Academic Pharmacy Now: 2023 Issue 3 by AACP

Academic Pharmacy

The News Magazine of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy

NOW

Volume 16 2023 Issue 3

Entrepreneurs in the Making

Some pharmacy schools are cultivating a competitive spirit among students as part of their efforts to boost business acumen. 14

Also in this issue: 3D-Printed Drugs Hold Promise 5 Delving Into Workforce Data 8

Pharmacists Help People Live Healthier, Better Lives.

who we are @AACPharmacy

Academic Pharmacy The News Magazine of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy

Pharmacists Help People Live Healthier, Better Lives.

1400 Crystal Drive, Suite 300 P Arlington, VA 22202 703-739-2330 P www.aacp.org

Founded in 1900, the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy is the national organization representing the interests of pharmacy education. AACP comprises all accredited colleges and schools of pharmacy, including more than 6,600 faculty, approximately 63,800 students enrolled in professional programs and 4,800 individuals pursuing graduate study.

NOW

CEO & Publisher

Lee Vermeulen

Editorial Advisor

Lynette R. Bradley-Baker

Editorial Director

Maureen Thielemans

Letters to the Editor

Managing Editor

We welcome your comments. Please submit all letters to the editor to communications@aacp.org.

Jane E. Rooney

About Academic Pharmacy Now

Academic Pharmacy Now highlights the work of AACP member pharmacy schools and faculty. The magazine is published as a membership service.

Editorial Assistant

Kyle R. Bagin

Change of Address

For address changes, contact LaToya Casteel, Member Services Manager, at lcasteel@aacp.org.

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Tricia Gordon

Freelance Writer

Joseph Cantlupe

Freelance Writer

Emily Jacobs

Freelance Writer

Athena Ponushis

Academic Pharmacy NOW  2023 Issue 3

Volume 16 2023 Issue 3

@AACPharmacy a look inside

community impact

5 A Path to 3D-Printed Drugs Researchers at Texas A&M University’s Irma Lerma Rangel School of Pharmacy received a $2.8 million NIH grant to use 3D printers for pediatric medications.

8 A Balancing Act The latest National Pharmacist Workforce Study examined the pandemic’s impact on pharmacy and how the industry can move forward.

campus connection

12 Holograms Revolutionize Classroom Experience

The University of South Florida’s Taneja College of Pharmacy is using hologram technology to transform learning.

14 Entrepreneurs in the Making Some pharmacy schools are cultivating a competitive spirit among students as part of their efforts to boost business acumen.

@AACPharmacy

22 Can’t Miss Content at February 10–12 | Phoenix, Arizona Renaissance Phoenix Downtown

Academic Pharmacy NOW  2023 Issue 3

campus connection publisher’s note

Dear Colleagues, As 2023 comes to a close I am filled with tremendous pride thinking about the many accomplishments that AACP members and staff have achieved. There are countless examples of projects successfully completed, programs delivered, and progress made on our Strategic Plan, with many being highlighted in Academic Pharmacy Now throughout the year. This issue is no exception. In the feature article, Entrepreneurs in the Making, three schools showcase how they are helping students foster an entrepreneurial mindset and equipping them with business skills that will serve them in any pharmacy career. Several schools run business plan competitions that help develop project management skills. The recent pharmacist protests across the country shed light on many of the ongoing issues that community pharmacists face: increased demand for healthcare services, staffing shortages and much more. In the article, A Balancing Act, authors of the latest National Pharmacist Workforce Study examine the pandemic’s impact on community pharmacy. They hope that the findings will lead to improved work systems and better balance so pharmacists can gain more authority without feeling overworked. You will also read about researchers at Texas A&M University who received an NIH grant to use 3D printing machines for pediatric medications and innovative hologram technology coming to classrooms at the University of South Florida’s Taneja College of Pharmacy. With 2023 in the rear-view mirror, AACP staff and members have a lot to celebrate and look forward to in the New Year. Our updated Strategic Plan will guide the Association in new endeavors, including the much-anticipated Learning Management System, set to launch in July at the 2024 Annual Meeting. Our portfolio of professional development opportunities continues to grow with new programs such as the Microlearning Miniseries and a Spring Institute focused on utilizing Artificial Intelligence in pharmacy education. I hope to see many of you in Phoenix, Feb. 10–12, at AACP’s INterim Meeting, INtegrate 2024. Best wishes this holiday season and beyond, Sincerely,

