The PharmD accreditation standards emphasize co-curricular learning, or the professional experiences outside of course requirements. Co-curricular learning provides students with opportunities to develop as leaders, collaborators, and pharmacy professionals. This year, the UW-Madison School of Pharmacy (UW-SOP) assessment team implemented the Student Organization Learning Goal Report. Each UW-SOP student organization mapped their programs to the co-curricular learning outcomes, and described how they measure the success of these programs. Here are some highlights from these reports:
- Communicating in Various Settings. Communication was highly relevant to student organizations because many events connect students to new audiences. Students can lead group discussions, network with upperclassmen or alumni, or collaborate on writing a business plan for a national competition. Student organization members often gain experience with writing for newsletters and managing social media accounts.
- Educating the Community. Student organizations promote the role of a pharmacist at several health fairs and screenings. From medicine safety for an audience of children, to healthy aging members develop presentations that meet the needs of each group.
- Developing as Leaders. The PharmD accreditation standards define leadership as taking shared responsibility for developing and achieving goals. Joining a UW SOP student organization provides this kind of experience right from the start, as many of them have each member serve on a project/event committee. Pharmacy students can also further develop their leadership expertise through the leadership development and recognition programs that some organizations offer.
- Exhibiting Professionalism. Above and beyond students’ experiential education, student organizations create opportunities to engage in pharmacy practice. Students can consult with patients through one organization’s comprehensive medication review program, conduct health screenings throughout the community, or search and evaluate the health sciences literature in a team competition with their peers.
- Promoting Cultural Sensitivity. How does the social context affect people’s access to healthcare? In reflecting on this question, many student organizations do their part through community service projects. Workshops sponsored by student organizations encourage students to learn about healthcare disparities among underrepresented groups (e.g., LGBT) and discuss how they can address these needs.
- Collaborating Interprofessionally. The School of Pharmacy’s student organizations emphasized an interprofessional education in planning the 2015 Kremer’s lecture. Being a part of the medical campus creates various interprofessional opportunities for student organizations. They often collaborate on different kinds of healthcare screenings and providing healthcare to the underserved through MEDiC. Outside the patient care setting, UW student organizations with common goals often work together on social events and service projects.
These are just some examples of the excellent learning opportunities that students have outside the classroom. Each organization contributes in a unique and meaningful pharmacy education opportunities. Special thanks to the student organization representatives for completing their reports.