Pre-Matriculation and Bridging Programs in Health Professions Education to Support Student Success

A decreasing Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) applicant pool has occurred as an increasing need for representative healthcare providers has emerged. Although changing admissions and recruitment practices have opened the door for additional students to become successful pharmacists, so has the potential for admitting learners with lower levels of academic preparedness. Thus, many institutions have implemented programs to meet students where they are and bridge prerequisite experiences and abilities to the rigor and expectations that are necessary for success in health professions education.

This Narrative Review examines published literature on pre-matriculation and bridging programs in pharmacy, medicine, and nursing education. Articles describing programmatic and educational strategies related to pre-matriculation preparation, bridging, orientations, or readiness boot camps were examined. A total of 25 studies were evaluated, describing programs that varied from one day to three years, occurring primarily over the summer. Findings were compiled into a data summary matrix describing format, duration, and topics covered. A present/future perspective was used to summarize and discuss program design and application strategies from multiple health professions educational programs. In turn, successful approaches and suggestions for preparing students for their first year of professional school and beyond are included.

Methodologies and approaches from the pharmacy, medicine, and nursing education literature are examined and can be used to identify successful strategies that can be replicated across disciplines and institutions. Challenges, opportunities, and differences between program structures are discussed, as are guidance for application in PharmD educational programs and opportunities for future research.