Lee Vermeulen, B.S.Pharm., M.S., FCCP, FFIP CEO and Publisher

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community impact

A Path to 3D-Printed Drugs Researchers at Texas A&M University’s Irma Lerma Rangel School of Pharmacy received a $2.8 million NIH grant to use 3D printers for pediatric medications. By Joseph A. Cantlupe In some ways, 3D printing is pervasive in our society, evident across sectors ranging from manufacturing to architecture to design and even medicine. But oddly for this multibillion-dollar industry, there’s one area in which it has not made much headway: pharmaceuticals. For instance, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved only one drug, Spiritam, a treatment for epilepsy, using 3D technology, which happened in 2015. In that in-

stance, technology has made it easier for patients to take their medications because the active ingredient disintegrates within seconds after a patient takes a sip of water. Despite the lag in approvals, experts see vast potential for 3D technology in pharmacy. Studies show that there could be a paradigm shift in pharmaceutical and clinical pharmacy practice, with a transition from mass production of medicines toward drugs that are personalized for everyone. 3D printing also can result in decreased costs and expedited development times. Currently, most drugs are typically manufactured in large quantities “using conventional methods that involve largescale processes, equipment and long production time,” according to the FDA. The agency said that 3D printing “can offer a tantalizing step toward changing the manufacturing processes to offer personalized medicines.”

Dosage Flexibility Since there have been relatively few inroads in developing 3D technologies in pharmaceuticals worldwide, officials at Texas A&M University’s Irma Lerma Rangel School of Pharmacy are excited and intrigued after receiving a five-year, $2.82 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to use 3D printing machines for pediatric medications. The university is working to engineer “dose-flexible antiviral medications” designed for pediatric patients that could be used in hospitals. Dr. Mansoor A. Khan, acting dean and a Regents Professor of Pharmaceutical Services and a Presidential Impact Fellow, has been working on the program with a multidisciplinary team. Khan and other officials said the NIH grant is the first research project grant of its kind. “Many (drug) products are available for adults, not children,” Khan said in a statement, in part because they are not profitable for drugmakers. “Instead, a prescriber or a pharmacist is forced to manipulate adult dosage forms to prepare pediatric dosages.”

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community impact

The 3D printing grant comes at a time when there is a “dire need for pediatric products,” said Khan. “The science is not well understood for pediatric medications.” Too often children must take medications originally intended for adults. Complications around how they get the drugs involve issues such as dosages, physiological effects, absorption, enzyme and other considerations. “How do you get a flexible dose for them, that is a problem. When the medication is not available, what do pharmacists do? They take an adult pill, crush it, and grind it and put it in a liquid. They give it to mom and say take two drops three times a day or half a spoon,” he said. “In some cases, the drug is bad tasting, and the child says, ‘I don’t want it.’” Khan, a former FDA senior scientist who worked on regulations involving pediatric medications, had served as the lead reviewer for the only 3D-printed tablet dosage forms approved by the agency’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. As officials consider the future of 3D drug printing, it is key that pharmacy school curricula prepare future pharmacists to understand these issues. “The students need to keep pace with advances in technology and recognize the multidisciplinary opportunities to enhance therapeutic outcomes,” Khan said. Unlike many pharmacy schools, Texas A&M has a pediatric therapeutic course, which covers the elements for 3D printing and the NIH grant. The research involves a truly interdisciplinary team approach, with pharmacists, engineers, doctors, molecular biologists and biostatisticians developing the proposals, Khan noted.

Testing Different Formats The Texas A&M team plans to develop a manufacturing method to meet the changing needs of pediatric patients, said Dr. Mathew Kuttolamadom, co-principal investigator and associate professor at the Department of Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution. Kuttolamadom has been involved in several projects related to 3D printing, not only in pharmacological programs but also in medical design and engineering. After the FDA’s approval of Spiritam in 2015, the process “stalled right off the bat,” he said, referring to the complex nature of applications for 3D printing for medications. He has co-authored several academic papers detailing different aspects of 3D printing. One method is called selective laser sinter-

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ing, in which it is “solvent free” that is advantageous in the printing process. Kuttolamadom noted that it was critical to improve the structure of the tablet because it broke apart easily and dissolved, which was important for elderly patients having a difficult time swallowing. The new process being considered at Texas A&M is known as selective laser, in which the drug is put in a powder form with an added biocompatible polymer, heated, with layers scanned, layer upon layer, he said. For children, the pills could be shaped like a star or a teddy bear and have a more desirable flavor than other medications, Kuttolamadom added. He noted that there will be built-in deterrents, however, to ensure that children do not treat the medications as candy. “The mission is around drugs already approved by the FDA and we can mix them in the right amounts that we need and print them in the right dosage sizes that need to fit a particular pediatric patient,” he said. “These can be made in a pharmacy in 30 minutes.”

community impact

“Many (drug) products are available for adults, not children. Instead, a prescriber or a pharmacist is forced to manipulate adult dosage forms to prepare pediatric dosages.” —Dr. Mansoor A. Khan

