Vision 20/20: Expanding Pharmacy's Educational Horizons

Abstract

Last year, President Yanchick challenged us to Think Off the Map. Like many of you, my career has largely focused on doing just that. In my case, it involved helping to define and improve pediatric pharmacotherapy practice and education and in addressing the issues of substance abuse education and assistance. I was part of what many considered a radical group of thought leaders who developed the entry-level PharmD program at the University of Nebraska in 1976. Along the way, I have found that questioning convention and challenging faculty members and students to become agents of change is vital to our ongoing growth and development. I am pleased and excited to lead AACP and use this national platform to continue the development and implementation of key priorities. Those of you who know me know that a passion I have is how we educate our students and practitioners about substance abuse and provide prevention services and assistance to those who are impaired. I recently attended a Citizen Advocacy Center conference in San Francisco, which reminded all participants that our core responsibility is protecting the public from harm caused by health professionals impaired by substance abuse. This is a challenging and complicated issue that local, state, and national organizations all struggle to address adequately. This year, I am appointing a Special Committee on Substance Abuse to be chaired by Dr. Paul Jungnickel. This Committee will be charged to examine and recommend how pharmacy colleges should prepare all pharmacy students to appropriately assist those who are addicted or affected by others' addiction and help support addiction recovery with an emphasis on public safety. The Committee is directed to include recommendations on core curricular content and delivery, both for pharmacy students and continuing education for pharmacists, and of prevention and assistance processes within our colleges. I believe the time is right for us to think boldly about the future of pharmacy. I have chosen as my presidential theme 20/20 Vision: Expanding Pharmacy's Educational Horizons. I will use Initiatives X, Y, and as a planning model for the Association in keeping with President Yanchick's very successful reintroduction of this model during the past year. To bring this vision and our priorities into proper focus, I will describe 3 major initiatives that we will pursue. In the coming year Issues will be faculty recruitment and retention and assessment services; Issue Y will be the maturation of globalization of pharmacy education; and Issue X will be maximizing pharmacists' contributions to primary care. Victor Yanchick reported on the excellent progress we have made in the areas of faculty development, assessment, and global alliance development. Initiatives Z were introduced by Past-President Cynthia Raehl. The faculty development component addresses our long-standing concern of the faculty shortage and from where the next generation of well-qualified faculty members will come. This is an issue that will continue to face us in the years ahead. To this end, in the coming year we will see American Pharmacy Educators Week come to fruition in this important area. I am directing the Association to continue the other important work, including the joint taskforce with the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists, American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education, and American Pharmacists Association's Academy of Pharmaceutical Research and Science. The Association will also continue our exhibit programs at key national meetings. Reports of the success of college career fair booths promoting pharmacy as a career, where materials supplied by AACP have been utilized as promotional materials, are encouraging. I direct AACP to continue to actively encourage such academic detailing by member colleges. Dr. Yanchick also described our efforts during the past year to champion the development of the Global Alliance for Pharmaceutical Education. …