St. John's University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions is giving pharmacy students hands-on training in a unique setting. The university recently opened a Rite Aid Community Pharmacy Laboratory on the Queens, NY, campus that was funded by the Rite Aid Corp and a congressional appropriation.

The laboratory is a state-of-the-art facility designed to replicate a traditional working pharmacy. Using 16 workstations, students can practice filling prescriptions, answering questions, and applying other necessary skills required to perform as a professional pharmacist. Furthermore, the laboratory contains 3 counseling rooms equipped with video recording devices, where students can conduct mock counseling sessions with faculty members and review the footage for self-assessment.