The team includes Dr. Ziyaur Rahman, a principal investiga- “The idea seems to be very good for hospitals in the region and tor; Dr. Samikkannu Thangavel, associate professor in the they support it,” Khan said. School of Pharmacy; Dr. Jennifer Fridley, clinical assistant professor and director of Veterinary Medical Park, School of While the FDA has approved at least 200 medical devices made Veterinary Medicine; and Dr. Quan Zhou, assistant professor, by 3D printing technology over the last decade, the agency said there are still numerous regulatory questions that need to be the College of Arts and Sciences. addressed regarding 3D printing for medications. Among those, Khan said several children’s hospitals have expressed keen the agency said, are “what are the critical factors in 3D-printed interest in the plan and he’s excited about the possibilities design that affect the drug release and mechanisms?” The ahead, although he has not pinpointed a timetable for when agency’s Office of Testing and Research is conducting research the 3D printed medications may be available for children. to better understand next steps for 3D-printed drugs. P Joseph A. Cantlupe is a freelance writer based in Washington, D.C.

Save the Date: Artificial Intelligence in Pharmacy Education Institute The AACP Artificial Intelligence in Pharmacy Education Virtual Institute will be held April 3–5, 2024. Registration will open along with the agenda and speakers announced in mid-late January. Teams are encouraged to make preliminary plans now.

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community impact

A Balancing Act The latest National Pharmacist Workforce Study examined the pandemic’s impact on pharmacy and how the industry can move forward. By Athena Ponushis

The pandemic presented pharmacists with a paradox: Pharmacists are essential, they are problem solvers, they expand access to healthcare, but they are stressed out, need more support and want to be given more authority. Wanting to look more closely at the pandemic’s effects on pharmacy and the future of the profession, the Pharmacy Workforce Center (PWC)—a nonprofit corporation comprised of major national pharmacy professional and trade organizations, including AACP—conducted an interim study in 2022. The National Pharmacist Workforce Study (NPWS) found that, on the whole, pharmacists enjoy their jobs.

out that having that data is helpful, lending ample research opportunities for the Academy, as well as opportunities to have realistic conversations with students about what to expect in the workplace and how to become agents of change.

Focusing on What Works

The 2022 NPWS took a deep dive into how the pandemic changed pharmacy practice and quality of life for pharmacists. The study classified the data into different practice settings: independent and small chain settings; large chain, mass merchandiser and grocery stores; inpatient and outpatient health systems or hospitals; and ambulatory care, Yes, certain settings are problematic and some pharmacists are which Shipman hopes will unite, rather than divide, pharburned out, but there needs to be balance in the narrative, said macy. Allie Jo Shipman, senior director of policy and professional “I think finding equal respect and value in all practice affairs at the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations and former PWC president who oversaw the 2022 study. settings will effect change, rather than passing along the message, ‘Chain pharmacists are struggling, you should not “There are many pharmacists who are working in positive be a chain pharmacist.’ Instead we should be saying, ‘OK, a settings, who are engaged in work activities that are really impacting patient outcomes, and when they can do that, their large portion of our profession is struggling, how do we help with this?’” Shipman said. “Our message should be more of, work-life outcomes are better,” Shipman said. ‘Let’s bring everyone in and figure out what we can do about The NPWS indicated that pharmacists in ambulatory care this,’ because large chains are the most visible part of our settings or independent and small chain community practice profession and we can’t write it off as a lost cause.” settings were mostly satisfied with their work life. In ambulaDr. David Mott, associate dean for advancement at the Unitory care settings, 70 percent of respondents said they were versity of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy and the satisfied with what they spend their time doing at work, and principal investigator of the study, agreed that pharmacy in independent and small chain settings, 85 percent of reshould amplify positive stories to counter the negative narspondents said they had a high level of autonomy, which they rative. “Instead of just talking about the bad work systems, believe enabled them to improve patient medication safety and let’s make the point that there are good work systems out left them feeling fulfilled. there, and if you want to move forward in terms of changSuch feedback could be used to recruit more student pharma- ing work systems for pharmacists, you have to highlight cists and illustrate that positive work environments do exist. these positive systems,” Mott said. “Research needs to go But NPWS researchers do not want to ignore the data provided into these positive systems and find out what’s making by pharmacists who are unhappy in other practice settings. these successful, relative to negative work systems.” While many responses were discouraging, Shipman pointed

