admissions Committee and the PharmD Admissions Office would like to invite alumni and friends of the School of Pharmacy to participate in admission interviews for our excellent group of PharmD applicants. Interviewing applicants is an important part of our application process, and we would be honored if you could find the time to interview. We host both on-campus and virtual interview options. Interviews are conducted with two interviewers per applicant and are scheduled for 30 minutes each. Virtual interviews will take place from 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM CT. On-campus interviews will take place at Rennebohm Hall from 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM CT.

PharmD interviews are held monthly on Fridays from September through April. There will be variations in applicant numbers throughout the admissions cycle and we very much appreciate your time commitment and flexibility.

If you are interested in participating in PharmD admission interviews, please email Jannelle Frey, PharmD Admissions Manager at jannelle.frey@wisc.edu.

Indicate interest to be a PharmD Admissions Interviewer

The PharmD Admissions Office would like to invite alumni to participate in the annual accepted PharmD student calling campaign, which takes place in February. The calling campaign is a great way to make connections with incoming PharmD students, speak with them about the opportunities available at UW–Madison, as well as the pharmacy profession. Each volunteer will receive a list of accepted students to call – introduce yourself, congratulate them on their admission, welcome them to the School of Pharmacy and UW–Madison community, and ask if they have any questions for you.

If possible, we will pair alumni with accepted students who are geographically from your area and/or have an interest in your area of pharmacy practice. Accepted students may indicate interest in the following pharmacy practice areas: Ambulatory Care, Cardiology, Community, Compounding, Geriatric, Hospital, Infectious Disease, Nuclear, Oncology, Pediatric, Industry, Poison Control, and Psychiatric.

If you are interested in calling accepted students, please email Jannelle Frey, PharmD Admissions Manager at jannelle.frey@wisc.edu.

Indicate interest in calling Accepted Pharmacy Students

The PharmD recruitment team visits high schools throughout Wisconsin over the duration of the academic year. Help the team introduce students to the field of pharmacy as a guest speaker. Your experience can provide valuable insight into the opportunities a career in pharmacy can offer.

The recruitment team typically visits health science classes or health clubs (such as HOSA). These sessions may contain different elements depending on the time available and the recommendation of the host teacher. Possible elements include presenting a short slideshow, leading a hands-on activity, answering questions, and/or providing recruitment materials to students. The recruitment team will work with you and the cooperating teacher to determine the best way to structure the visit.

Visits usually last 30-60 minutes and occur within standard school hours.

If you are interested in participating, please contact Natalie Kowalski Krogull, PharmD Recruitment and Events Coordinator at natalie.kowalskikrogull@wisc.edu.

Indicate interest in connecting with Wisconsin HS students

Pharmacists play an important role in the recruitment of the next generation of aspiring pharmacists. Join one of our undergraduate classes introducing the field of pharmacy as a guest speaker and/or meet with undergraduate students 1:1 for a career conversation to discuss your career path, pharmacy setting, roles and responsibilities, and areas of interest/expertise. By offering your experiences and perspectives, students can strategically explore pharmacy and gain valuable exposure to the field via direct connections with pharmacists.

Guest speakers may join a class meeting in-person or virtually to share career perspectives. The typical time commitment is 30-45 minutes. The fall class meets on Friday mornings from 8:35 – 10:30 AM CT and the spring class meets on Tuesday mornings from 8:35 – 10:30 AM CT. Guest speakers are provided with resources to prepare, including prepared questions from students. For a 1:1 career conversation, you’ll be matched with a student for a 30-minute meeting scheduled any time during the fall and/or spring semester. Resources are provided for advance preparation.

If you are interested in participating, please email Amy Zwaska, Pre-Pharmacy Advising Program Manager at amy.zwaska@wisc.edu.

Indicate interest in Undergraduate opportunities

UW–Madison preceptors are integral to helping our graduates transition from the classroom to the real world of healthcare. Join us and show tomorrow’s pharmacists how to become patient care leaders like you. You’ll get the opportunity to teach future pharmacists and foster lifelong learning. Plus, you’ll receive the benefits of access to UW Library resources and discounted continuing education.

Learn more about becoming a preceptor