FWSOP April 26 Newsletter

Wilson School of Pharmacy

The Rx Refill

Monthly Newsletter

"Dispensing

Panther Pride, One Month at a Time"

April Dates to Remember:

• 4/01/26 - Easter Egg Hunt

• 4/03/26 - Good Friday (No Classes)

• 4/06/26 - Easter Monday (No Classes)

• 4/07/26 - Career Fair

• 4/14-04/16/26 - ACPE Site Visit

• 4/17/26 - Panther Pride Casual Day

• 4/20/26 - Rest and Reset Wellness Day

• 4/21/26 - P4 Awards Ceremony

• 4/22/26 - P3 Pinning Ceremony

• 4/23-4/30/26 - Panther Pride Casual Days (FINAL EXAMS)

• 4/30/26 - Commencement and Hooding Ceremony

Moments of Reflection, Gratitude and Many Congratulations Fred

As we move through the spring semester, I am filled with a deep sense of gratitude and pride for our FWSOP community. Spring is a season of reflection and celebration, and this year has been marked by meaningful milestones across the professional journey—from the P1 White Coat Ceremony, to the induction of our newest members into Rho Chi and Phi Lambda Sigma, to the P3 Pinning Ceremony, and culminating in the P4 Awards, Hooding, and Graduation.

Each of these moments represents not only achievement, but transformation— reflecting the growth of our students and the collective commitment of our faculty, staff, preceptors, and partners who support them. It is a privilege to witness these transitions and the impact of our shared work.

As we celebrate these accomplishments, we also look ahead to our upcoming ACPE accreditation site visit—an opportunity to reflect on our progress and all that we have built together.

Thank you for all you do to support our students and our School. I am truly grateful for this community and all that we continue to achieve together.

Warm Regards,

Mary Jayne Kennedy Dean and Professor

Highlights to Celebrate!

March 18th was the 2026 ASHP

Residency Match Day for Phase 1. 14 students from our Class of 2026 matched in PGY1 positions to include Acute and Ambulatory Care PGY1 programs, combined PGY1/2 Specialty Admin and Leadership programs, PGY1/2 Health System Admin and Leadership programs, and a Community Specialty PGY1 program.

Faculty Spotlight

Recognition and Gratitude

We are excited to highlight another member of our faculty, Dr. Tamera Hughes. Dr. Hughes is an assistant professor of clinical sciences here in the School of Pharmacy. She serves as an advisor to the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) and also as the author of The Capsule newsletter, keeping us informed of where we are in our accreditation process and celebrating the progress we've made along the way. Thank you, Dr. Hughes, for your leadership and mentorship of our students. We appreciate you!

The spring semester brings us many opportunities to celebrate, and it began with our P1 class transitioning from students to student pharmacists. A huge congratulations to the Class of 2029, as they received their white coats last month. We are so proud of you all and are wishing you the best as you continue on in your pharmacy school journey!

Accreditation Reminder: Commitment to CARE

As we approach accreditation, it is important to remember the culture and values of our program, and how we should show up for each other as faculty, staff and students. Take a moment to read over our FWSOP core values.

FWSOP students, faculty and staff share and embrace the core values of C.A.R.E. Compassion, Adaptability, Respect, and Excellence.

C – Compassion

Focus on cultivating emotional intelligence, empathy, understanding, mutual support, and practical life skills.

A culture that celebrates the successes of the FWSOP community.

A – Adaptability

Embracing lifelong learning and professional development to drive growth, self-awareness, and adaptability.

Inspired by a vision of entrepreneurial innovation, agile leadership, and adaptability to drive impactful change.

R – Respect

An environment of acceptance, respect, and value for the contributions of individuals with a rich variety of backgrounds, beliefs, viewpoints, and ideas.

Commitment to fostering a culture of dignity, and empowerment that provides impartial and fair care, and ensures fundamental personal autonomy.

An environment that is positive, innovative, open-minded, and collaborative, allowing for passionate yet respectful debate of issues.

Commitment to the FWSOP Code of Conduct.

E

– Excellence

Striving for the highest standards of performance in all our endeavors both individually as a team.

Commitment to promoting and advocating for the profession of pharmacy.

Commitment to evidence-based decision-making in education and practice.

Commitment to fostering the missions of the FWSOP and High Point University while ensuring responsible stewardship of School and University resources.

Students in Action: LPE Practice

This month, our P1 class had the opportunity to engage in an LPE experience where they rotated through different areas. These areas gave them the opportunity to experience difficulties the geriatric population may face such as hearing loss, vision loss, and osteoarthritis. Check out a few pictures of them in action, along with Dr. Carr.

Student Spotlight

This month's student spotlight features P2 student, Maxwell Crum. Maxwell's interests are ambulatory care and psychiatric pharmacy. He serves as a student pharmacy intern at Alamance Regional Medical Center and Harris Teeter. In the upcoming year, Maxwell will serve as the treasurer for AAPP and the Outreach Project Liaison for SCCP. Maxwell shares "I’ve enjoyed the intensity and variety of what I’ve learned in pharmacy school, and applying that knowledge to real patient cases at work reminds me that I can make a meaningful impact in patients’ lives. I also value the close-knit environment, where I’ve built meaningful friendships and a strong support system. My plan for the future is to pursue residency with the goal of specializing in psychiatric pharmacy." We're excited about your pursuit in this profession, Maxwell. Keep up the great work!