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Mott noted that it helped his research group to shift their focus to positive characteristics. “For instance, we know that autonomy is a really important aspect that allows pharmacists to do the things they want to do. There’s maybe 30 percent of work systems where autonomy is pretty bad, but more like 60 percent of work systems where autonomy is really good, so let’s look at why autonomy is so much better in 60 percent of these work systems. We need to learn from these places, I think that’s really important to figure out.” The NPWS did show an interesting correlation between higher or lower job satisfaction with autonomy and support. Mott anticipates that it will be challenging for researchers to gain access to bad work systems and diagnose what’s going on, then work with employers to determine what can be changed to improve the situation for pharmacists. “I think that’s going to be a big challenge and it’s something that our workforce research group talks about a lot, but we really believe the next step in this research has to be solving

some of these problems,” he said. “We are at the point now where I don’t think it’s good to just let things keep going. We really do need to make changes and improve work systems for pharmacists so they can be motivated and not burned out, and have enough staff so they can perform at the top of their license and improve care.” Dr. Caroline Gaither, professor of pharmaceutical care & health systems at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy and another 2022 NPWS author, believes the pandemic exposed poor working conditions that already existed in pharmacies but intensified during the past few years. “Pharmacists were doing a lot of different tasks and they were doing these tasks without a lot of additional staffing,” Gaither said. This led to exits from the profession, again suggesting that work systems need to improve. “Pharmacies need to consider, what is the best way to utilize the skills of the pharmacist? How do you set up the work system within your pharmacy so that the pharmacist has the opportunity to

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community impact

do more clinical activities, like counseling and making sure patients understand how to take their medications, doing all those things that we teach them at school? Too often when graduates go into practice, the workflow and the way pharmacies are designed does not allow pharmacists to do all the things they know.” Even though pharmacists are widely overworked and understaffed, the NPWS found that across major practice settings, about 30 percent of respondents said they did have an adequate number of pharmacists. “So again, we need to peel back the onion a little bit and get into these work settings and figure out, why do 20 percent of ambulatory care practice settings have enough staff? Are they able to retain pharmacists, are they able to attract pharmacists, what is it about the management of those settings that seems to be really positive?” Mott asked. “Those are the things we don’t know very much about.”

Empowering the Next Generation Pharmacists were considered essential healthcare providers during the pandemic, which Gaither thinks they should take pride in and feel inspired that they were seen as creative problem solvers. “Pharmacists showed how much they care about making sure their patients have access to their medications.” That work ethic could further the argument to expand pharmacists’ authority, but Gaither, Mott and Shipman all urged caution. “I do think the pandemic is going to help expand the authority of pharmacists, but as a profession, I think it’s our responsibility to balance that out and make sure we have support within the workforce that can sustain those changes, those additional activities,” Shipman explained. “I feel like there’s an increased understanding of what pharmacists can do and what services we can provide, but we have to support our own so they do not feel like more and more is being piled on top of them.” How does the pharmacy community do that? “That’s the big question,” Shipman said. One NPWS finding explored how the pharmacy technician shortage has impacted the profession. She was intrigued to learn why pharmacists perceive there is a shortage and what they believe could fix it. Seventy percent of respondents said pay increases and flexible schedules were two key factors. Likewise, pharmacists cannot keep talking about burnout and expect to attract student applicants. They must amplify the voices of pharmacists who enjoy the work that they do and elaborate on why they enjoy it.

“We really do need to make changes and improve work systems for pharmacists so they can be motivated and not burned out, and have enough staff so they can perform at the top of their license and improve care.” —Dr. David Mott

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“The biggest challenge on the horizon would be that push and pull between increasing pharmacists’ authority or additional activities with the workforce challenges that we are experiencing, and being able to find a good balance there,” Shipman said. “It’s not just pharmacy talking about the issues within the profession, it’s medical societies and other healthcare providers who may want to push back on some of the things pharmacists should be allowed to do.” As the pharmacy community threads that needle, Shipman, Gaither and Mott put their trust in students. “Some of these work systems are not positive for pharmacists, so from an education standpoint, should we be focusing on giving realistic expectations to our students that some settings may not be so great, but then at the same time, do we need to be arming them with tools to solve some of these problems?” Mott wondered. “I am a firm believer that a lot of our graduates are the change agents, so let’s give them the tools and empower them to make the changes that need to be made. Let’s train them to be leaders so they can understand the environment they are walking into, give them strategies to solve some of these problems and give them the skills to motivate people to make these changes. I think those are really important goals for the Academy.” The study highlighted another trend: the pharmacy profession skews much younger than other health professions. Gaither finds that new energy exciting and would like to build on that by giving student pharmacists greater exposure to more practice settings. “More exposure will help students think more thoughtfully about what’s going on in a work environment that they may go into and how they can use their skills to the best of their abilities,” she noted. “The more

Visit www.aacp.org/ article/nationalpharmacist-workforcestudies for more information on the 2022 National Pharmacist Workforce Study, including the full report.

