Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Office of Experiential Education Newsletter

Summer 2026

Progress Notes and Updates:
Christina Mnatzaganian
Associate Dean of Experiential Education

As another summer winds down and another experiential year unfolds, our Office of Experiential Education has much to celebrate and look forward to.

Outstanding Preceptors

In April, we awarded 25 outstanding preceptors for excellence in teaching, special recognitions, and a recently created rising preceptor award for our newer preceptors who excel in training SSPPS students at our annual Preceptor Awards Ceremony. See below for fun selfies of some of this year’s awardees.

Class of 2026

In May, we graduated 70 students in the Class of 2026! Members of the class of 2026 have started residencies (66%), fellowships (9%) and community or other practice settings (25%). We are again immensely proud of our final ASHP PGY1 match rate of 90%. We thank each of our preceptors, clinical faculty, mentors and partners who have mentored our students on rotations, reviewed CVs and letters of intent, written recommendation letters and provided mock interviews for our students. We recognize that this represents a substantial time commitment, and the outcomes clearly reflect the value and impact of your efforts.

Students Currently in Experiential Education

First-year students have completed their spring quarter longitudinal community and are in the process of completing summer block pharmacy rotations. Second-year students are completing their summer hospital/health-system IPPEs and our APPE students are beginning their second rotation. We extend our sincere gratitude to the dedicated pharmacy preceptors and sites hosting our students. Please let us know if and how we can support you and your team!

Please continue reading to hear more about student and preceptor spotlights, recent and upcoming events, and preceptor pearls for giving feedback to Gen Z Learners!

- Christina

🎉Cheers to the Class of 2026!🎓

As the academic year comes to a close, we proudly congratulate the Class of 2026! These future pharmacists have shown remarkable resilience, dedication, and professionalism throughout their Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) rotations.

Over the past year, they have built their clinical knowledge and patient care skills through hands-on experiences in community, hospital, ambulatory care, industry, specialty, and other pharmacy practice settings. Their growth and success were made possible by the commitment of our outstanding preceptors, who transformed classroom learning into meaningful real-world experiences.

To our preceptors: Thank you for your time, mentorship, and unwavering support. Your guidance has helped shape the next generation of pharmacists, and your impact will extend far beyond graduation. Congratulations to the Class of 2027—we can't wait to see all you accomplish!

Preceptor Pearls: Giving Effective Feedback to Gen Z Learners

Most preceptors are working with learners from Generation Z, students who have grown up in a highly connected, fast-paced, and feedback-rich environment. While every learner is unique, these strategies can help you provide feedback that is both effective and well received.

✅ Make Feedback Frequent, Not Just Formal
Many learners prefer ongoing feedback rather than waiting until midpoint or final evaluations. Brief check-ins throughout the rotation help students adjust in real time and reduce anxiety about their performance.

Pearl: Aim for a 2-3 minute feedback conversation at the end of each day or on a regularly established day of the week (i.e., Feedback Fridays) so that students know when to expect feedback.

✅ Be Clear, Specific, and Actionable
General comments such as "good job" or "be more confident" can be difficult to interpret. Instead, describe a specific behavior and a concrete next step.

Try this:
• Instead of: "Your presentation needs work."
• Say: "Your clinical recommendations were strong. For your next presentation, focus on being more concise when summarizing the patient's history."

✅ Normalize Growth and Learning
Many students place high expectations on themselves and may view mistakes as failures rather than learning opportunities. Frame feedback as part of professional development.

Pearl: Replace "You did this wrong" with "Here's an area we can continue to develop."

✅ Start with Self-Reflection
Encourage learners to assess their own performance before providing your observations.
Consider asking:

• What went well today?
• What would you do differently next time?
• Where do you feel you need additional support?

This approach promotes self-awareness and lifelong learning skills.

✅ Balance Constructive Feedback with Positive Reinforcement
Students are more likely to act on developmental feedback when they also understand their strengths.

