Prescribing Change: How A Day at Bonnaroo Influenced Future Pharmacists

Discover how two PharmD students uncovered unique insights on harm reduction and whole-person care in a music festival setting

For most attendees, the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival is a chance to enjoy performances by their favorite artists, camp under the stars and immerse themselves in a vibrant festival community. But for pharmacy students Cailey Henderson and Megan Joosse, it became an unexpected classroom for learning about harm reduction and whole-person care in non-traditional settings. 

Thanks to an invitation from Dr. Sarita Stewart of the Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business, these PharmD students had the unique opportunity to sit in on a day at Bonnaroo University, an innovative program co-founded by Stewart and Dr. Ken Spring. For the past six years, this highly anticipated summer class has offered students a backstage pass to the festival experience, combining academic rigor with real-world industry exposure.   

Staff pharmacist and Site Liaison for Experiential Education Dr. Mary Lefler recognized the potential for a unique educational experience for pharmacy students at Bonnaroo. She understood that music festivals, while primarily hubs for entertainment, also present complex health and safety challenges.  

The prevalence of substance use at such events makes them ideal settings for pharmacy students to learn about real-world harm reduction strategies. Lefler identified this environment as an opportunity for her students to adapt their skills to meet the needs of diverse populations in dynamic settings. 

“I was talking with Dr. Stewart about her experience with Bonnaroo U and I mentioned that I would love to find a way to get some of the pharmacy students involved,” Lefler said. "She immediately helped me get connected. Music and pharmacy might not seem like the most natural pairing but watching them interact and hear them ask questions of each other was really interesting. There is more common ground than you might think.” 

Learning Beyond the Classroom 

During their time on The Farm, students attended panels and interacted with representatives from This Must Be the Place, a nonprofit organization that provides free doses of Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, at music festivals across the United States. 

"We got to listen to quite a few different panels," said Henderson, a rising third-year pharmacy student. "There was a lot of discussion about how music and pharmacy can come together and how much of a need there is for harm reduction at concerts and music festivals." 

One of the key takeaways for the students was the importance of destigmatizing substance use and meeting people where they are. 

"In school, we learn about patient-centered care,” said Joosse, a third-year pharmacy student. “But at Bonnaroo, we got to speak with and get to know people in a real-world setting. Those perspectives just can’t be replicated in a classroom."  

Making a Difference Post-Bonnaroo 

The impact of this experience extends far beyond the festival grounds. The students are now preparing to present their learnings at the American Pharmacists Association national meeting in Nashville next spring. This platform will allow them to potentially influence policy and practice on a national level. 

Dr. Lefler sees this as an opportunity to showcase how pharmacists can support Music City and beyond.  

"By educating our music business students about harm reduction, we're creating a ripple effect. These future industry leaders will carry this knowledge to venues and festivals across the country, potentially saving lives wherever they go." 

As Belmont continues to emphasize whole-person care and innovative approaches to healthcare education, experiences like this exemplify how the University is preparing its students to make a meaningful impact in diverse and unexpected settings. 

"My time at Bonnaroo taught me invaluable lessons about connecting with people from all walks of life. As I look towards my future in pharmacy, I'm excited to use these communication skills to build strong relationships with my patients,” said Joosse. “The experience showed me how to meet people where they are. I'll definitely be applying these insights throughout my career, no matter which area of pharmacy I pursue."