This summer 20 Madison area high school students from the Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID)/Teens of Promise (TOPS) program had an opportunity to explore careers in pharmacy. The School of Pharmacy offered a panel of pharmacists who shared their unique experiences in the field. Panelists included current Pharmacy Practice Division faculty Denise Pigarelli, associate professor (CHS), Joe Zorek, assistant professor, and Ed Portillo, assistant faculty associate. In addition, recent alumni Berook Addisu, Associate Chief, Pharmacy Service William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, and David Hager, Manager Patient Care Services: Transplant Service Line and Professional Development, Clinical Instructor; PGY 1 Pharmacy RPD, contributed their expertise. Following the panel discussion, students toured the UW Hospital pharmacy areas.

The annual initiative plans a 6-week summer career exploration program for select high school students from underrepresented backgrounds in the Madison area. Coordinated through Susan Degrand, Director of Outreach and Recruitment, 2016 was the first year the School of Pharmacy partnered to showcase pharmacy practice and career options in the field.

The AVID/TOPS program is an initiative sponsored by the Dane County Boys and Girls Club and the Madison Metropolitan School District. The program offers tutoring, mentorship, internships, and out-of-classroom college preparation activities.