Harding: Immeasurable Challenges

Immeasurable Challenges & Changes

My, how quickly things can practice experiences—pharmacy opportunities that, for some, JeffMercer, Pharm.D. Dean change! As I write this, we are in the midst of a were now potentially front-line encounters during a health care crisis—while also providing safety and appropriate supervision. worldwide pandemic due to the While our first through third year students needed these COVID-19 virus. Just a few short weeks ago, our students experiences to remain on track, for our fourth-year students, werewrappingupthefirsthalfofaquietanduneventfulspring incomplete experiences jeopardized graduation. With such semester before leaving for spring break. There was some high stakes, the experiential staff, practice faculty, and the knowledge of the rising health concern, but no one understood many pharmacy preceptors who supervise our students pooled the profound impact it would have on the rest of the semester. their resources and networks to provide alternative plans for Over the days that followed, many each student. No students were important decisions were made left behind! Through these tireless that will forever shape our memory collaborative efforts, all of our of2020andinfluencethefuturefor By the time that you read this, much of students are on track to progress our students. the world will have changed, and the or graduate on time. While many On March 12, the President of Harding University announced future will be much more certain for us all. This spring, the COVID-19 crisis schools and pharmacy practice sites across the nation closed their doors to pharmacy students, I am the suspension of all on-campus forced an abrupt change to our personal especially thankful for the many classroom course delivery, and professional lives; however, Arkansas community and hospital activities, and gatherings until experiencing the collaborative response sites that invited our students to further notice. We had no way of knowing the extent of until further notice, but all classroom content and adaptability of our Harding community has been heart-warming. continue. These opportunities ensured that the next generation of pharmacists are well trained was to be moved to an online and ready to join the workforce. format. As the pandemic spread the program. Transitioning these learning experiences to PerhapsthemostsignificantchallengeduringthisCOVID-19 crisis was the need to continue our students’ pharmacy across our nation, Harding’s Aside from Harding’s official administrators communicated interim plans and teamed response to the COVID-19 pandemic, I wanted to say a word educational and instructional resources to support faculty about our students. I am constantly encouraged and amazed members and students in the immediate online transition. at the maturity of our young people. Through immeasurable challenges, they have demonstrated the ability to overcome Transitioning coursework to an online format was quite a and a willingness to help others. At community pharmacies substantial undertaking for both our faculty and students. throughout Central Arkansas, many of our students offered But true to the Harding way, everyone worked together and curbside delivery service. Others, working with the APA the response was overwhelmingly positive. Faculty quickly and UAMS students at Federica Pharmacy in Little Rock, adapted to new ways of teaching, and students graciously compounded and bottled hand sanitizer for Arkansas homeless acquiesced to the new learning environment. Although born shelters. And still others collaborated with Harding engineering out of necessity, the online modality was soon accepted students to 3D-print and distribute personal protective masks by most— and even preferred by some—as a method to to local healthcare workers. When face-to-face interactions continue the quality education our students need to become were prohibited, students creatively responded to complete pharmacists. patient-caring activities remotely, learning about electronic Of course, the pharmacy curriculum is not all classroomIn this pandemic crisis, our students adapted and provided based. Thecontemporarypharmacycurriculum is filled with leadership to serve their communities and be the change. laboratories, introductory and advanced pharmacy practice In total, our students have completed hundreds of hours in experiences, interprofessional events, clinical simulations, and service to others in the months since the crisis began. It’s co-curricular activities. Most require face-to-face interactions, inspiring and a true testament to the character of the HUCOP and all are essential for student progression throughout family. alternative methods that were both safe and collaborative By the time that you read this, much of the world will have without compromising our educational standards required changed, and the future will be much more certain for us all. creativity and persistence. Following the suspension of This spring, the COVID-19 crisis forced an abrupt change to physical gathering, our faculty and colleagues worked our personal and professional lives; however, experiencing together so that each curricular requirement was reworked to the collaborative response and adaptability of our Harding accommodate student learning through distance delivery and/ community has been heart-warming. I am confident that or small group work that adhered to strict social distancing God is in control and that pharmacy is an integral part of the demands. solutions that will end this crisis. I am grateful for all who have medical record access and supporting telemedicine at work. invested in the future of our students and our profession.§