Professional Hours Innovate Pharmacy Education
Cedarville's School of Pharmacy has begun a new "Professional Hours" program.
Students in the Cedarville University School of Pharmacy are benefiting from a new approach to classroom instruction, thanks to a series of lectures from people outside the university.
Through the lecture series, “Professional Hours,” students can gain credit toward their business class requirements on certain series by hearing from professionals in the pharmaceutical industry.
“Students in the class are required to meet an out of class professional development expectation and the approved sessions move them toward that goal,” said Ginger Cameron, Ph.D., assistant professor of pharmacy.
“These sessions are different and innovative because they allow for a constant flow of external partners who are reiterating what is being taught in the classroom,” said Marc Sweeney, Pharm.D., dean of the School of Pharmacy. “This program will develop the type of pharmacists our country needs.”
The sessions, open to professional and pre-pharmacy students, feature speakers from industry leaders like CVS and Rite Aid. Topics covered include how to land a job, innovation in pharmacy practice and the realities of owning a pharmacy.
Shenk said attending these sessions has allowed her to gain real-world experience, learn what pharmacy recruiters are looking for in an applicant and how health care can be missional.
“When we engage with other professionals at these sessions, we get a glimpse of the real world and the future application of what we are learning now,” Shenk said.
Likewise, Long has found that these sessions have helped develop professionalism within students.
“Students must explore outside the classroom to gain professional experience, via networking, traveling to conferences and attending seminars,” Long said. “These sessions help me narrow my passions within the profession so that I make an educated decision on what I want to do as a pharmacist.”
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 3,711 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 100 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.
Through the lecture series, “Professional Hours,” students can gain credit toward their business class requirements on certain series by hearing from professionals in the pharmaceutical industry.
“Students in the class are required to meet an out of class professional development expectation and the approved sessions move them toward that goal,” said Ginger Cameron, Ph.D., assistant professor of pharmacy.
“These sessions are different and innovative because they allow for a constant flow of external partners who are reiterating what is being taught in the classroom,” said Marc Sweeney, Pharm.D., dean of the School of Pharmacy. “This program will develop the type of pharmacists our country needs.”
The sessions, open to professional and pre-pharmacy students, feature speakers from industry leaders like CVS and Rite Aid. Topics covered include how to land a job, innovation in pharmacy practice and the realities of owning a pharmacy.
On March 30, students will hear from Eric Juergens, owner of Madison Avenue Pharmacy in Springfield, Ohio. He will talk to students about best practices for running their own pharmacy.
In three previous sessions, the school of pharmacy has hosted lecturers from CVS, Baptist Global Response and Rite Aid.
Third-year professional pharmacy students Jordan Long (Chillicothe, Ohio) and McKenzie Shenk (Granger, Indiana) have attended all the professional hours lectures this semester.Shenk said attending these sessions has allowed her to gain real-world experience, learn what pharmacy recruiters are looking for in an applicant and how health care can be missional.
“When we engage with other professionals at these sessions, we get a glimpse of the real world and the future application of what we are learning now,” Shenk said.
Likewise, Long has found that these sessions have helped develop professionalism within students.
“Students must explore outside the classroom to gain professional experience, via networking, traveling to conferences and attending seminars,” Long said. “These sessions help me narrow my passions within the profession so that I make an educated decision on what I want to do as a pharmacist.”
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 3,711 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 100 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.