An innovative, residency-based, interprofessional faculty development program.

Abstract

The impact of an interprofessional faculty development fellowship (FDF) on pharmacy graduates' careers is described. The FDF instructional approach is a longitudinal acquisition and application of knowledge, skills, and attitudes fostered by clinical care delivery, teaching experiences, structured reflection, the giving and receiving of feedback, research and scholarly projects, and leadership development and exercises. Interprofessional FDF fellows teach, learn, and provide care together in both inpatient and outpatient clinical settings as a part of the evidence-based medicine curriculum, providing educational sessions for medical students, pharmacy students, medical residents, attending family medicine physicians, and clinical pharmacy faculty throughout the year. Twenty-seven of the 30 pharmacist graduates of the fellowship (90% response rate) responded to an electronic survey about the influence of the FDF on their careers. Overall, pharmacy graduates were very satisfied with the fellowship. The fellowship fostered a clear pattern of continued, collaborative learning. While additional training beyond a pharmacy residency program is not necessary for a successful clinical career, 41% of graduates pursued additional training after completing the fellowship. Open-ended responses for motivations for completing the FDF and influences the FDF had on their careers fell unforced into the FDF curriculum domains, which reinforced the belief that these are the right areas to target for development. Pharmacy residents participated in a broad, interprofessional faculty development curriculum, which fostered teaching, scholarship, leadership, professional development, and clinical skills. Pharmacist graduates indicated that the experience significantly influenced their careers and professional development.