» Office of Experiential Education

The Office of Experiential Education Office coordinates the clinical and practice-related experiences at CUSP. Students participate in their class's practicums every academic year, including during the fall, spring, and summer trimesters. 

Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPEs) provide students practical experience in community, independent, and hospital pharmacy settings during Year 1 and 2 at CUSP. 

Coupled with the didactic courses in the curriculum, IPPEs prepare student pharmacists for Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs) in Year 3. 

In Year 3, students complete six, 6-week Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs)—4 required rotation types and 2 electives.

APPE rotations focus on providing supervised experiences so they are practice ready by the end of the academic year.

Students must successfully complete at least 1440 hours and 36 weeks of APPE rotations.

OEE Team

photo of Kathleen  Besinque, PharmD, MSEd, FASHP, FCSHP, FCPhA

Kathleen Besinque, PharmD, MSEd, FASHP, FCSHP, FCPhA

Assistant Dean of Experiential Education
Rinker Health Science Campus
714-516-5475
Kathleen Besinque oversees the experiential education program for IPPE and APPE students.
photo of May Mak, PharmD, BCGP, CDCES, APh

May Mak, PharmD, BCGP, CDCES, APh

Director of Experiential Education
Rinker Health Sciences
May Mak provides oversight and support for APPE and IPPE Rotations.
photo of Brian Kawahara, PharmD, MS, FASHP, FCSHP

Brian Kawahara, PharmD, MS, FASHP, FCSHP

Assistant Director of Experiential Education
Rinker Health Science Campus
(714) 516-5407
Brian Kawahara oversees IPPE and APPE hospital rotations, affiliation agreements, and quality assurance.
photo of Gary Fong, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP

Gary Fong, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP

Experiential Team Leader in Acute Care
Rinker Health Science Campus
714-516-5468
Gary Fong provides oversight and support relating to Acute Care experiences for APPE Rotations.
photo of Vanessa  Orozco

Vanessa Orozco

Experiential Education Coordinator
Rinker Health Science Campus
(714)-516-5403
Vanessa Orozco manages daily operations and logistics of student success for IPPEs and APPEs.
photo of Whitney Dunkle-Hallenbeck

Whitney Dunkle-Hallenbeck

Program Administrator for Experiential Education
Whitney Dunkle-Hallenbeck assists in the logistic needs of the Office of Experiential Education.

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Office of Experiential Education