AACP Strategic Engagement Committee Report: Report of the 2022–2023 Strategic Engagement Standing Committee

Abstract

The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy recognizes strategic engagement as critical to the success of pharmacy education, contributing to the expansion of pharmacy and public health practice, the fulfillment of institutional missions, and the meeting of programmatic needs. The 2022-2023 Strategic Engagement Committee or the Committee was charged with identifying ways professional advocacy is being emphasized in Doctor of Pharmacy and graduate education curricula to optimize active student engagement and share new resources for the ongoing resource guide being developed by the association. The Committee was also tasked with identifying advocacy champions at each member institution, integrating them into the work of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Policy Advisory Task Force, and identifying strong advocacy partnerships between colleges and schools of pharmacy and state pharmacy organizations that can be replicated to advance the legislative or regulatory priorities of the profession. The Committee conducted a 2-part, sequential advocacy survey to identify advocacy champions at member institutions and to gain better insight into the breadth and depth of current advocacy efforts within pharmacy programs. The Committee also developed suggestions for the advocacy activities that should be required in pharmacy curricula, as well as exemplary activities identified through surveying advocacy champions.