Teaming Up to Fight Epidemics

The threat of a global epidemic grows every year, but preparing current health science students for this potential threat is practically nonexistent. Noticing this potential problem, Cedarville University's School of Pharmacy is collaborating with Wright State University and the University of Dayton to host an interprofessional training event focused on managing infectious disease outbreaks on Monday, April 8, at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.

Pharmacy and nursing students from Cedarville; medical, nurse practitioner and public health students from Wright State University; and clinical mental health students from the University of Dayton will participate in the training. The students will be presented with a simulation of an epidemic, which will help them understand what each medical discipline can and should do in that situation.

“Health care professionals understand their own discipline, but they might not know what each other discipline brings to the table,” explained Dr. Zachary Jenkins, assistant professor of pharmacy practice. “When an outbreak happens, this may lead to less effective care. Our aim with this event is to bring the disciplines together now so that they can provide more optimal care in the future.”

— Zachary Jenkins

More than 120 students will attend the training, including Stacy Lin, a third-year professional pharmacy student from Irvine, California.

“More and more we see health care teams incorporating pharmacists and relying on us for their medication questions,” described Lin. “This kind of trust is built between professions when we step outside of our individual focus to see the impact and importance of having other disciplines on the team, and it is not until you experience this collaboration in a live setting that you truly become thankful for each practice and what they bring to the team.”

Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 4,193 undergraduate, graduate and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, including its doctor of pharmacy program, 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.