Exploring pharmacy: A summer camp experience for high school students

Students explore human health, pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences through hands‑on learning

Pharmacy Summer Camp at the University of Toronto's Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, is giving high school students an immersive introduction to pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences—helping to inspire interest in potential career pathways in health care and research. Consisting of five week‑long sessions, the camp introduces students to human biology and physiology, pharmacology, pharmaceutical sciences and communication skills through interactive teaching, collaborative group work and hands‑on activities. Last year, the program welcomed more than 160 high school students to the faculty.

“The camp will help students picture themselves in pharmacy, health care or research and help motivate them toward that career path,” says Kathy Vu, associate professor, teaching stream.

Students explore what it’s like to learn and work in health‑related environments, building confidence through lab experiences and simulated patient interactions.

“We want students to understand what it’s like to be in a lab and also how to interact with patients,” says Vu. “These experiences can help them make more informed decisions about careers in the field.”

A unique experience for high school students

Pharmacy Summer Camp is one of the few programs of its kind in Canada. Each week, up to 50 campers participate in simulated health assessments, lab experiments, campus and facility tours, and collaborative projects. Sessions are led by faculty members, Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students and graduate students in pharmaceutical sciences, who also take part in informal discussions to share their experiences. Pizza lunches and career panels provide additional opportunities for students to connect directly with PharmD and graduate students, ask questions about programs at the faculty, and explore the wide range of career paths available in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences.

"I would recommend the camp to (students in) grades 9-12 since we learned so much about the human body, life of drugs and the career of pharmacists. All the lectures and presentations were engaging, interesting, and fun," said one 2025 camper. "The camp is a great choice to explore the pharmacy program. The professors and camp counselors are really fun and friendly, and the lab work is really cool."

"The camp is a great choice to explore the pharmacy program. The professors and camp counselors are really fun and friendly, and the lab work is really cool."

Scholarships available 

The camp is open to any high school student in grades 9 to 12. By collaborating with PharmPath, a program for high school students from diverse backgrounds, the summer camp particularly encourages students from underrepresented communities to attend. The Faculty will be offering limited scholarships to students with financial need, with an application deadline on April 1, 2026.

Vu is looking forward to welcoming a new group of high school students to the faculty this summer.

“We're excited to showcase the building, our labs and facilities, and share our excitement for the profession,” says Vu. “We want to give students the opportunity to broaden their understanding of what it is to be a pharmacist and work in health care and to see themselves in those roles.”

Register here