Pharmacy Practice

This course introduces basic biotechnology and pharmacogenomic concepts, laboratory values, pediatric and geriatric populations, renal function measurement, and a review of the functional groups found in drug molecules and their properties. Intersplicing these disciplines mimics what occurs in the Integrated Sequence courses. Key to your success is learning the language/terminology associated with biotechnology, pharmacogenomics, pharmacotherapeutics, and medicinal chemistry and applying that knowledge to the drugs and disease states presented in the integrated sequence courses.

This course provides an opportunity for PS-I, PS-II, and PS-III students to work with individual faculty mentors on projects of variable scope. Included activities could be library, laboratory, and/or survey-type research; assistance with syllabus development of future elective courses; or other activities agreed on between the student and mentor and approved by the appropriate department chair. 

The course emphasizes the skills and knowledge necessary to perform well in an acute care general medicine setting. The student will practice problem based learning in a team learning environment to devise appropriate therapeutic plans for disease states and clinical controversies commonly encountered in acute care practice. Instructors will utilize patient cases and interactive teaching methods.

This course introduces students to issues associated with the provision of veterinary-focused pharmacy services. It provides a foundation for pharmacists interested in providing care for species other than humans. Pharmacology, unique physiologic and pharmacokinetic differences will be emphasized. Management and prevention of common diseases will be discussed.

This course focuses on issues related to the treatment and care of pediatric patients. By following mock patients from birth through their adolescence, the elective is designed to introduce the students to common illnesses, drug delivery systems used for pediatric patients, and current controversies in pediatric care. Students have the opportunity to select topics of intent that will be covered in a portion of the course.

This elective concentrates on specific issues related to the optimal delivery of women's health care. Topics covered include sex related differences in treating women, wellness and prevention over the female life span, diseases uniquely affecting women, and pharmacotherapy and psychosocial aspects of women's health. Interactive lectures, group projects, and workshops will educate students about practical considerations in the health care of women. Community service will be encouraged.

This course will focus on advanced topics in the management of diabetes. Students will have the opportunity to practice application of the material through patient cases and hands-on experiences. Topics discussed will include a review of the classifications and diagnosis of diabetes, non-insulin and insulin therapies, cardiovascular outcomes trials and updates in primary literature, complications of diabetes, and a review of the devices available in the management of diabetes.

This course expands students' knowledge and skills in area of infectious diseases and antimicrobial pharmacotherapy. A case-based approach will be utilized to foster an interactive learning experience. Students will build upon their current knowledge of infectious diseases and antimicrobials through case-related discussions and debates utilizing current guidelines, evidence-based primary literature, institutional policies and procedures, and expert opinions from guest facilitators.

This course will enable students to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to provide comprehensive tobacco cessation counseling to patients who use tobacco. Topics of emphasis include epidemiology of tobacco use, principles of addition, methods of assisting patients with quitting, and available tobacco cessation products.

Students enhance their patient care skills by examining the relationship between spirituality and health, learn the role of spirituality and religion in health care, and examine issues related to the interaction between spiritual outlook and compliance with medical treatment. Faculty and expert guest presenters lead discussions on how belief systems affect patients' perception of health, necessary spiritual considerations in patient care, therapeutic dilemmas produced by spiritual beliefs, and resources available to the health care team.

Epidemiologic methods are increasingly used for questions not easily found answered through traditional clinical research pathways (e.g., randomized trials). Given health care's emphasis on evidence-based practice and population-based care, a firm understanding of epidemiologic principles is necessary for health care professionals. This course will introduce students to the population-oriented approach of epidemiology and its application to examining the use and effects of medications, as well as practice evaluation.

This course will explore anticoagulation in both the inpatient and outpatient settings through lecture, patient cases, and hands-on experiences. Students will develop a working knowledge and skill set required to provide pharmacy-managed anticoagulation services. Topics will include a review of currently available oral and parenteral anticoagulants as well as those in the pipeline, consideration in anticoagulation for special populations, and advanced therapeutic issues.

This course reviews cardiovascular diseases for those students interested in cardiology. New topics (e.g. valvular disease) will be introduced, and previous topics discussed in required courses will be further augmented. Topics will focus on diagnostics and procedures, cardiovascular pharmacotherapy, and the role of the cardiology pharmacist. Active learning strategies and high-fidelity simulations are highly employed.

This course will help students develop the skills necessary to analyze data, interpret the results of those analyses, and produce meaningful reports based on those analyses. Statistical techniques related to describing and visualizing data, comparing means, nonparametric tests, categorical data analysis, and regression modeling procedures will be presented in the course. Students will also be introduced to basic principles of data management, such as data file preparation, data manipulation, and recoding.

This course focuses on reviewing the clinical trial data that support therapeutic recommendations in ambulatory care. Students in this course critically evaluate clinical trials to reinforce skills in interpreting clinical trial data, practice applying the data to patient cases to support therapeutic recommendations, and identifying the rationale for current therapeutic guidelines.

This elective course will include updates in clinical guidelines that have been released since presented in the required curriculum. It will also delve into therapeutic topics that are beyond those presented in the Integrated Sequence. Finally, the course will explore hot topics presenting opportunities and challenges in pharmacy practice. 