students can work in an environment, come back and have conversations at school about what they are seeing, the more we can help them see themselves as agents of change.” Gaither did a lot of data analysis on the NPWS segment on diversity, equity and inclusion. One finding that stood out to her: “If we just talk about the concept of diversity, most respondents said, ‘Oh, yeah, we value diversity,’ but when you drill down a bit more…pharmacists indicated that transparency is not part of the processes in terms of career development. So that sense of, ‘I feel supported in my career. I know how to advance my career. My unique background is valued by my employer,’ less than 50 percent of respondents agreed with that.” We teach that we are supposed to treat everyone the same, meaning we are not going to discriminate against you, but I think we need to focus more on, ‘What do you bring as an individual? What are some of the things you know that I don’t?’ That may help pharmacists and all healthcare workers feel more valued.” The study found the larger the employer, the less value employees felt. Altogether, the 2022 NPWS demonstrated the need for more research in the Academy and more education in the profession. “I think we have been operating on anecdotes and assumptions,” Shipman said, “but there are some really interesting findings in this study that may challenge those a little bit. Some are reinforced, but some are challenged.” Another study is slated for 2024, but until then, Shipman emphasized that pharmacists must ask themselves, “What do we do now? What are we going to do to move pharmacy forward?” P Athena Ponushis is a freelance writer based in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

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campus connection

Holograms Revolutionize Classroom Experience The University of South Florida’s Taneja College of Pharmacy is using hologram technology to transform learning. By Ryan Rossy

The University of South Florida Health Taneja College of Pharmacy (TCOP) continues to be a pacesetter for innovative education, most recently with its plans to incorporate holographic technology into its educational framework. This ambitious leap aims to elevate the learning experience for both students and faculty, fostering a more immersive and engaging educational environment. “The new holographic technology is the first of its kind in the region,” said Dr. Kevin Sneed, dean of the TCOP and senior associate vice president of USF Health. It is set to transform classrooms and laboratories alike and bring a new layer to an already premier pharmacy program. One of the key advantages of this technology is its departure from conventional two-dimensional remote platforms like Microsoft Teams or Zoom. With holographic transmission, students can experience a lifelike classroom setting, enhancing their understanding and connection with the material. “With our new holographic technology, we can ‘transport’ anybody from anywhere into the classroom, such as a professor or a renowned scientist that we want to engage in

our studies with, creating more diversified collaboration and learning experiences,” Sneed said. The college also plans to use intricate three-dimensional models, structures and processes that might be otherwise challenging to understand through conventional methods. This realism aids in grasping intricate topics more effectively. While the full implementation of this technology in TCOP’s future location in the downtown campus is scheduled for next July, the college’s dedication to staying at the forefront of education prompts the immediate exploration of their new holographic technology. The college plans to train its faculty before the upcoming move and create intuitive lesson plans for its students. “The future for us starts today,” Sneed said. “Using holographic technology is just the beginning of what you can expect in terms of the technological advancement that we are going to be putting into our downtown building.” P Reprinted with permission from USF Health.

Envisioning a Healthcare Transformation TCOP’s partnership with Proto Hologram grew out of the college’s attempt to resolve the issue of having researchers travel between multiple teaching locations, explained Dr. Kevin Sneed. “While MS Teams and Zoom have been used effectively, the Proto Hologram offered great in-class visual fidelity,” he said. “Ultimately as I expanded my imagination, I began to see multiple use cases for the Proto unit.” Sneed’s vision and focus for the college, he continued, is to prepare pharmacists for the second quarter of the 21st century. “While the Proto Hologram will be an extremely exciting component of our instructional endeavors, we are rapidly building a culture of innovative transformation across the spectrum of healthcare. Utilization of advanced technologies by pharmacists will be among the most transformational actions we can ingrain in our student pharmacists. Fortunately, they are not only very excited but well equipped to move forward in this age of advanced technology.”

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Photo credit: USF Health

Dr. Kevin Sneed with the Proto Hologram unit that will be installed in the college’s downtown campus next year.

“With our new holographic technology, we can ‘transport’ anybody from anywhere into the classroom, such as a professor or a renowned scientist that we want to engage in our studies with, creating more diversified collaboration and learning experiences.” —Dr. Kevin Sneed

Academic Pharmacy NOW  2023 Issue 3

campus connection community impact

Academic Pharmacy NOW  2023 Issue 3

campus community connection impact

Entrepreneurs in the Making

Some pharmacy schools are cultivating a competitive spirit among students as part of their efforts to boost business acumen. By Jane E. Rooney

Pharmacy schools naturally want to foster innovation. Some schools are doing so by encouraging students to approach healthcare solutions from an entrepreneurial angle. While the connection between pharmacy and business may not be readily apparent, a growing number of pharmacy schools see the value in equipping student pharmacists with business skills so they can begin their careers with an entrepreneurial mindset and explore non-traditional job opportunities.

