About Pharmacists in Community Service (PICS)

The PICS program is designed to actively engage students in service projects that support the College's mission to promote community service, lifelong learning and service to underserved and rural communities.

The PICS program is a mandatory part of the Doctor of Pharmacy program and requires that all students complete 150 hours of community service over their three year enrollment in the Doctor of Pharmacy program. Students must complete a minimum of 100 hours of community service by the end of the first two years of the program prior to beginning their Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) rotations.

Some community service activities are required as part of the curriculum. These activities are required as they exemplify service to underserved and rural communities. The Remote Area Medical (RAM) events in Wise County and in Grundy and the Brown Bag Days at area senior centers are examples of curricular events. Even though these activities are required, students have the option of submitting the PICS form for approval of the time spent at these activities.

All 150 hours of service and the aforementioned required activities must be accomplished in order for students to qualify for a degree and to graduate from the Doctor of Pharmacy program. Participation in the PICS program often requires students to work after school hours, on weekends and/or holidays in order to fulfill their PICS requirement.

Students are required to document their hours spent participating in PICS activities. This documentation is accomplished by completing the PICS Form.

Completion of the PICS form requires recording the “who”, “what” and “where” of the activity, the time participating in the activity and the number of direct patient encounters, if any. Also, writing a reflective essay about the experience is required.

After the form is completed it is submitted to the Director of Community Service and Outreach via the PICS e-mail account (PICS@acpharm.org) to obtain approval of their hours and to have their reflective essay evaluated.