University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy

09/15/2026

Chronic kidney disease doesn’t look the same in every patient. So what if we could use the data we already have to better understand those differences?

At URI College of Pharmacy, Clinical Associate Professor Dr. Todd Brothers is using artificial intelligence and machine learning to uncover patterns in chronic kidney disease that could help clinicians better understand how the disease progresses.

His research uses electronic health record data to identify groups of patients who share similar characteristics, disease progression patterns, and responses to treatment. By looking at information like lab results, medical history, medications, and other health conditions, his team is working to understand why kidney disease progresses differently from one person to another.

The research has also highlighted important connections between chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease, as well as the potential role of acute kidney injury in accelerating long-term disease progression. Understanding these patterns could help clinicians identify patients who may be at greater risk and make treatment more personalized.

As healthcare continues to generate more and more data, the ability to turn that information into meaningful insights will become increasingly important. Dr. Brothers’ research is a great example of how clinical expertise and emerging technology can work together to tackle complex health challenges.

Read more about Dr. Brothers’ research and how AI is helping us better understand chronic kidney disease: https://web.uri.edu/pharmacy/2026/06/12/using-artificial-intelligence-ai-to-understand-chronic-kidney-disease/

09/10/2026

Choosing is just the first step... now it's time to find your people!

That's one of the reasons we encourage our students to join clubs and organizations! It's a great way to connect with peers and mentors, as well as find opportunities that align with your goals. Whether you're interested in clinical care, research, health equity, public health, or industry, there’s a group that can help you explore what’s possible.

Here are just a few:

💙 American Pharmacists Association – Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP)
The student branch of the American Pharmacists Association is great for building leadership skills, advocating for the profession, and exploring all kinds of pharmacy careers.

💙 Student Society of Health-System Pharmacists (SSHP)
Interested in hospital or clinical pharmacy? SSHP gives you access to networking events, guest speakers, and clinical career prep.

💙 Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA)
Focused on serving underserved communities and promoting diversity in pharmacy. A strong choice for anyone passionate about health equity and social impact.

💙 Phi Lambda Sigma (PLS) – Pharmacy Leadership Society
A national pharmacy leadership society that helps students strengthen their professional and leadership skills.

💙 Industry Pharmacists Organization (IPhO)
Curious about working in the pharmaceutical industry? IPhO is a go-to resource for internships, mentorship, and career connections in pharmacy.

Participating in student organizations is an important part of the College of Pharmacy experience. These are just a few, so make sure to check out the rest! Tap the link in our bio to learn more and find your fit.

09/10/2026

We’re back! 📚💙

Yesterday marked the first day of classes at the URI College of Pharmacy, and it was great to see Avedisian Hall full of students again!

We caught a few familiar (and new!) faces for a first-day photo as everyone kicked off the fall semester. Wishing all of our students a great year ahead. We’re so happy to have you back!

09/10/2026

09/09/2026

You don't have to know exactly what you want to do with your pharmacy degree. You just need opportunities to explore.

That’s one of the things we love about pharmacy. There are so many different directions your career can take you, and real-world experiences can help you discover what interests you, what you’re good at, what type of environment you want to work in, and what kind of pharmacist you want to become.

This summer, Hannah gained that experience as a pharmacy intern with Genoa Healthcare, part of Optum Rx, in Boston. She worked with individuals with complex healthcare needs and had the opportunity to build relationships with patients and healthcare professionals while putting what she learned at URI into practice.

This experience has given Hannah the chance to put her education into practice while also thinking more deeply about the kind of pharmacist she wants to become. She’s spent the summer reflecting on how she communicates with patients, whether she is listening closely enough, and how she can make the people she serves feel heard and respected. Those experiences have helped her build confidence and become more intentional about the kind of pharmacist she wants to be.

At URI College of Pharmacy, students have opportunities to explore their interests through internships, experiential learning, research, and connections with employers and healthcare organizations. These experiences give students a chance to apply what they're learning, build professional skills, and start figuring out where they want their careers to take them.

You don't have to have your entire future mapped out when you arrive at URI. We're here to help you explore the possibilities and find the opportunities that can help you build a career that's right for you.

09/08/2026

We just finished move-in weekend and now it's the first day of classes!

For our newest students, this weekend marks the beginning of something they’ve been working toward for a long time. There are boxes to unpack, new spaces to make their own and lots of people to meet. But all this change also usually means a few moments of wondering, “What did I get myself into?” That's perfectly normal.

Moving somewhere new for pharmacy school is a big step. It’s exciting, but it can also feel a little overwhelming. You’re leaving behind what’s familiar and starting to build a new life in a new place.

Fortunately, you’re not starting from scratch. There’s a whole Pharmily here waiting to welcome you (we're guessing you've already met some of them by now!). Over the next few weeks, you’ll start finding your people, getting to know your professors, figuring out your routines, and making this place feel a little more like home.

And before you know it, the boxes will be unpacked, the nerves will settle, and this new place won’t feel quite so new anymore.

