Curriculum
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time spent in labs
time spent in online coursework
times spent in experiential rotations
Student experiences
Classroom learning
Through the coursework, you will gain the knowledge and skills for professional practice in a pharmacy.
From videos to interactive course modules and activities, all classroom curriculum content is uniquely available as online learning. Some lectures originate from the Minnesota campus and are made available to students at the other locations using interactive video-enabled virtual classrooms during the simulation sessions.
By using the most advanced educational technology available, program content is accessible and easy-to-use.
As coursework for the first 12 weeks is primarily online, students must have access to a computer with internet access. Laptops are not provided by Mayo Clinic.
Simulated lab coursework
Paired with online learning, students will put their newly acquired knowledge to practice and participate in live virtual simulation coursework on Thursdays during the first 12 weeks of the program. During weeks 13-14, additional simulation coursework will be completed in a pharmacy simulation lab located in one of the following locations:
- Rochester, Minnesota*
- Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona
- Jacksonville, Florida
*Students located on the Mankato, Minnesota campus, La Crosse, Wisconsin campus, and Eau Claire, Wisconsin campus complete their simulation lab coursework at our campus in downtown Rochester, Minnesota.
Hands-on clinical rotations
The last six weeks of this program are presented as experiential rotations where students display skills in two rotations at different Mayo Clinic pharmacy locations. These rotations encompass a wide range of pharmacy practices and specialties and take place on the student’s home campus.
Sample schedules
A schedule of activities will be provided by the first week of the program.
Weeks 1-12
| Schedule | Program | Location | Courses covered | Credits | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15-20 hours a week | Didactic coursework | Online | Introduction to pharmacy; Pharmacology for technicians; Career development; Principles of pharmacy operations | 11 | 186 |
| 8 hours a week | Simulation coursework | Online | Pharmacy simulation lab | 5 | 160* |
*Note: The remaining contact hours for this course will be completed during on-site activities in weeks 13-14.
Weeks 13-20
| Schedule | Program | Location | Courses covered | Credits | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
40 hours a week |
Simulation Coursework and Rotations |
On-site |
Pharmacy simulation lab; Pharmacy experiential rotation 1; Pharmacy experiential rotation 2 |
4 |
256 |
Hours
The simulation/classroom portion of the program includes eight hours per day, one day a week for the first 12 weeks of the program. The experiential rotations/clinical schedule can vary between the hours of 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and include 40 hours of education and training a week.
Facilities and faculty
Learn more about the facilities and faculty for the Pharmacy Technician Program.
Facilities
The Department of Pharmacy at Mayo Clinic is divided between outpatient and inpatient facilities. It encompasses a wide range of services at Mayo Clinic, including central pharmacy distribution, multiple outpatient pharmacy practices, pharmacist-managed clinics, infusion therapy centers, mail order pharmacy, compounding, and specialty pharmacy services. More than 1,100 team members encompass the Mayo Clinic Health System.
Faculty
The Pharmacy Technician Program is coordinated and taught by clinical, scientific and technical staff at Mayo Clinic. Over 30 dedicated preceptors work hands-on with students during experiential rotations throughout Mayo Clinic and come from a variety of pharmaceutical practice throughout their careers. Preceptors are chosen for their commitment to teaching, as well as their clinical practice and research. Many have published and lectured extensively and are highly regarded in their fields.
Matthew Rewald, C.Ph.T.
Program Director
Assistant Professor of Pharmacy
Matthew Rewald, C.Ph.T. has been the program director for the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences Pharmacy Technician Program since its inception and assistant professor of pharmacy in the College of Medicine. Matthew has worked in the pharmacy profession as an inpatient and outpatient pharmacy technician, supervisor, and instructor in many settings throughout his career. Matthew earned his Bachelor of Science in health care administration from The College at Brockport in Brockport, New York, in 2015.
