At the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, we are committed to providing our students with the most advanced and comprehensive healthcare training. Our Simulation Technology Program is a cornerstone of this commitment, offering a dynamic and immersive learning environment that bridges the gap between classroom education and real-world clinical practice. This program aligns with the school’s strategic plan to “Maintain and support innovation and leadership in simulation within EMSOP and across Rutgers Health.”
Cutting-Edge Technology: Our simulation areas are equipped with the latest technology, including high-fidelity manikins, audio-video recording systems, and advanced medical equipment. These tools allow students to practice and hone their skills in a safe and controlled environment designed by faculty to meet specific learning objectives.
Realistic Clinical Scenarios: Throughout the curriculum, students engage in a variety of simulated clinical scenarios that mimic real-life situations. These scenarios challenge students to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills while practicing teamwork and communication, contributing to their Professional Identity Formation (PIF) as outlined in the strategic plan.
Interprofessional Education: We believe in the power of teamwork. Our simulation center facilitates interprofessional education, where pharmacy students collaborate with peers from physician assistant, medicine, and other healthcare disciplines. This collaborative approach prepares students for the integrated nature of modern healthcare and supports the strategic plan’s emphasis on interprofessional education.
Expert Faculty: Our experienced faculty and staff members bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the simulation center. They provide guidance, feedback, and mentorship to ensure that students gain the most from their simulation experiences, fostering a culture of PIF and aligning with the strategic plan’s goal to “Expand mentoring and professional development of the School’s community.”
Enhanced Clinical Skills: Students gain hands-on experience and improve their clinical skills without the risk of harming patients.
Increased Confidence: Repeated practice in a simulated environment builds confidence and prepares students for real-world clinical settings.
Immediate Feedback: Faculty provide immediate feedback, allowing students to learn from their mistakes and improve their performance.
Safe Learning Environment: Students can practice complex procedures and make decisions in a safe, supportive environment.
Our simulation areas provide students with immersive experiences in various pharmacy practice environments, starting early in their academic journey.
These suites simulate environments like intensive care units, emergency departments, and other hospital settings. Students practice managing complex and high-risk patients through simulations developed by experienced pharmacy practitioners. Small group sizes and expert faculty debriefing help students analyze complex clinical cases, fostering teamwork and confidence in their roles as pharmacists.
Starting in their first professional year, students learn to prepare solid dosage forms of medications in the compounding lab. They practice weighing, measuring, and packaging medications to exact specifications, developing accuracy and precision in non-sterile dosage preparations.
Over several semesters, students develop communication, assessment, and practice skills in the Ambulatory Care Clinic, working with standardized patients. The clinic features 17 exam rooms, debriefing areas, a mock electronic health record, and lecture spaces, supporting a comprehensive learning experience. Faculty use patient cases and objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) to reinforce and assess learning objectives.
Supported by a donation from the Mannino family, this lab replicates a real-life community pharmacy environment. Students work in small groups using the latest technology to develop patient education and clinician research skills. The lab includes a mock dispensing/counseling counter, workstations for navigating simulated electronic medical records, tele-medicine/tele-pharmacy setups, and over-the-counter products.
In the mock sterile laboratory, students learn USP standards and practices for parenteral product preparation. They develop an understanding of the risks in sterile compounding and apply their knowledge to ensure patient safety. Students use real laminar hood systems to prepare mock compounds of IV drugs, total parenteral nutrition (TPN), and chemotherapy, enhancing their skills in sterile product preparation.