This course is offered in conjunction with the annual AMCP Foundation Pharmacy and Therapeutics Competition. Using the AMCP formulary dossier format and a drug selected annually by AMCP, students prepare a drug monograph, develop an economic model and make a formulary recommendation for this designated drug for a simulated health plan. Students work in teams of four and present their recommendations to a judging panel. The top scoring team progress to the national competition.

Post-graduate pharmacy residency programs are highly valuable and are becoming increasingly competitive.  This elective course provides guidance on the residency selection decision process, curriculum vita (CV) development, creation of a strong letter of intent and interviewing skills. Students will learn and apply how to incorporate experiences from their didactic, experiential, and co-curricular education into their residency application and interview.  To meet the learning objectives, students will complete interactive written and verbal activities to demonstrate knowledge, skills, and abilities.  Achievement of learning objectives will be evaluated by assessment rubrics tailored to each activity. Must be PS-2 status to enroll.

In this course sequence, students will develop knowledge and skills necessary for the practice of pharmacy through lectures, workshop, simulation, self-assessment, and self-study. Using principles of patient assessment, physical assessment, medication administration, and knowledge of drug therapy and devices, these courses develop skills in communication and optimization of drug therapy through the steps of the pharmacists' patient care process.

In this course sequence, students will develop knowledge and skills necessary for the practice of pharmacy through lectures, workshop, simulation, self-assessment, and self-study. Using principles of patient assessment, physical assessment, medication administration, and knowledge of drug therapy and devices, these courses develop skills in communication and optimization of drug therapy through the steps of the pharmacists' patient care process.

In this course sequence, students will develop knowledge and skills necessary for the practice of pharmacy through lectures, workshop, simulation, self-assessment, and self-study. Using principles of patient assessment, physical assessment, medication administration, and knowledge of drug therapy and devices, these courses develop skills in communication and optimization of drug therapy through the steps of the pharmacists' patient care process.

This four-course sequence is designed to help students develop the knowledge and skills necessary to maximize patient and population health outcomes through the management of pharmacy services and promotion of optimal medication use. Students will participate in hands-on activities and complete projects related to literature evaluation, pharmacy service development, practice evaluation, and quality improvement.

This four-course sequence is designed to help students develop the knowledge and skills necessary to maximize patient and population health outcomes through the management of pharmacy services and promotion of optimal medication use. Students will participate in hands-on activities and complete projects related to literature evaluation, pharmacy service development, practice evaluation, and quality improvement.

This four-course sequence is designed to help students develop the knowledge and skills necessary to maximize patient and population health outcomes through the management of pharmacy services and promotion of optimal medication use. Students will participate in hands-on activities and complete projects related to literature evaluation, pharmacy service development, practice evaluation, and quality improvement.

In this course sequence, students will develop knowledge and skills necessary for the practice of pharmacy through lectures, workshop, simulation, self-assessment, and self-study. Using principles of patient assessment, physical assessment, medication administration, and knowledge of drug therapy and devices, these courses develop skills in communication and optimization of drug therapy through the steps of the pharmacists' patient care process.

In this course sequence, students will develop knowledge and skills necessary for the practice of pharmacy through lectures, workshop, simulation, self-assessment, and self-study. Using principles of patient assessment, physical assessment, medication administration, and knowledge of drug therapy and devices, these courses develop skills in communication and optimization of drug therapy through the steps of the pharmacists' patient care process.

In this course sequence, students will develop knowledge and skills necessary for the practice of pharmacy through lectures, workshop, simulation, self-assessment, and self-study. Using principles of patient assessment, physical assessment, medication administration, and knowledge of drug therapy and devices, these courses develop skills in communication and optimization of drug therapy through the steps of the pharmacists' patient care process.

This course focuses on the application of pharmacokinetic principles for the purpose of optimizing drug therapy. Lectures and workshops are used to teach the following principles: effects of disease and drug-drug interactions on pharmacokinetic parameters, initial loading and maintenance dosage regimen calculations, dosage adjustment for linear and nonlinear drugs, interplay between pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, effects of extracorporeal elimination, and interpretation of serum drug concentrations.

In this course sequence, students will develop knowledge and skills necessary for the practice of pharmacy through lectures, workshop, simulation, self-assessment, and self-study. Using principles of patient assessment, physical assessment, medication administration, and knowledge of drug therapy and devices, these courses develop skills in communication and optimization of drug therapy through the steps of the pharmacists' patient care process.

This course reviews pharmacy-related concepts and clinical reasoning skills to prepare them to be successful, competent pharmacists that are able to contribute meaningfully to the profession. Topics covered will systematically address the NAPLEX® Competency Statements: Obtain, Interpret, or Assess Data, Medical, or Patient Information; Identify Drug Characteristics; Develop or Manage Treatment Plans; Perform Calculations; Compound, Dispense, or Administer Drugs, or Manage Delivery Systems; Develop or Manage Practice or Medication-Use Systems to Ensure Safety and Quality.

This practice experience will enable students to develop their skills and gain experience related to ambulatory care practice. Emphasis will be placed on participating in an interprofessional healthcare team, drug therapy assessment and intervention, patient care activities, and monitoring of outcomes in various patient populations. In addition, students will participate in drug therapy interventions, identify drug related problems, develop therapeutic care plans, and effectively communicate with patients and other healthcare professionals.