UPR SOP Hurricane Relief Fund

The University of Puerto Rico School of Pharmacy Doctor of Pharmacy Program is ACPE accredited, and located on the Medical Sciences Campus in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Following the devastating effects of Hurricane Maria, the first Category 5 storm to make direct landfall across the island in decades, many practice sites for our students in their final year of the program may be compromised. Currently, the University is also closed while striving to establish a timeline for resuming academic activities promptly, after water supply and electric services have been restored. However, clinical practice sites may be delayed much longer from being able to open as there are significant damages island-wide.  

The School of Pharmacy has already received many offers from other ACPE accredited colleges and schools to receive some of our 4th year students for advanced professional practice experiences (APPEs). This is a very generous offer as APPE sites are often difficult to find for one's own students, let alone those from other institutions. However, even with these spots available, the financial costs associated with flying to the mainland US from Puerto Rico as well as the lodging needed for a 4-6 week rotation may put these sites out of reach for our students. This is especially difficult for many of our students now as they are confronting the additional financial hardships of loss of homes and family businesses due to the destruction caused by Hurricane Maria. 

We are launching this GoFundMe campaign to raise money for our students who are hoping to travel to the US for an APPE now that their practice sites may be unavailable here in Puerto Rico. All of the funds raised will go directly to providing travel and lodging costs for our 4th year pharmacy students.  Any funds raised in excess of the campaign goal will go directly to UPR pharmacy students who are in need of financial assistance to help rebuild their lives here in Puerto Rico.

Our most heartfelt gratitude goes out to those of you who support our graduating students to complete their education, in order to make a difference in our communities.

Kyle Melin, PharmD, BCPS, AE-C
Assistant Professor
School of Pharmacy
Medical Sciences Campus -University of Puerto Rico
San Juan, PR 00936