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www.pharmacy.umaryland.edu/ research/pharmapreneurship/

campus connection

The University of Maryland School of Igniting Ingenuity Pharmacy has been ahead of the curve The impetus to launch the competition, Rodriguez de in this area, trademarking the term Bittner said, began with the innovative concepts coming pharmapreneurship several years ago from students following the pharmapreneurship pathway. and weaving it into the curriculum. The “We encountered so many great ideas the students had—we school built on that momentum earlier felt those ideas had value and we wanted a mechanism to this year with its inaugural competition finance those and provide startup funds so they could see for the Natalie D. Eddington Pharmapre- the feasibility and launch these ideas to market,” she noted. neurship Award for Health Care Innova- In addition to the competition’s winning concept to increase tion, which allows Pharm.D. students sustainability in research laboratories, pitches from the to compete for the chance to turn their finalists included developing a training program for patients ideas into a business. The winning to help them understand the history and benefits of canstudent received a $100,000 investment nabis-based and psychedelic-assisted therapies; establishto launch her startup to help laboratory ing a network of medical cannabis professionals providing researchers dispose of or move unneeded telehealth consulting services nationwide; and a mobile app laboratory equipment. aiming to improve medication adherence. Some teams—all “Our curriculum provides an opportunity for students to learn more about how to take risks, how to develop ideas that they would like to bring to the market,” explained Dr. Magaly Rodriguez de Bittner, Felix Gyi Endowed Memorial Professor in Pharmapreneurship and associate dean for clinical services and practice transformation, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. “We have established a pathway—a concentration for students interested in following that path—that provides them with certain courses and skill sets to develop that pharmapreneurship mindset. We’re giving them clinical knowledge through the curriculum, but today’s challenges in pharmacy require a new type of pharmacist who has the mindset of an entrepreneur: someone looking for solutions, being creative and setting their own goals.”

led by Pharm.D. students—included students in engineering, computer science, medicine, law and some pursuing an M.S. in the Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics program. These interdisciplinary partnerships, she added, “allow them to expand their skill sets and determine how to negotiate with other members of the team. That brings a diverse approach and it opens their eyes to a whole set of skills that are valuable.”

Other schools, including Drake University College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences and Oregon State University College of Pharmacy, offer similar pathways and competitions that allow students to consider pharmacy within an entrepreneurial framework and pursue creative avenues after graduation.

The donor committed to funding the competition annually and the school is considering some tweaks, which may include financing for second and third place winners as well. Both the pathway and the competition “highlight that the school is the home of pharmapreneurship. We think this will change pharmacy practice,” Rodriguez de Bittner emphasized. “This was something that was needed in pharmacy education because as we see the challenges confronting the

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Funded by an alumnus who wanted to support healthcare innovation, the competition stipulates that the winner gets financial support from the university in addition to other resources and legal services to create an LLC, but the school retains part ownership so that some of the income goes back to the program. “The competition makes it real for them that there are opportunities to creative paths,” Rodriguez de Bittner said. “One student told me, ‘This gave me the incentive and confidence to know that when I graduate, I have multiple avenues I can pursue.’ It doesn’t have to be traditional roles or a predetermined path. The students really welcome that opportunity and welcome the thought that they can shape their own career.”

campus connection

pharmacy profession and healthcare, we need to equip our students with this skill set. We feel we’re at the forefront and we are developing the pharmacists of the future. I was talking to a student who specifically told me the reason she came to Maryland is because of this pathway. Students really enjoy the ability to develop that creative side. It’s like fresh air. In the pharmacy program, you are so into science and the factual side of things, and having that opportunity to use the other side of your brain to come up with creative solutions to healthcare challenges is so exciting and unique. Our students love developing a pharmapreneurial mindset.”

Having that business know-how also prepares future pharmacists to provide better patient care. Some pharmapreneurship pathway students who pursued clinical roles have told Rodriguez de Bittner that they felt ready to face obstacles that might otherwise have intimidated them. “There are so many challenges for patients from acquiring needed medications to dealing with healthcare technology. Our students are saying that having a pharmapreneurial background made them better pharmacists because they can be problem solvers for the patients and are delivering better patient care,” she said. “Pharmapreneurship allows them to be a better

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resource for the patients, their employers and partnering with them to solve their challenges.”

www.drake.edu/deltarx

Skills That Convey to Any Career

Drake University College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences is another trailblazer in the entrepreneurism arena. Almost 20 years ago the college made entrepreneurial leadership a pillar in its strategic plan. In the early 2000s a leadership team focused on embedding the concept in the curriculum and activities to raise visibility, which led to the creation of the DELTA (Drake Entrepreneurial Leadership Tools for Advancement) Rx Institute.

