(32) Maryland Academy for Pharmacy Success (MAPS) – Med Chem Winter is Coming

Objective : MAPS was developed as a value-driven pre-matriculation program that leverages open access content to support academic success. Winter “MAPS” was envisioned as a preparation for Medicinal Chemistry for first year pharmacy students (during the winter break) by relating foundational chemistry concepts learned in undergraduate coursework to healthcare applications.

Methods: We constructed a guided tutorial using Qualtrics that builds in complexity: from simply recognizing functional groups to acid/base, solubility, route of administration, metabolism, approaches to hinder first-pass metabolism/extend duration of action, to SAR including QSAR. Should a student select an incorrect answer, suggestions and tips were provided to guide toward the correct answer. Full explanations were given with the correct answer to reinforce learning. The exercise was piloted by faculty in basic science and practice, and feedback was incorporated.

Results: Technology limitations in learning management systems necessitated the exploration of alternative software to achieve tutorial goals. Qualtrics was selected as a no-cost solution to achieve the functional needs of the project. Approximately 40% of the first year PharmD class attempted the exercise.

Conclusions: Student success does not end with pre-matriculation programs, and continued approaches to provide support and preparation are critical to ensure confidence in students taking medicinal chemistry, a topic generally considered one of the most difficult in the pharmacy curriculum.