A simple framework:
1. What they did well
2. What could be improved
3. A specific action plan

✅ Connect Feedback to Patient Care
Learners often respond best when feedback is tied directly to patient outcomes and professional growth.

Example: "Clarifying your medication counseling points will help ensure patients leave with a better understanding of their treatment plan."

💬 Preceptor Tip:
Create a culture where feedback flows both ways. Ask learners:
"What's one thing I can do to better support your learning this week?"
Modeling openness to feedback demonstrates humility, professionalism, and continuous improvement, qualities we hope our future pharmacists will carry throughout their careers.

✅ Respond to Defensiveness with Curiosity
At times, learners may appear defensive when receiving constructive feedback. This response is often rooted in anxiety, uncertainty, or a desire to perform well rather than a lack of professionalism. If a student becomes defensive, remain calm, listen actively, and redirect the conversation toward growth and future improvement.

Try asking:
• "Can you help me understand your perspective?"
• "What challenges were you experiencing in that situation?"
• "What do you think would help you approach this differently next time?"

Approaching the conversation with curiosity rather than confrontation can help preserve psychological safety while still reinforcing expectations.

💬 Preceptor Tip:
If emotions seem elevated, consider giving the learner time to reflect before revisiting the discussion. Feedback is most effective when students feel heard, respected, and supported in their development.

Bottom Line: Feedback is most effective when it is timely, specific, supportive, and focused on growth. Small, consistent conversations often have a greater impact than a lengthy discussion at the end of a rotation.

Celebrating the Retirement of Dr. Gale Romanowski

From Left to Right: James Colbert (Emeritus Professor, SSPPS), Brookie Best (Dean, SSPPS), Gale Romanowski (Education Coordinator, Residency Program Coordinator, and NICU Specialist, Rady Children's Hospital), Edmund Capparelli (Professor of Clinical Pharmacy, SSPPS)

After a distinguished career dedicated to pediatric pharmacy, education, and mentorship, we are pleased to recognize and celebrate the recent retirement of Dr. Gale Romanowski.

Dr. Romanowski served as the Neonatal Pharmacist Specialist, Education Coordinator, and Residency Program Director at Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego, where she made an extraordinary impact through her clinical expertise, leadership, and commitment to the education of future pharmacists.

Since 2005, Dr. Romanowski has provided invaluable expertise and guidance to numerous SSPPS students completing their IPPE and APPE experiences at Rady Children’s Hospital. She shared her knowledge generously, encouraged students to grow in confidence and competence, and helped them understand the importance of compassion and dedication in caring for pediatric patients and their families.

Her kindness and genuine investment in students left a lasting impression on all those fortunate enough to learn from her. Through her teaching and mentorship, Dr. Romanowski has helped shape the professional journeys of countless students and contributed meaningfully to the future of pediatric pharmacy.

As Dr. Romanowski begins this new chapter, we extend our deepest gratitude for her many years of service, leadership, mentorship, and dedication. Her contributions to our students, the pharmacy profession, and the patients and families she served will continue to be remembered and appreciated for years to come.

Thank you, Dr. Romanowski, for your extraordinary service. We wish you a wonderful and well-deserved retirement filled with happiness, relaxation, and new adventures. Congratulations on this exciting next chapter!

📅 Save the Date!

Annual APPE Rotation Fair

We are inviting you to sign up for the UC San Diego SSPPS Class of 2028 APPE Rotation Fair, which will take place on Thursday, October 15, from 4:30 to 6:30 pm PST. Please complete the interest survey below, if you have not yet done so, no later than Friday, September 18.

Interest Survey

Experiential Spotlight

IPPE Student: Abi Buckle, Class of 2028

Over the 2025–2026 academic year, Abi served in four leadership positions, immersed herself in the P2 COAST curriculum alongside medical students, and worked as an intern pharmacist at both Walgreens Retail and Specialty Pharmacies. As a student ambassador for the Skaggs School of Pharmacy, she enjoyed participating in recruitment events, where she could share her passion for pharmacy with high school and undergraduate students and, hopefully, spark their interest in the field.