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“The Institute’s mission is to instill a spirit of change and innovation in the pharmacy profession,” said Dr. Renae Chesnut, the college’s dean, who pointed out that Delta is the Greek symbol for change. “The website (www.drake.edu/ deltarx) tries to highlight different innovations that have occurred within pharmacy, providing inspiration and information about the initiative. We feature articles about how to implement initiatives, profiles of entrepreneurial leaders, or blogs where someone who has implemented an initiative gives perspectives before, during and after the implementation of an innovation and their thought process, how they accommodated the challenges and lessons learned. Sometimes the blogs are an innovation described by three different people. For example, a faculty member started a new practice site and wrote an article, along with the first student who completed a rotation and one of the clinicians who benefited from the new service. The DELTA Rx website also shares available resources when considering an innovation.”

campus connection

“There are so many challenges for patients from acquiring needed medications to dealing with healthcare technology. Our students are saying that having a pharmapreneurial background made them better pharmacists because they can be problem solvers for the patients and are delivering better patient care.” —Dr. Magaly Rodriguez de Bittner

While the website is meant for the pharmacy community, the Institute offers summer internship opportunities specifically for Drake students, connecting them with partners that are mostly based in Iowa. “Students are interviewed and selected for either an independent community pharmacy or part of a franchise, and the student might spend more time in the home office or completely in practice settings,” Chesnut explained. “We have a curriculum that accompanies the internship—Shaping Your Pharmacy Future—which covers the various areas of leading an organization. Students don’t have to come back to Des Moines for programming as the materials are all online. Topics include management, marketing, strategic planning, accounting…almost like a mini-MBA. The students complete the modules, which serve as a starting point for conversations with their preceptor or other mentor at the site. They also complete a project and present a poster at our annual Health Professions Day, held on campus for all students.” The program, which has been running for 15 years, usually involves three to seven students each year. The other unique opportunity available to Drake students is the institute’s Next Top Entrepreneur Competition, which takes place over three rounds to identify a winning solution to a healthcare problem. Students from all programs on campus can enter as individuals or teams. “The goal is to expose students to the development of skills that we may not be able to focus on in the curriculum to provide them with additional skills,” Chesnut said. Judges representing different sectors (e.g., business, healthcare and pharmacy) hear three-minute pitches from participants during round one and select 10 proposals to move on to round two. In that round, students have 60 minutes to develop a three-minute

presentation offering a solution to a societal challenge such as drug abuse or a disease state management issue. Five are chosen to move on to round three, which requires a more detailed business plan presentation. “The round three presentation would be similar to an idea presented for funding or adoption, so it is similar to a presentation to a bank or an investor,” Chesnut explained. “Students can incorporate audiovisual in all three rounds. In the final round, students receive a book and videos on how to write a business plan so they have a guide for the structure of the business plan proposal. Different judges are used for each round of the presentation to remove bias.” An entrepreneurial center on campus funds the prizes: $1,200 for first place, $1,000 for second and $800 for third. “The students enjoy the competition and it’s impactful for those who participate,” she added. “Our goal is to give students a chance to receive feedback from experts on a healthcarerelated idea, as well as developing skills in presenting elevator pitches, brainstorming and thinking on their feet, and developing and presenting business plans.” Chesnut has observed that Drake student pharmacists tend to seek out additional educational experiences. “Drake has a history and reputation for attracting students who want to do something in addition to a pharmacy degree. Nearly 50 percent have graduated each year with another degree like a master’s or a minor or with our diabetes concentration,” she said. “Our graduates often enter administrative or management careers. We have only had about 30 percent of our students in the last several years pursue the more traditional side of community pharmacy practice.”

Academic Pharmacy NOW  2023 Issue 3

campus connection

pharmacy.oregonstate.edu/EA

—Dr. Adriane Irwin

Feedback from students indicates that the entrepreneur competition provides valuable experience in presentation skills that translate to success in real-world business ventures. “Student evaluations noted that they often did not have confidence in their ability to do those kinds of things, but [by participating in the competition] they realized they can try something different. The more you step outside the box, the easier it is in the future,” Chesnut noted. “The experiences provided through the DELTA Rx Institute give students opportunities to develop skills so they can move into career pathways with unique experiences and roles.”

