First-year Student Pharmacists Present History of Pharmacy Topics at End-of-semester Poster Fair

Written By: Megan Chang, First-Year Student Pharmacist and President, Class of 2028

First-year Doctor of Pharmacy students at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy wrapped up the fall semester by hosting a poster fair to showcase their History of Pharmacy projects, as part of their Professional Foundations of Pharmacy 1 course. Students were assigned in small groups to research and create a poster on a historical topic of their choosing relating to the field of pharmacy. They worked on these projects over the course of the semester, then presented their final posters on Nov. 7 and Nov. 14 in Pharmacy Hall’s Yankellow Grand Atrium.

Some posters highlighted key legislation such as the Pure Food and Drug Act, which prohibited the sale of contaminated food and drugs, and the Durham-Humphrey Amendment, which distinguished between prescription and over-the-counter medications. Other groups discussed the development of hospital, community, and internet-based pharmacies, demonstrating how the field has evolved over time to meet the needs of patient populations. Additional topics featured important historical figures in pharmacy and changes in pharmacy education.

At both poster session, students, faculty, and representatives from the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s Health Sciences and Human Services Library (HSHSL) circulated around the posters, asked questions of the student presenters, and voted for their favorites. The posters on Pharmacy Soda Shops and the Poison Prevention Packaging Act were voted “Most Informative,” while those on the Kefauver-Harris Amendments and the History of Pharmacy-Based Immunizations were named “Most Creative.” Faculty and HSHSL representatives also provided valuable feedback to help the students improve their presentation skills.

Cherokee Layson-Wolf, PharmD, BCACP, FAPhA, course manager of Professional Foundations of Pharmacy 1 and a professor of practice, sciences, and health outcomes research, felt that her students did well in representing their chosen topics with detail and creativity. When asked how students benefited from this experience, she stated, “This activity is one of the first where students have to work together. First, they had to develop a plan of action to complete the poster, and then they had to work together to do research, develop the materials for the poster, design and create the poster, and finally present it. I hope the students were able to understand how they can use their individual talents to best contribute to the team and the importance of learning to work through any issues.” She observed that students seemed genuinely interested in the topics they explored and were able to draw connections between what they learned and the world of pharmacy today.

For many of these student pharmacists, the History of Pharmacy project was an introduction to the poster presentation experience. As they continue at the School of Pharmacy, they may have opportunities to present posters at local and national conferences where they can continue to grow and apply what they have learned.