The Dean, Howard University College of Pharmacy, Washington DC, Professor Toyin Tofade, has highlighted the merits of incorporating Interprofessional Education (IPE) into the US PharmD Curriculum.
Prof. Tofade made the submission at the just conclude 2018 Annual Scientific Conference and Exposition of the Nigerian Association of Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Scientists in the Americas (NAPPSA), held in North Carolina, United States, recently.
Delivering her keynote address titled: “Incorporation of Interprofessional Education (IPE) in the US PharmD”, she explained that this is key in bridging relationship gaps between pharmacists and other healthcare professionals, as well as grounding the knowledge of pharmacists in public health.
For better understanding of the topic, she cited the WHO definition of Interprofessional Education, as what “Occurs when two or more professions (students, residents and health workers) learn with, about, and from each other to enable effective collaboration and improve health outcomes.”
The Don, who noted that the merits of the process far outweighs the demerits, listed some of the advantages of incorporating Education (IPE) in the US PharmD to include: Improves health, creates support systems, using of different practice models, encourages learning together, enhances collaboration, reduces costs, engages communities, patients, families, trainees, health professionals and workers.
Her words :“The curriculum prepares all students to provide entry-level, patient-centered care in a variety of practice settings as a contributing member of an interprofessional team. In the aggregate, team exposure includes prescribers as well as other healthcare professionals.”
On how to incorporate IPE, she said the foundational courses will include: Pharmacology, Pharmacogenomic, Anatomy, Ethics, Conflict resolution, Communications, Emotional intelligence, Professionalism, Leadership, and Relationship building.
While students can take electives from: Public Health, Global health and Toxicology.
While reiterating the place of team work as pivotal in the whole process, she urged pharmacists to effectively use their leadership roles whenever the opportunity is given.
According to her, “when a pharmacist finds his/herself in a leadership role, it is an opportunity to do what you can where you are; Build relationships with physicians and health care providers in clinic and hospital settings; Grow our expertise by retooling and meeting needs; Apply knowledge by demonstrating stellar clinical service”.
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