A Desire to Do More Oregon State University College of Pharmacy began taking a more intentional approach to the intersection between business and pharmacy around 2010. Conversations about how to expand the college’s offerings resulted in several new initiatives, including a dual Pharm.D./MBA program. The vision behind the Entrepreneurial Academy (EA), a student organization championed by former professional faculty member Paige Clark, was to offer various opportunities for Pharm.D. students to hone their business skills

Academic Pharmacy NOW  2023 Issue 3

through project management and real-world experiences. A business plan competition launched in 2014. “The competition helps students develop project management skills, business leadership, and allows them to interact with pharmacy business leaders in the state of Oregon,” said Dr. Adriane Irwin, chair and associate professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice. “The EA then provides opportunity to highlight and advance the winning business plan by working with pharmacies and health system managers. They get to consider the administrative side of pharmacy. Our students have done innovative things and it fosters entrepreneurialism.” Examples of past ideas include clinical services for community pharmacies to implement themselves or as contracted concierge services; a concierge service that would be contracted; a kiosk that moved into an app space; and a student-driven store that connected alumni with college swag. That last idea became the Beaver Rx store, said Dr. Stacey Olstad, cocurricular coordinator and current advisor of EA. “Students had a marketing team and a team that did the selling,” she noted. “They had it broken down into teams to help them see the different parts to a project or business and how to put it together.” EA students who participate in the competition (in groups of three to five) receive prompts and work with Irwin for several months to develop a business plan. At the college’s Professionalism Day in May, teams present to a panel of judges that might include pharmacy owners, health system managers and district or regional managers for chain pharmacy stores. Once the winning team is identified, one or two panel judges work with them to further elevate the pitch to present at a larger event hosted by the college.

campus connection

“Students who take the time to engage in a project or some type of experience that forces them to think critically about the problem and the solutions…those are the ways you foster change and grow pharmacy,” Irwin said. “The development of those skills can happen through a research project or leadership role, but EA provides a way for students to think about things from a business perspective. Having a student organization that has a mechanism to allow them to see it in a real-world project benefits them in whatever career path they choose. They start thinking about population management, quality improvement, and those skills are going to benefit students regardless of the setting.” Olstad pointed out that the EA is a huge draw and many students choose to attend OSU’s College of Pharmacy specifically for the dual MBA program. “This is a generation of movers and shakers. They want to change the status quo and they want those skills,” she said. “These students really are desiring skills that will help them with change management, project management and business savvy.” She added that more students are applying because the dual degree is a good financial option that gives them hands-on experiences.

They leave the program with the ability to handle project management and business planning, which Olstad believes is becoming a more critical need in pharmacy. “We do have a fair number of graduates opting to pursue [less traditional] opportunities,” Irwin said. “It is now a more understood route as opposed to clinical residency or going and practicing immediately after graduating. We have some alumni working in the business sector. I’ve been able to tap some of these students to come back and lecture within my P1 course. One talks about the drug distribution system, which highlights alternate opportunities for students.” Irwin noted that EA has allowed alumni to demonstrate the value of clinical pharmacy services and how the organization affected their career progression. “They come back and continue to be engaged,” she continued. “Having those rich experiences like the business competition provides more ways to connect our students with pharmacists practicing in the business space.” P Jane E. Rooney is managing editor of Academic Pharmacy Now.

Academic Pharmacy NOW  2023 Issue 3

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Academic Pharmacy NOW  2023 Issue 3

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Register to attend INtegrate 2024, AACP’s INterim Meeting, Feb. 10–12 in Phoenix, and connect with new networks, resources and ideas addressing pharmacy education’s most pressing issues. CE will be available! Add the Leadership Workshop to Your Registration: Examine Legal Issues Influencing Higher Education: Join your colleagues on Saturday, Feb. 10, for a two-andThis interactive session will focus on contemporary legal a-half-hour interactive workshop addressing two critical issues and court decisions that have and will continue to concepts: organizational culture and change management. influence the higher education landscape, including cases Attendees will explore the characteristics of high peron criminal background checks, admissions, affirmative forming cultures and how to build cultural foundations for action, grade appeals and more. All faculty, especially all the inevitable changes to come. Already registered for those in administrative roles or those considering seeking the meeting? Add the Workshop to your Current Registhose roles, are encouraged to attend. tration: https://my.aacp.org/Events/My-Registrations Hear From Colleagues on Effective Well-being and Explore the Re-Branding of the Pharmacy Profession: Promotion Strategies: Two presentations from member In this new Keynote Workshop format, two experts committees address the critical issues of well-being cendiscuss how they are working to change the perception of tered leadership and supporting faculty with administranursing—from a marketing and business approach—and tive roles through the tenure and promotion process. the lessons, takeaways and action steps pharmacy can glean and utilize in their own re-branding challenges. Learn About Academic Freedom, Diversity and Preparing a Capable Workforce: During this session, a panel of experts from across the health education space will discuss the effects of the Supreme Court’s decision on affirmative action and the adjustments schools and associations are making to maintain academic freedom, diversity, safety and a well-rounded environment for students.

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