Department website: https://www.pcom.edu/academics/programs-and-degrees/doctor-of-pharmacy/

Philosophy

The PCOM School of Pharmacy curriculum emphasizes patient centered care, a model consistent with the applied emphasis of PCOM’s graduate and medical programs. PCOM School of Pharmacy (SOP) is dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of diverse communities in society by training students to become collaborative healthcare team members, advocates and leaders in pharmacy. The SOP achieves its mission through advancement of contemporary pharmacy practice, interprofessional education, patient-centered care, innovative research, commitment to service, and lifelong personal and professional development. The program also responds to the need for pharmacists in the nation, the state of Georgia and the southeastern region. The program educates pharmacists who prepare and provide drug products and assume responsibility for the rational use of drugs by contributing to the design, implementation, monitoring and modification of therapeutic plans that will achieve defined goals and improve therapeutic outcomes.

School of Pharmacy Goals

The PCOM School of Pharmacy defines operational goals to achieve its Mission through the following metrics of success:

1. Attraction and recruitment of student learners with the commitment and capability to advance the profession of pharmacy
2. On-time graduation of learners enrolled in the PharmD program
3. Graduates are employed in the field of their choice immediately upon graduation
4. Faculty and staff are committed and motivated to the success of PCOM
5. Continued growth of community partnerships with the capacity for shared contributions in human health and wellness
6. Evidence of leadership and innovation in the advancement of the pharmacy profession and human health
7. Graduates are engaged alumni and leaders of the pharmacy profession who would choose PCOM again

Graduate–Level Educational Outcomes (GLOs)

The PCOM School of Pharmacy curriculum has been designed to prepare students with the knowledge, skills and values for successful careers in an expanding healthcare environment. Specific outcomes of the curriculum are:

Foundations for Practice

• Foundational Knowledge – Integrate, and apply knowledge from biomedical, pharmaceutical, social/behavioral/administrative, and clinical sciences to evaluate scientific literature, explain drug action, solve therapeutic problems, and advance population health and patient-centered care.
• Self-Directed Learner – Take initiative in diagnosing learning needs, formulating learning goals, identifying resources for learning, choosing appropriate learning approaches, and evaluating learning outcomes as part of a personal program of continuous professional development.

Practice Essentials

• Patient-Centered Care – Provide patient-centered care as the medication expert.
• Medication-Use Systems Management – Manage patient healthcare needs to optimize the safety and efficacy of medication use systems.
• Health and Wellness – Design prevention, intervention, and educational strategies for individuals and communities to manage chronic disease and improve health and wellness.
• Population-Based Care – Describe how population-based care influences patient-centered care and influences the development of practice guidelines and evidence-based best practices.
• Evidence-Based Pharmacy Practice – Integrate evidence-based medicine principles by valuing input from patients, families and communities.

Practice Approach

• Problem Solving – Identify problems; explore and prioritize potential strategies; and design, implement, and evaluate a viable solution.
• Educator – Educate all audiences by determining the most effective and enduring ways to impart information and assess understanding.
• Patient Advocacy – Assure that patients’ best interests are represented.
• Interprofessional Collaboration – Actively participate and engage as a healthcare team member by demonstrating mutual respect, understanding, and values to meet patient care needs.
• Cultural Sensitivity – Recognize social determinants of health to diminish disparities and inequities in access to quality care.
• Communication – Effectively communicate verbally, nonverbally and paraverbally when interacting with an individual, group, or organization.

Self Development

• Self-Awareness – Examine and reflect on personal knowledge, skills, abilities, beliefs, motivation, biases, and emotions that could enhance or limit personal and professional growth.
• Leadership – Demonstrate responsibility for creating and achieving shared goals, regardless of position.
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship – Engage in innovative activities by using creative thinking to envision better ways of accomplishing professional goals.
• Professionalism – Exhibit behaviors and values consistent with the trust given to the profession by patients, healthcare providers, and society.

Our program incorporates active learning, interdisciplinary education and problem solving skills, affording our students the ability to practice in an ever-changing and lifelong learning profession. Students will also be exposed to and encouraged to gain specialized training in residency or fellowship programs to prepare them for careers in other areas such as specialized clinical practice, research, pharmaceutical industry or academia.