AACP Celebrates First-Ever American Pharmacy Educator Week

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 27 Oct 2009 - 23:00 PDT

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On Oct. 25, 2009, colleges and schools of pharmacy across the country embarked on a week-long national campaign to honor the innovative discoveries and accomplishments of the nation's pharmaceutical scientists and educators. The inaugural American Pharmacy Educator Week, Oct. 25-31, 2009, will promote careers in pharmacy education and urge students to shape the future of tomorrow's healthcare by becoming pharmacy educators.

The number of colleges and schools of pharmacy is increasing steadily, creating a high demand for well-qualified pharmacy faculty of diverse backgrounds and experiences. In 2006, the total number of institutions that had pharmacy programs was 92. This number grew to 105 in 2008 and to 116 in June 2009.

"Pharmacy educators are dramatically influencing the delivery of care through discovery and innovation," said AACP President Jeffrey N. Baldwin, Pharm.D., professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy.

Faculty at the College of Pharmacy at Oregon State University have identified the gene that ultimately controls the production of tooth enamel, a significant advance that could some day lead to the repair of damaged enamel, a new concept in cavity prevention and restoration, or even the production of replacement teeth. University of Florida College of Pharmacy researchers have discovered a marine compound off the coast of Key Largo, Fla. that inhibits cancer cell growth in laboratory tests, a finding they hope will fuel the development of new drugs to better battle the disease.

Pharmacy educators are acting globally to improve the healthcare of people around the world. International outreach programs at colleges and schools of pharmacy offer both faculty and students an opportunity to provide essential care to those in need while formal relationships with universities abroad provide collaborative research and teaching exchange opportunities to faculty members.

Academic pharmacy also plays a vital role in providing healthcare to members of their local communities. By offering a helping hand to those less fortunate, educators provide preventive and primary healthcare services for people who stand outside the existing healthcare delivery system. Diabetes screenings, vaccination clinics and medication therapy management services are just a few of the ways in which pharmacy educators are dramatically improving the lives of the patients they see.

"Through their work every day, pharmacy faculty demonstrate the best aspects of the mission of higher education. Their teaching prepares students to provide culturally competent care to ethnically and economically diverse patients and populations," said William G. Lang, AACP vice president of policy and advocacy. "Pharmacy faculty, especially our clinical faculty, improve the health outcomes of patients, increase access to prevention and wellness components of individual and public health, and translate new knowledge to providers and patients."

"There has been a significant change in the public's perception of how team-based, patient-centered approaches to care, that integrate the services of the pharmacist, improve quality and increase access," Lang continued. "These changes are a direct result of the teaching, research and service of pharmacy faculty."

Promotional kits were distributed to all 116 accredited colleges and schools of pharmacy containing items such as brochures about the benefits and advantages of a career in pharmacy education and posters highlighting significant achievements of pharmacy educators for schools to display throughout the week. Contact your local college or school of pharmacy to discuss their contributions to both your community and to the future of healthcare around the world.

To learn more about American Pharmacy Educator Week, visit here.

Source
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy