PharmD Students Explore the Role of ChatGPT in Pharmacy Education

Students at the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy are contributing to the ongoing conversations about artificial intelligence in health professions education. A student-led research project focused on the use of ChatGPT as a study tool for pharmacy students and created a research poster outlining their process, results, and conclusion.

The poster, “Assessing ChatGPT’s Ability to Assist PharmD Students in Studying for Therapeutic Exams,” was created by current third-year PharmD students Gabby Selvia, Gabby Young, Brenda Mata, and Harry Tran. The project was completed with guidance from their faculty advisors, Christopher Edwards, PharmD, and Bernadette Cornelison, PharmD, with contributions from Interim Dean Brian Erstad, PharmD.

“It was an absolute pleasure to work with this group of students on this project,” said Edwards. “Having such a strong group of students made the results of this project that much more meaningful, and I hope they carry the skills they gained into their future careers and continue pursuing innovative research.”

The project began as a research proposal written in a Coit College of Pharmacy course last spring. Over the summer, the students conducted data collection, followed by analysis and poster development throughout the fall semester. The students’ work examined how generated pharmacotherapy questions from ChatGPT might be interpreted and used by students compared to faculty, with a broader goal of understanding the strengths and limitations of using artificial intelligence while studying in pharmacy education.

Through the project, the student researchers gained valuable insight into how technologies like ChatGPT can support learning while also presenting challenges. While AI-generated content can be a helpful tool, the project emphasized the importance of applying clinical judgement, foundational knowledge, and critical thinking when using these tools for exam preparation. As was apparent from the research published last August by Edwards, Cornelison, and Erstad on how ChatGPT compared in exam results with pharmacy students. They found ChatGPT 3.5 was less likely to correctly answer questions on therapeutics exams focused on clinical applications and cases. Further supporting that relying too much on the technology could hamper the development of needed reasoning and critical thinking skills in students.

Selvia, Young, and Mata presented the poster at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) 2025 Midyear Clinical Meeting in Las Vegas. The poster attracted strong interest from attendees and sparked thoughtful discussions about artificial intelligence, student learning, and the role of technology in pharmacy education.

The next steps for the project include developing a manuscript for submission to a peer-reviewed journal. The team hopes their work will contribute to a balanced and informed approach to incorporating artificial intelligence into pharmacy practice, reinforcing that while innovative tools can enhance learning, they are most effective when paired with clinical expertise and strong educational guidance.

Projects such as these highlight the College of Pharmacy’s commitment to student-led research and preparing future pharmacists to engage critically with emerging technologies in healthcare and education. Cornelison shared, “This group of students has been a joy to work with, and I am incredibly proud of what they accomplished with this project and their presentation at ASHP Midyear.” She added, “As an educator, what I found most meaningful was the opportunity to compare students’ evaluation of generative AI output with that of clinical educators. The findings reinforce an important message I share with my students: AI can be a helpful tool, but developing your own expertise is essential in order to critically evaluate what ‘Dr. AI’ provides.”

Q & A with the team

How did attending ASHP Midyear enhance your overall understanding of the pharmacy profession?

• When we first arrived at the conference, we were astounded by how enormous it was. But once we learned how to navigate the event, we were able to enjoy some of the presentations and discussion sessions offered. We also had the chance to engage with other students and pharmacists. Overall, the conference gave us a sense of unity in the pharmacy world.
   

What is one key takeaway you would share with a fellow student who did not attend the conference?

• One key takeaway from the conference was the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone to network with others. Pharmacy is a small world and, through networking, you can meet professionals who may help you to further your career or ability to explore other opportunities.
   

How did engaging with conference attendees during your poster session impact your confidence as a pharmacy student?

• Engaging with attendees during our poster presentation was a very rewarding experience. Presenting at such a large conference can be very nerve-wracking, and we had the opportunity to engage with several different attendees throughout our poster session. Doing this presentation helped build our confidence individually and as a group.
   

How did the poster presentation experience help you grow professionally?

• Having the opportunity to present our poster at ASHP’s Midyear conference was a great experience. It enabled us to engage in one-on-one conversations with students, pharmacists, and pharmacy educators around the country. By the end of the poster session, we all felt more confident in our ability to present our research and conduct ourselves professionally at such a large meeting.
   

In what ways did presenting a poster at ASHP Midyear influence how you view your role as a future pharmacist?

• Presenting our poster during the ASHP Midyear conference had a great impact on our group. We had the opportunity to answer questions and talk about our project with other students and pharmacists who work in different practice settings. It was great hearing about the way they experience and practice pharmacy.