• Next generation of well-rounde...

*Result*: Next generation of well-rounded pharmacists: The role of experiential advocacy in pharmacy education.

Title:
Next generation of well-rounded pharmacists: The role of experiential advocacy in pharmacy education.
Authors:
Blankenship B; Pharmacy Practice Advancement and Advocacy Fellow, The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy, 500 W. 12(th) Ave, Columbus, OH 43210, United States of America. Electronic address: Blankenship.397@osu.edu., Murphy EM; Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacy, The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy, 500 W. 12(th) Ave, Columbus, OH 43210, United States of America. Electronic address: Murphy.981@osu.edu., Rodis JL; Professor of Clinical Pharmacy, Associate Dean for Outreach and Engagement, The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy, 500 W. 12(th) Ave, Columbus, OH 43210, United States of America. Electronic address: Rodis.2@osu.edu.
Source:
Currents in pharmacy teaching & learning [Curr Pharm Teach Learn] 2026 Feb; Vol. 18 (2), pp. 102528. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Nov 12.
Publication Type:
Journal Article
Language:
English
Journal Info:
Publisher: Elsevier Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 101560815 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1877-1300 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 18771297 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Curr Pharm Teach Learn Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s):
Original Publication: New York : Elsevier
MeSH Terms:
Education, Pharmacy*/methods , Education, Pharmacy*/trends , Education, Pharmacy*/standards , Pharmacists*/psychology , Pharmacists*/trends , Problem-Based Learning*/methods , Problem-Based Learning*/trends , Consumer Advocacy*/trends, Curriculum/trends ; Students, Pharmacy/statistics & numerical data ; Students, Pharmacy/psychology ; Humans ; Ohio
Contributed Indexing:
Keywords: Advocacy; Education; Legislative; Pharmacy; Student
Entry Date(s):
Date Created: 20251113 Date Completed: 20251203 Latest Revision: 20251203
Update Code:
20260130
DOI:
10.1016/j.cptl.2025.102528
PMID:
41232413
Database:
MEDLINE

*Further Information*

*Purpose: As investment grows in the passage of pharmacy-related legislation, the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) is calling for advocacy skill-building to be included in PharmD programs. This article provides reflections on one method of doing so.
Description: One way to incorporate advocacy skill-building is through the creation of a program that guides student pharmacists through the process of hosting a legislator visit at a pharmacy practice setting. An APPE program of this nature was established in 2019 at The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy with the goals of exposing student pharmacists to advocacy initiatives and the legislative process, increasing student pharmacist comfort and knowledge in advocacy initiatives and legislator interactions, and instilling in pharmacist preceptors the perception of importance in participating in advocacy initiatives following a legislator visit at a pharmacist practice setting.
Interpretation: There are several challenges in implementing an experiential advocacy program as observed over the last five years. Programs focused on final-year pharmacy students can create challenges as there is limited time within schedules to accommodate additional responsibilities. Further curricular overload as observed in the first three years of PharmD programs could be prevented by integrating these experiences into already-established rotations.
Conclusions: A program that empowers student pharmacists to host an elected leader at an IPPE or APPE rotation site gives students and preceptors real-world experience to advocate while establishing a relationship with the legislator.
Implications: As academic institutions consider integration of legislative advocacy into their didactic and co-curricula, they should consider expansions in experiential opportunities that integrate legislative advocacy into already-established experiential curricula.
(Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)*

*Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.*