The coming of spring means it’s time to figure out how to use this summer to get your favorite high-school students ahead in math and science – and also find ways for them to meet new friends, have fun and earn some money.
The BESt Pharmacy Summer Institute might be your one-stop shop.
Since 2008, the institute has been offering a six-week summer program at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy to local multicultural students, who also earn a stipend for completing the program. BESt’s mission is to expose high-school students to careers in healthcare and to improve their mathematics, science, language arts and ACT/SAT skills.
So far, 100 percent of graduates are attending a college or university, 82 percent of them are pursuing healthcare, and 41 percent are pursuing pharmacy as a career.
The 2013 program takes place from June 10 to July 19. The deadline to complete the online application is April 12.
Students are eligible if they are:
∙ full-time, under-represented minority freshman (BESt I), sophomore (BESt II), or junior (BESt III) student
∙ currently attending a St. Louis/East St. Louis City or County public high school, or a St. Louis City private high school comprised of a majority multicultural student population
∙ achieving a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher based on a 4.0 scale
high potential students, participating in at least one extra-curricular activity or organization.
The BESt I, II, and III students could earn a cash stipend of $600, $900 and $1,200 respectively. The stipends are based upon full participation in and successful completion of the BESt program.
Rebakkah Johnson, a Clayton High School graduate, completed two summers at BESt.
“It was the best decision I’ve made in my life,” she said.
She said she flourished in a learning environment among other multicultural students, and she also became comfortable with the St. Louis College of Pharmacy. When she graduated high school, she enrolled in the college.
“I was ready for the challenge,” she said.
The “BESt” acronym stands for Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Express Scripts and St. Louis School of Pharmacy. The program’s co-founders are Isaac Butler, director of retail pharmacy audit and policy at Express Scripts Inc., and Steven Player, inpatient pharmacy manager at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Together they direct the program along with Kimberly Simmons, assistant VP of diversity and inclusion at the college.
Player’s and Butler’s vision was to create a pipeline program that would help diversify the medical workforce so it aligns better with the country’s population. By 2050, about 53 percent of the population will be minorities, up from 34.4 percent in 2008, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. With the changing face of America, there’s a strong need for underrepresented minorities entering the pharmacy profession, Player said.
“Cultural diversity in pharmacy is crucial if our nation’s health care system is to ensure patient-centered, culturally competent, quality health care outcomes,” he said.
Both Butler and Player are products of programs like BESt themselves.
“My path to becoming a pharmacist and a heath professional is very similar to the students we have in the program,” Butler said.
Butler grew up in St. Louis city and attended public schools.
“I lacked a certain level of exposure and certain level of belief until I got involved in other programs like INROADS and Upward Bound,” Butler said. “When I think about the mission of BESt, we are helping students become what they truly want to become.”
For more information about BESt or to apply, visit www.bestpharmacyinstitute.org.