In 2010, Matthew was the recipient of the People Pillar Award at Rochester General Hospital in Rochester, New York. In 2015, Matthew was also awarded the New York Association for Continuing and Community Education (NYACCE) Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award. Matthew has previously served the New York State Council of Health-system Pharmacists (NYSCHP) as the chair of the Support Personnel Committee and technician liaison to the Rochester Area Society of Health-system Pharmacists (RASHP) prior to his current service as a member of the Minnesota Society of Health-system Pharmacists (MSHP) Pharmacy Technician Advisory Committee. Matthew is currently serving a three-year term as a member of the ASHP/ACPE Pharmacy Technician Accreditation Commission (PTAC), which serves both the ASHP and ACPE board of directors as the national accrediting review committee for pharmacy technician education and training programs.
Bradley Lorang
Associate Program Director
Pharmacy Education Specialist
Bradley Lorang has been the associate program director for the Pharmacy Technician Program since 2018. He joined the Department of Pharmacy as a pharmacy technician over 10 years ago, and in 2017 transitioned to the role of pharmacy education specialist. Bradley earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Nebraska Omaha. Bradley provides compounded sterile preparation education and training for the program and the department.
Cher Enderby, Pharm.D., R.Ph.
Assistant Program Director, Pharmacy Technician Program (Florida)
Coordinator, Education and Staff Development
PGY-1 Residency Program Director, Mayo Clinic in Florida
Dr. Cher Enderby has been the assistant program director of the Pharmacy Technician Program in Florida since 2019. She is the coordinator of education and staff development and PGY-1 Residency Program Director at Mayo Clinic in Florida. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Florida and completed a pharmacy practice residency at Florida Hospital. Dr. Enderby practiced as a transplant pharmacist at Mayo Clinic for several years. She is an assistant professor of pharmacy in the College of Medicine, Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist, and Board Certified Nutrition Support Pharmacist.
Dr. Enderby is active in pharmacy professional organizations including serving leadership and committee membership roles in the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Florida Society of Health-System Pharmacists, and Northeast Florida Society of Health-System Pharmacists. She has provided presentations, completed IRB approved research, presented posters, and published peer-reviewed articles in the areas of transplant and pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Lisa Buss Preszler, Pharm.D., R.Ph.
Assistant Program Director, Pharmacy Technician Program (Arizona)
Coordinator, Education and Staff Development
PGY-1 Residency Program Director, Mayo Clinic Florida
Dr. Lisa Buss Preszler is the Pharmacy Education Supervisor at Mayo Clinic in Arizona and has been the assistant program director for the Pharmacy Technician Program in Arizona since 2019.
Dr. Buss Preszler received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Creighton University in 1999 and subsequently completed a community pharmacy residency with the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 2000. Following the completion of her residency program, she accepted a position in the outpatient pharmacy at Mayo Clinic and served as the student education coordinator from 2005-2019. During this time, she served as program director for the advanced pharmacy practice experience and pharmacy internship programs and as the assistant residency program director for the PGY-1 at Mayo Clinic and PGY-2 in ambulatory care residency programs. Dr. Buss Preszler has been awarded the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences Outstanding Educator Award and Master Preceptor recognition by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. She is also a legacy member of the Mayo Clinic Academy of Educational Excellence.
Outside work
During the final eight weeks of the program, outside work isn't recommended. However, students may be employed if it doesn't interfere with the training program.
Grading and evaluation
Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences uses these evaluative tools: examinations, hands-on simulation to demonstrate mastery of skills, self-assessment exercises, and faculty (classroom and experiential) reviews.
Our system of evaluation provides students and faculty with a comprehensive look at individual performance. Assistance is provided to keep students on track with learning goals and outcomes. Periodic reviews of student progress will occur by the Pharmacy Technician Program Director.
Graduation and certification
Upon successful completion of the Pharmacy Technician Program, students will receive a certificate of completion from Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences. Students will also be prepared to take a national certification examination for pharmacy technicians immediately upon completion of the program. The program is designed to prepare students for certification from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).
Certification is a process by which nongovernmental agencies or associations grant recognition of competence to individuals who have met certain predetermined qualifications. Certification provides professional credentialing for pharmacy technicians and is required of all pharmacy technicians employed at Mayo Clinic upon hire or within one year of employment.