Creation of a pharmacy leadership certificate program for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians using an innovative, low-cost framework.

Abstract

To describe the creation of a statewide leadership training program for practicing pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. The 2 overarching goals were to (1) enable learners to develop foundational leadership skills that could be used at their place of work or would enable them to take on a new or advanced role and (2) help foster sustainability within our state pharmacy society through incorporation of the learners on committees and projects, bringing awareness to board member roles and functions. Overall, the program's mission was to empower practicing pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to take on leadership roles within their organization and the state pharmacy society. Leadership training for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians can be variable, elusive, and costly. We provide our experiences in establishing a 1-year leadership certificate program affiliated with the state pharmacy society. In the first 4 years, a total of 15 program fellows have graduated, with 8 more set to finish in September 2022. Since completion of the program, a majority of the graduates have taken on new leadership positions (65% have accepted new leadership positions and 35% have been elected to state pharmacy society board positions). Implementation of a statewide pharmacy leadership program provided a low-cost, high-value option to develop local leaders, in affiliation with a state pharmacy society.