Page 7 - RxBound Winter 2015 Extended
P. 7
By Daniel Robinson, PharmD, FASHP, Dean, College of Pharmacy
A s we strive to develop the finest pharmacy all nine health professions colleges into team-based
learning that allows students from all disciplines to learn
professionals possible, we feel that it is important
to reflect on why the Western University of Health
with, from, and about each other. Starting in the first
Sciences College of Pharmacy (WesternU) should be the
destination of choice for pharmacy education in semester at WesternU, all students begin to develop
interprofessional competencies so they will enter the
California. In fall 2014, three new California pharmacy workforce ready to practice effective teamwork and team-
schools admitted their first class of students, with an based care. Additionally, our students work with
additional two schools scheduled to open by 2016. Today’s standardized patients (actors) throughout the didactic
pharmacy school applicants have many options and they curriculum to help them master pharmacist-patient
have every right to ask, “Why WesternU?” interactions, complex problem solving, patient assessment
skills, and medication management decisions. Our
As background, in 2000, when WesternU graduated its
first class, there were approximately 7,000 pharmacy extensive use of standardized patients and Objective
graduates nationwide and 78 pharmacy schools. In 2014, Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE) is unparalleled
there were 13,392 graduates and 130 schools, representing in peer institutions.
a 91% increase in graduates. The number of pharmacy Experiential Education is a key component for our
applicants has remained relatively flat over the past five students’ overall preparation, but at WesternU, our student
years at about 17,400, but over that same time the number pharmacists go on Advanced Experiential Education
of schools admitting students has grown from 92 to 133. rotations in both their third and fourth years. This is only
Coupled with a modest drop in one of three programs in
the number of applications California that provides more
submitted per applicant, from a than one year of Advanced
high of 4.9 in 2009 to 4.65 in As the scope of practice for pharmacy Pharmacy Practice Experience
2013, it is easy to see that expands in California and nationwide, (APPE). The final 16 weeks of
competition for the most highly the program is a self-selected
qualified applicants is fierce. our leadership in preparing caring, advanced practice experience
In responding to this challenge, highly skilled, technically competent that allows each student to focus
and as the cover of this edition on one particular area of
illustrates, the College is built on pharmacists who are team-ready health practice, providing a mini-
19 years of academic curricular care professionals will differentiate the residency type of experience
innovation that has resulted in culminating in a poster, paper or
consistently high passing rates on WesternU graduate from all others. business plan suitable for a
state and national board exams. national audience.
These impressive results are due In the fourth year, students
in part to some of the innovative and unique didactic participate in a week-long “Pharmacist-In-Charge”
aspects of the PharmD program at WesternU. The Block training program that prepares them for the pharmacy
System Curriculum, which was originally developed at management setting. This experience is highly valued by
WesternU, allows students to be immersed in single course many pharmacy employers and corporate partners for its
for 15 to 18 days (3 – 3½ weeks), with a 2 to 3 day break excellent management preparation; and it is offered only at
between blocks. This total immersion in a therapeutic WesternU.
theme allows students to achieve mastery in one area WesternU is a graduate health professions university that is
before moving on to the next. Each subsequent block steeped in the traditions of science, caring and humanism.
provides integration with previous material so that Thanks to our exceptional faculty and our dedicated staff,
learning is cumulative and not episodic. Our classroom-in- we provide an academic experience that is truly on the
the-round design provides a student-centered active cutting edge of health professions education. As the scope
learning environment that facilitates open discussions, of practice for pharmacy expands in California and
student presentations, and a high level of interaction nationwide, our leadership in preparing caring, highly
between faculty and students. Team-based collaborative skilled, technically competent pharmacists who are team-
learning is promoted in adjacent break-out rooms.
ready health care professionals will differentiate the
WesternU is a national leader in Interprofessional WesternU graduate from all others. As a final litmus test,
Education (IPE), an instructional program that integrates ask one of our 1,000+ alumni, Why WesternU?