Your April Wellness Rx: Bounce Back & Build Resilience

Life is guaranteed to throw us all curve balls, but with the right strategies, we can handle them all. Check out a few tips below to help you remain resilience, buoyant, and ready to face challenges as they appear.

Practice acceptance

During difficult times, it’s natural to feel disappointed, frustrated or worried about what’s ahead. These emotions can be uncomfortable, but they’re also completely normal. While it may be tempting to avoid or suppress difficult feelings, doing so can often intensify them. Instead, practicing mindfulness can help you acknowledge and accept what you’re experiencing. Try observing your thoughts and emotions without judgment—don’t label them as good or bad, just notice them.

Focus on what you can control

When decisions feel out of your control, it’s easy to feel like you’re drifting. Focusing on what you can control and recognizing your ability to shift direction can be incredibly empowering.

Adversity can sometimes shake your confidence and make you question your ability to influence outcomes. For example, receiving unexpected negative feedback might lead to self-doubt or fear of failure. But those thoughts don’t define your future—they’re just temporary reactions.

Connect with others

Building resilience isn’t something we do alone. Our relationships with friends, family and colleagues play a vital role in helping us navigate tough times. It’s not just about having trusted people in our lives—it’s about actively connecting with them. These connections can help validate our efforts, offer new perspectives and provide encouragement when we need it most.

Take care of yourself

Prioritizing self-care helps to reduce stress, enhance emotional well-being and maintain a positive outlook. By investing in self-care practices like getting plenty of sleep and doing things you enjoy, you “fill your tank” so when tough times come around, you’re not facing them “on empty.”

Work on problem-solving skills

Problem-solving skills empower us to tackle challenges and find solutions rather than feeling overwhelmed. Examples of problem-solving skills include breaking down complex issues into manageable steps and seeking different perspectives.

Get professional help

Talking to a mental health professional can be a powerful strategy for building resilience. Resilience doesn’t mean you have to handle major stressors on your own. A therapist can help you work through the thoughts, emotions and behaviors contributing to your distress, and support you in creating a life guided by your goals and values—not defined by adversity.

Spring Celebrations: Organization Inductions

Congratulations are in order for the Epsilon Psi Chapter of Rho Chi, and the Epsilon Omicron Chapter of Phi Lambda Sigma, as both organizations have inducted new members this semester. We are so proud of all of you and are excited to see what you accomplish as you move forward!

Student

SpotlightOn the Move: FWSOP at NCAA

We enjoy seeing student involvement beyond the classroom. Check out a few photos captured by P2 student, Jacqueline Frate, during her trip to NCAA in Portland, Oregon, and a photo of P1 student, Leah McCorquodale, cheering during the game. Way to go, ladies!

The P4 Corner

Welcome to a space dedicated to you, P4s! Here you will find information such as wellness tips, celebratory news about other student pharmacists, podcast recommendations and more!

You've Got This!

The journey to passing the NAPLEX exam is both challenging and rewarding, requiring a unique blend of knowledge, skills, and mental fortitude. As a pharmacy student, you may find yourself juggling coursework, APPEs, and exam preparations, all while trying to maintain a healthy work-life balance. The importance of building resilience and managing stress effectively cannot be overstated; these skills are essential for not only succeeding in your exams but also for thriving in your future career as a pharmacist. Here are a few resilience related tips to keep in mind as you navigate exam preparation.

Establish a Structured Study Schedule

Prioritize Topics: Identify challenging subjects and allocate more time to them.

Set Realistic Goals: Break your study material into manageable sections and set daily or weekly goals to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Use a Planner: A visual planner can help track your progress and keep you accountable.

Incorporate Stress-Relief Techniques

Mindfulness and Meditation: Practicing mindfulness can significantly reduce stress levels. Consider dedicating 10-15 minutes daily to meditation or deep-breathing exercises.

Physical Activity: Engage in regular exercise, whether it's a brisk walk, yoga, or gym workouts. Physical activity releases endorphins, which can improve your mood.

Cultivate a Support Network

Study Groups: Join or form study groups with fellow pharmacy students. Collaborative learning can provide motivation and enhance understanding of difficult concepts.

Seek Mentorship: Connect with professors or practicing pharmacists for guidance and encouragement throughout your preparation.

Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

Balanced Diet: Fuel your body with nutritious foods that support cognitive function, such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and omega-3 fatty acids. Adequate Sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night. Sleep is critical for memory consolidation and overall brain health.

Develop Motivational Strategies

Visualization Techniques: Picture yourself achieving your goals. Visualizing success can boost your confidence and motivation.

Reward Yourself: After reaching a study milestone, treat yourself to something enjoyable, whether it’s a favorite snack or a short break to watch an episode of your favorite show.

Class of 2026: Celebrating How Far You've Come

As we enter a period of celebrations, we cannot fail to mention one of the greatest milestones in your pharmacy school journey, graduating. Every exam, IPPE, APPE, professional development opportunity, organizational involvement, research presentation and assignment has lead you to this moment. Take a moment to bask in this great accomplishment and all the hard work, resilience and persistence it took to get here. We are so proud of each of you, we are excited to celebrate with you, and we are confident in your abilities to make great contributions to the pharmacy profession. Congratulations Class of 2026!

April Playlist Recs: Study Jams

This month's playlist is an instrumental compilation that is designed to help you focus as you study. It may be helpful to take a listen as you review material for your NAPLEX exam.