To our newest students: welcome to URI and welcome to the Pharmily. We’re so happy you’re here, and we can’t wait to see everything this next chapter brings. 💙

And a huge thank you to all of the faculty and staff who helped make move-in weekend so special. Thank you for helping our students feel at home from the moment they arrived!

09/04/2026

Moving to URI soon? Before classes start, you have some exploring to do!

If you're arriving early before move-in, here's our unofficial South County bucket list. To make sure it feels attainable, we made sure everything on this list is about 25 minutes from campus or less. Let's get into it:

💙 Explore the Fantastic Umbrella Factory
This quirky Charlestown spot is basically a little world of its own, with unique shops, gardens, animals, a bamboo grove, and so many things to discover. It's a hidden gem and one of the few places you'll spot an emu in RI!

💙 Go looking for the trolls at Ninigret Park
If you're headed to the Umbrella Factory, save a little time for this excursion! Two giant wooden trolls by artist Thomas Dambo are hiding around the park. Finding them is a little like a scavenger hunt, and it's a great excuse to explore the park.

💙 Get a Del's
This is basically a Rhode Island rite of passage. Pro tip: if you really want to look like a local, skip the straw.

💙 Go to the beach
You're going to school in the Ocean State, so take advantage of it! Narragansett, Scarborough, and East Matunuck are all nearby, so there's no shortage of places to get some beach time before classes begin.

💙 Walk Black Point
Want the ocean views without committing to a full beach day? Head to Black Point for a coastal walk along the rocky shoreline where you'll see some beautiful views.

💙 Get some seafood
You can't move to Rhode Island without at least trying some local seafood! Find a local spot, order a lobster roll, and start developing your opinions on the best seafood in the state.

These are all pretty close to campus, but if you have a little more time, make the trip to Newport or Providence! There's plenty more of Rhode Island to explore once you're here.

Current Rams, let us know, is there anything we missed?

09/03/2026

Life's about to get busy over at the college of Pharmacy!

Life here at URI is full in the best possible way. Between lectures and labs, beach days and basketball games, research breakthroughs and new friendships, our students are building a life they love filled with people they love. And while they're out there cheering on the Rams or getting involved on campus, they're also becoming some of the most prepared pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists in the field.

At URI College of Pharmacy, the two aren't separate. Academics are important, but so are the experiences you have outside of class. Every moment you spend here is a part of what makes our graduates prepared for whatever comes next.

So in a few days, get ready to be busy. You'll be busy making discoveries, practicing clinical skills, seeing your friends, and reaffirming this was the right place all along.

We can't wait to welcome you all back next week!

09/02/2026

Fall is here and we have so many ways for you to experience URI College of Pharmacy this semester!

Whether you're a high schooler considering your options, a transfer student thinking about making a change, or just someone who wants to see what the Pharmily is all about before making your college choice, we're here to help! And to do that, we put together the perfect lineup of events for you.

Here's what's coming up:

💙 Information Sessions... September through November
Get an up-close look at our PharmD and BPS programs, along with a student-led tour of Avedisian Hall.

💙 PharmD and BPS Shadow Days... September through December
Step into the life of a current pharmacy student for the day. Sit in on a real class, explore Avedisian Hall, meet future classmates, and see firsthand what learning at URI actually looks like.

💙 URI Open House... October 4 & November 14
Walk the campus, meet the people who make this community special, learn about our programs, and start picturing what your life here could look like.

💙 Exploration Day... Friday, November 20th, 1:00-3:00 PM
Get a hands-on look at pharmacy and biomedical science through lab tours, research demos, simulation experiences, and conversations with students and faculty.

The best way to know if URI feels like home is to come see it for yourself. Register early at the link in our bio and we can't wait to welcome you to Kingston!

09/01/2026

Starting something new comes with a lot of feelings (we know, we've all been where you are!). You're probably feeling some excitement, but also nerves and maybe even a little uncertainty about where you’ll fit in. If you’re feeling any of that, we want you to know something before you even walk through the doors: you already have a community waiting for you.

If you've been following us for a while, you've probably seen us talk about the Pharmily. That's our fun nickname for our College of Pharmacy family, but if you ask anyone in the program, you'll quickly hear that the Pharmily is more than a name. It’s that feeling of community you have when classmates save you a seat because you're running late, or when the upperclassmen remember exactly what it felt like to be new, so they go out of their way to make you feel seen and welcome. It's knowing that on the weekend, you have a community of people who are excited to see you and hear how your week went.

Throughout the next few years, you’ll spend a lot of time learning together, and some of the most meaningful parts of pharmacy school will happen outside the classroom with these people. You’ll celebrate each other’s wins, help each other through the tough weeks, and make the kinds of memories that stay with you long after graduation.

So if you’re walking into your first week wondering, “Will I fit in?” take a breath. You don’t have to have everything figured out yet. You don’t have to know everyone yet. Just show up and be yourself. The rest will come. We can't wait to meet you!