WesternU, College of Pharmacy 5
A s we strive to develop the finest pharmacy all nine health professions colleges into team-based
learning that allows students from all disciplines to learn
professionals possible, we feel that it is important
to reflect on why the Western University of Health
with, from, and about each other. Starting in the first
Sciences College of Pharmacy (WesternU) should be the
destination of choice for pharmacy education in semester at WesternU, all students begin to develop
interprofessional competencies so they will enter the
California. In fall 2014, three new California pharmacy workforce ready to practice effective teamwork and team-
schools admitted their first class of students, with an based care. Additionally, our students work with
additional two schools scheduled to open by 2016. Today’s standardized patients (actors) throughout the didactic
pharmacy school applicants have many options and they curriculum to help them master pharmacist-patient
have every right to ask, “Why WesternU?” interactions, complex problem solving, patient assessment
skills, and medication management decisions. Our
As background, in 2000, when WesternU graduated its
first class, there were approximately 7,000 pharmacy extensive use of standardized patients and Objective
graduates nationwide and 78 pharmacy schools. In 2014, Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE) is unparalleled
there were 13,392 graduates and 130 schools, representing in peer institutions.
a 91% increase in graduates. The number of pharmacy Experiential Education is a key component for our
applicants has remained relatively flat over the past five students’ overall preparation, but at WesternU, our student
years at about 17,400, but over that same time the number pharmacists go on Advanced Experiential Education
of schools admitting students has grown from 92 to 133. rotations in both their third and fourth years. This is only
Coupled with a modest drop in one of three programs in
the number of applications California that provides more
submitted per applicant, from a than one year of Advanced
high of 4.9 in 2009 to 4.65 in As the scope of practice for pharmacy Pharmacy Practice Experience
2013, it is easy to see that expands in California and nationwide, (APPE). The final 16 weeks of
competition for the most highly the program is a self-selected
qualified applicants is fierce. our leadership in preparing caring, advanced practice experience
In responding to this challenge, highly skilled, technically competent that allows each student to focus
and as the cover of this edition on one particular area of
illustrates, the College is built on pharmacists who are team-ready health practice, providing a mini-
19 years of academic curricular care professionals will differentiate the residency type of experience
innovation that has resulted in culminating in a poster, paper or
consistently high passing rates on WesternU graduate from all others. business plan suitable for a
state and national board exams. national audience.
These impressive results are due In the fourth year, students
in part to some of the innovative and unique didactic participate in a week-long “Pharmacist-In-Charge”
aspects of the PharmD program at WesternU. The Block training program that prepares them for the pharmacy
System Curriculum, which was originally developed at management setting. This experience is highly valued by
WesternU, allows students to be immersed in single course many pharmacy employers and corporate partners for its
for 15 to 18 days (3 – 3½ weeks), with a 2 to 3 day break excellent management preparation; and it is offered only at
between blocks. This total immersion in a therapeutic WesternU.
theme allows students to achieve mastery in one area WesternU is a graduate health professions university that is
before moving on to the next. Each subsequent block steeped in the traditions of science, caring and humanism.
provides integration with previous material so that Thanks to our exceptional faculty and our dedicated staff,
learning is cumulative and not episodic. Our classroom-in- we provide an academic experience that is truly on the
the-round design provides a student-centered active cutting edge of health professions education. As the scope
learning environment that facilitates open discussions, of practice for pharmacy expands in California and
student presentations, and a high level of interaction nationwide, our leadership in preparing caring, highly
between faculty and students. Team-based collaborative skilled, technically competent pharmacists who are team-
learning is promoted in adjacent break-out rooms.
ready health care professionals will differentiate the
WesternU is a national leader in Interprofessional WesternU graduate from all others. As a final litmus test,
Education (IPE), an instructional program that integrates ask one of our 1,000+ alumni, Why WesternU?
WesternU, College of Pharmacy 5