As President-Elect of the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists (AAPP), she helped lead and plan events focused on destigmatizing mental health and introducing others to the specialty of psychiatric pharmacy. She also had the privilege of attending the AAPP Annual Conference in Seattle, WA, where she connected with psychiatric providers, residents, and members from other student chapters.

The highlights of her year were being inducted into the Phi Lambda Sigma pharmacy leadership society as incoming secretary, and organizing the Middle Eastern Pharmacist Association's (MEPhA) Spring Celebration. The event honored the diverse holidays of spring, including Eid, Easter, Nowruz, and Passover, bringing together multiple cultures and faiths. Abi cherished seeing different communities come together in joy and celebration during particularly divisive times. She is proud to be part of the pharmacy community and looks forward to continuing to share her passion for the field with others for years to come.

School Updates

No. 6 Pharmacy School in the Nation

No. 1 in California for Residency Match Rates

We are thrilled to share our school has been named the No. 6 pharmacy school in the nation (tie) by U.S. News & World Report — our highest ranking to date and the first time we have ranked in the top ten!

We are delighted to share we are the No. 1 pharmacy school in California based on Phase I and II Match rates, with more than 90% of our student applicants securing PGY-1 residency positions.

Congratulations to Preceptor Wendy Gibbons, BS, PharmD, on Her Election to the CSHP Board of Directors

We are proud to congratulate our fellow preceptor, Wendy Gibbons, on her recent election as Treasurer of the California Society of Health-System Pharmacists (CSHP) Board of Directors for the 2026–2028 term.

We look forward to seeing the positive impact she will make in her new role!

2026 CSHP Board of Director - Election Results

Past Events

Preceptor Awards Ceremony

A heartfelt congratulations to the outstanding preceptors celebrated at this year’s Preceptor Excellence and Recognition Awards Ceremony! Their commitment to mentorship and education makes a lasting impact on our student pharmacists.

Across IPEE and APPE rotations in hospitals, community pharmacies, specialty clinics, biotech and pharmaceutical companies, and diverse practice settings, these exceptional educators provide invaluable guidance, inspiration, and real-world experiences. We are grateful for their dedication to developing confident, capable pharmacists and empowering the next generation of pharmacy leaders. Thank you for making a difference!

Note: Not all award recipients pictured

June Preceptor Webinar

Our Office of Experiential Education held a "just-in-time" webinar on Thursday, June 4, 2026, that provided key information for preceptors preparing for the upcoming IPPE and APPE rotations.

The recording of this event is available in CORE-ELMS in the document library. If you need assistance finding it, please email Greg Marciel: gmarciel@health.ucsd.edu.

SSPPS PharmD Students Gain Valuable Career Insight Through Ionis Job Shadowing Opportunities

Throughout the academic year, UC San Diego PharmD students had the opportunity to explore careers in the biopharmaceutical industry through job shadowing experiences hosted by Ionis Pharmaceuticals.

We sincerely thank the entire Ionis team for welcoming our students, sharing their expertise, and providing valuable opportunities to learn about the diverse career paths available to PharmD graduates. Students enjoyed connecting with Ionis professionals, learning about their work, and engaging in thoughtful conversations.

We are grateful for Ionis’ continued partnership and commitment to supporting the professional development of our students. We look forward to continuing this collaboration in the coming academic year!

Do You Currently Hold Affiliate Status with Our School?

Benefits of being an affiliate include:

Physical and VPN access to the UC San Diego library system
Utilize the UC San Diego shuttle bus service (shuttles serve campus, UC San Diego medical centers and key points off campus)
May be eligible for reimbursement for poster presentations and/or professional meeting registration
Eligible to register for our Preceptor Development Programs, with CAPE or ACPE credit