Report of the 2014-2016 AACP Research and Graduate Affairs Committee

Abstract

INTRODUCTION The Research and Graduate Affairs Committee (RGAC) was charged in 2014-2015 with an important and timely charge from President Patricia Chase. The members of the RGAC were assigned to develop a report recommending a competency-based yet practical model of graduate education and post-graduate education (including postdoctoral training both basic and clinical) applicable to the diversity of programs offered by the colleges and schools of pharmacy. Examination of accessibility, affordability and accountability of graduate and research education has been addressed by this talented and committed group of dedicated committee members. Under the leadership of Natalie Eddington (Chair), the RGAC received an extended appointment and all members agreed to continue their service. This group was charged by President Cynthia Boyle to complete the original charges, advise the new chief science officer (Joan Lakoski), participate in AACP strategic planning to develop future goals for research and graduate education, and provide evaluation and feedback on the newly formed Academic Research Fellows Program (review of the initial two cohorts; 2013-2014 and 2014-2015). The RGAC met twice in person and by conference calls throughout the duration of the appointment. BAKCGROUND: GRADUATE EDUCATION IN ACADEMIC PHARMACY Review and discussion of competency-based models of graduate education began in the fall of 2014 and has continued throughout the second year of the RGAC activities. Following an intense yet productive discussion at the November 2015 committee meeting, the decision was made to collect additional information on the current issues facing graduate education in the colleges and schools of pharmacy via two formats, including (1) focus group discussions and (2) a customized survey to the colleges and schools of pharmacy. Both the focus groups and survey were conducted to address the gaps in current knowledge of the status of graduate education, including postdoctoral training, in the academic pharmacy community; any duplication of information from existing AACP surveys was carefully avoided. Overall, the goal of this data collection effort was to provide the most current snapshot possible of the graduate education in the colleges and schools of pharmacy to inform the work of the RGAC and the pharmacy schools engaged in training the next generation of researchers. Graduate Education Focus Group Discussions The focus groups were held during the AACP Interim Meeting in February 2016 (Tampa, FL). Due to the substantial interest in this topic, three separate focus groups were held with the same series of questions presented to each group (see Appendix 1 for AACP 2016 Research and Graduate Affairs Focus Group Questions). A total of 36 individuals participated in three focus group discussions and representing 36 colleges and schools of pharmacy. The focus group questions were designed to provide a qualitative picture of the opportunities and challenges facing the participants, most of whom had responsibilities for oversight and stewardship of graduate (predoctoral) and postdoctoral education that span training for research in basic, clinical and translational settings. The RGAC is most grateful to the individuals who took time to participate in a focus group as these discussions were most helpful in providing important illustrations of the challenges facing each of the participants. Graduate and Postdoctoral Education Survey The RGAC also developed a series of questions to gain quantitative data on the current status of graduate and postdoctoral education and training; all colleges and schools of pharmacy were invited to participate in this web-based survey conducted in March 2016. The survey questions were carefully developed by the RGAC on the themes of accessibility, affordability and accountability (see Appendix 2 for AACP 2016 Research and Graduate Affairs Survey Questions). …