University of Hawaii at Hilo Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy Interview Feedback Summary
Hilo, HI
Pharmacy Schools | Public Non-Profit
Overall, students rated the program a 3.7 out of 10 for satisfaction. The student body is described as competitive. The environment is considered supportive for underrepresented minorities, LGBTQ+ students, married students, students with disabilities, non-traditional students. Faculty members are seen as reasonably approachable.
🎓 The Basics ▼
What was the zip code of your residence in high school?
| Response Avg | # Responders |
|---|---|
| 91,219.00 | 3 |
What do you like most?
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That they stayed open to long enough to finish the program.
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I really enjoy how friendly and accomodating the instructors are. The class size consists of approximately 85 students, so there is a stronger positive student/teacher relationship. They are always willing to help the students to the best of their ability, regardless of the issue (school, personal, etc.).
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Cutting-edge research on pharmacy practice for rural areas
What do you like least?
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Faculty are racist, sexist, and hypocritical. They expect you to act professional but rarely do they. The Sean is never there. When they dedicated their new building the Dean made it a point to mention many times how expensive it cost. It was uncomfortable. A lot of professors live off island like the Dean and although they have performed research supporting the inefficient use of Polycom or Skype style lectures, half the faculty use it. They violate FERPA and HIPPA. Nine of the best professors they had quit or were fired due to personal issues with the Dean. As recent as 2019-2020 school year, pre-COVID, the student body and faculty voted No Confidence in the Dean and administration. Student were left without options and were required to create a petition to allow for them to use the “$30 million, 40,000 sq.ft. building” past 5 pm and on weekends. The recent trend in faculty hires are former students with less than 6 years experience. No food options available on this particular area of campus. The administration overall resists change. If you would like education resources be ready to lay for them because the school is funded by tuition with little state funding. As their class sizes continue to dwindle (from 80 to 35 to 45) major cuts to student services are being made. Ultimately this is a school without anything the resembles leadership. Dr. Pezzuto made this school and the current Dean is destroying it with nepotism. The other reviewer is 100% correct about everything said regarding absentee administration and no help from support staff. The entire review is correct.
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It would be nice to have food options at school, especially on the days we finish class later. However, to my knowledge, the new building that is currently being constructed may include food. Additionally, we do have a fridge for each class for students who bring food from home or there are places to purchase from at lower campus.
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The current Dean is quite absent and can be seen with the lack of preparation by most of the staff and the last minute plannings. This specific academic year, a number of instructors posted lecture 8 minutes before the lecture time and violated FERPA and also handed out assignments (listed in the syllabi) a week before they were due. This was all due to the Dean of the entire school is rarely on the island with the school and cares more about the duties of the Board of Pharmacy than raising the next generation of pharmacists. Other leadership throughout the school also takes this meekish approach to keep their staff doing their job. A number of support staff usually are gone before 4pm and rarely have little information that can help students. Even those that are present are rarely in their office and cannot offer advice or the correct person to direct students. There is high racism on the school as well and the student body is commonly made with 19 -20 year old and do not have degrees nor the drive to seek more than a retail pharmacy education. This school is also not associated with a teaching hospital and lacks cutting edge professionals. It is on the big island and offers very little progressive work that is not rural health.
🧾 The Details ▼
What are the facilities and clinics like (old/new, well maintained, etc.)?
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Brand new building but you’re not allowed to use any of it. Lecture halls are designed for parties and social gatherings instead of learning. Recycling bin countertop cutouts blocked off because the school doesn’t recycle as of Jan. 2020. Internet is slow. “Lecture room” chairs are cheap plastic chairs with wheels. Since you spend hours in them sitting down you would have thought they would have gotten something a bit more comfortable. The entire school besides this brand new facility is falling a part. The library doesn’t have whiteboards in the study rooms, they have push-cushion boards. You’re lucky if you have a chalkboard in some of the rooms. This is the only library on campus. The AC is constantly going out and it’s hot and humid.
How do students from this program do after graduation - are they adequately prepared for practice?
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About 16% never make to graduation. Around 2% are matched for residency, including those who are matched for residency programs the pharmacy school offers.
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N/A
What are rotations like?
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P1- 4 week community rotation. Mainly CVS and Walgreens because besides the one Walmart that’s all that’s here. P2- 2 week rotation for acute care (hospital). P3- simulations. Vet med is a day spent at a veterinary clinic P4- good luck getting a site outside Hawaii and even more luck if it’s not CVS or Walgreens. Otherwise Hawaii is it. They treat you like you’re a nuisance to them for 3 years but when it’s time you can actually leave they don’t let you.
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5
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0
How do students from this program do in the Match?
No responses
Any other information you want to share?
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If you liked high school, Asian food, rain, and limiting your educational experiences, this is for you. If you want to work at CVS, this is your dream school. Everyone else, avoid it like COVID. It will kill your passion for the profession unapologetically.
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I like that there are many student organizations that are part of the school. Through these organizations, we are able to reach out to the communities, not only in Hilo, but around the Big Island as well. We are able to measure values for blood pressure, blood glucose, etc. and then counsel the patients on the results along with lifestyle modifications that they can follow.
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Average school.
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