Abigail Riesgraf is a final-year PharmD candidate at the South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions.
Following my first year serving as a leader in the 2021–2022 South Dakota State University (SDSU) College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions APhA–ASP Chapter, I noticed the struggle of engaging our freshmen and sophomore members preparing for the PharmD program throughout the school year. After analyzing the impact students further in the program had on me as an individual, I believed implementing a peer mentor program into our chapter could expand this impact to a great number of our members. I spent the following summer designing the program.
This program had three primary goals: establish connections between pre-pharmacy and PharmD students, increase attendance at chapter meetings and chapter-sponsored events, and further develop leadership skills of student pharmacists. The peer mentor program was then implemented at the start of the 2022–2023 academic year.
Building connections
Recruitment was completed using advertisement through email, social media, and word of mouth at chapter and campus-wide events. Freshmen and sophomore pre-pharmacy students were paired with first- and second-year student pharmacists, respectively. First-year student pharmacists were meant to assist freshmen students in acclimating to campus and offer advice for their undergraduate classes and future application to the PharmD program. Second-year student pharmacists were asked to provide advice for upcoming interviews, intern opportunities in the community, and the first year of PharmD school.
Mentoring pairs built their connections and accomplished these goals by attending one chapter meeting and one chapter-sponsored event as a pair each semester. Additionally, mentors were to answer any questions through texts or calls and meet outside of chapter events at least once per semester.
Extremely successful pilot year
At the end of the first year of implementation, a promising impact was seen on both the SDSU chapter and its members. About 38% of our pre-pharmacy members participated as mentees. This program assisted in increasing our chapter meeting attendance by 35%! Our chapter event participation also grew by about 22%. Additionally, 33% more freshmen and sophomores applied for committee chair positions for the following year. These results demonstrated that this program not only improved our chapter’s active participation, but pre-pharmacy students were personally encouraged to strive for leadership roles.
The peer mentor program was continued the next year following the pilot year’s success. In addition, I wanted to expand the program to further its personal impact. A mentoring program social was held and included time for each mentoring pair to catch up from when they last saw one another in addition to a meet-and-greet game that allowed members from four different classes to meet one another.
When comparing the success of the first and second year, the participation of pre-pharmacy members grew by over 21%! Additionally, freshmen and sophomore interest in committee chair and executive board leadership positions grew by 16% and 800%, respectively. Considering these statistics, I believe the program accomplished its three goals both years.
Keep up the momentum
I am excited to continue assisting our chapter in growing this impactful mentoring program next year, and believe student pharmacists and chapters around the country could greatly benefit from similar programs and ideas for expansion.