University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

It’s a very exciting time of year when we welcome our new and returning students. I would like to update our readers about some of Philadelphia College of Pharmacy’s major accomplishments and initiatives during the last year.

Accreditation
The Philadelphia College of Pharmacy (PCP) faculty, administrators, and staff embarked on a two-year self-study process to evaluate the doctor of pharmacy’s compliance with the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) standards. In March of 2009, PCP hosted a three-day onsite review by the ACPE Evaluation Team. In addition to the extensive self-study report, the onsite visit consisted of numerous interviews with students, faculty, staff, administrators, and preceptors. In June of 2009, the PCP doctor of pharmacy received notification of continued accreditation by the ACPE Board. I sincerely want to thank everyone for their time and efforts for this accreditation review.

New Curriculum
In Fall 2006, PCP began implementing the new doctor of pharmacy curriculum. With the focus on learner-centered teaching, the faculty are excited to continue the implementation of the new curriculum. This fall, a new integrated pharmacology and therapeutics sequence will begin for the students in the second professional year of the program. The design and implementation of the 12 courses involved in the integrated sequence is led by Dr. Karen Tietze and faculty from both the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Department of Pharmacy Practice/Pharmacy Administration.

In addition to the new didactic coursework in the new PharmD curriculum, additional introductory pharmacy practice experiences (IPPEs) are being implemented. IPPEs are coursework and experiences that introduce students to the patient care environment in community and hospital settings. In the 2009-2010 academic year, more than 700 pharmacy students from the first, second, and third professional years will be completing IPPEs at sites in the city and surrounding region, as well as the approximately 240 students completing advanced pharmacy practice experiences in the last year of the program. Dr. Steve Sheaffer is leading the experiential faculty and staff in the Department of Pharmacy Practice/Pharmacy Administration in this effort.

New Appointment
Diane W. Morel, PhD, has been appointed as interim assistant dean of curriculum and assessment of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. Dr. Morel is an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology, and director of the BS pharmacology/toxicology program. She has served as chair of the PCP Council Curriculum committee for many years and was the chair of the Subcommittee developing the curriculum section of the ACPE accreditation report. Dr. Morel will be responsible for global curricular development, pedagogical methodology, and assessment of PCP programs. She brings her commitment to student learning and her experience with academic programs to the PCP Dean’s Office. Please join with me in congratulating Dr. Morel on her new position!

PCP Honors Program
In conjunction with the University Honors Program, PCP is pleased to have 25 students in the PCP Honors Program; three students from the BS, pharmacology/toxicology program, 12 second-year undergraduate doctor of pharmacy students, and 10 first-year professional doctor of pharmacy students make up the PCP cohort. As part of the PCP Honors Program, the honors students will have select honors coursework, alumni mentors, and keynote speakers to assist in their professional and academic success. I would like to thank Dr. Karen Tietze for serving as the PCP Honors Program coordinator.

Student Communication and Representation
Input from students is recognized as valuable and essential in providing our programs. A Dean’s Student Advisory Group was initiated by Dr. Laura Mandos this year consisting of student representatives from each of the six classes of the pharmacy program. The group meets at least once per semester with the deans. Two of the student members of the Advisory Group serve as members of the newly formed PharmD Program Executive Council, a program management group consisting of deans, chairs, faculty, and students. Some of the items and issues considered by one or both of these groups included Career Services, evaluation of an online exam preparation system, and gaining student feedback on didactic and experiential courses. To improve communication with students, Angel web pages for each class were developed and meetings with each class and faculty were held each semester.

These are just a few of the achievements of the PCP programs and faculty over the last year. The faculty have also been very successful with their scholarship and research, clinical practice and service. Students and faculty are looking forward to another successful year ahead.