Trailblazers in Community Pharmacy Advancement
ACT Community Pharmacy Centers of Excellence have demonstrated significant commitment to pharmacy advancement in the following areas: teaching, service, scholarship, leadership, and partnerships.
The ACT Pharmacy Collaborative Community Pharmacy Centers of Excellence Report: A Blueprint for Community Pharmacy Excellence in Academia
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The ACT Community Pharmacy Centers of Excellence have each created a unique approach to excel in areas of teaching, service, scholarship, and leadership/partnership. We have also uncovered some notable commonalities and patterns indicating how each of these Centers have excelled in advancing community pharmacy practice and education. The report, made possible by support from the Community Pharmacy Foundation, highlights ways that the Academy can learn alongside these Centers of Excellence to strengthen their efforts and support of community pharmacy. Some highlights include:
- Team Effort:
- Support from leadership and administration within the college/school is critical. This may come in the form of specific funds dedicated for community-based efforts, inclusion of community-based practice advancement within the strategic plan, and development of dedicated workgroups and taskforces.
- A core group of dedicated community-based faculty at the school creates the vision and foundational work (partnerships, research, and teaching) to build upon.
- It Takes Continued Time and Focus:
- Success may not be seen overnight – and that is OKAY!
- Many of the current Centers of Excellence have been on their journeys for many years and are still striving to grow, but there is an opportunity for colleges/schools to learn from each other.
- Key Approaches for Impact:
- Colleges and schools of pharmacy looking to enhance their impact should focus on the seven universal approaches utilized by all 17 Centers of Excellence. Some examples of these include:
- Community practice partnerships (faculty practice sites, research partners, organizational partners to grow service)
- Integration with state and national groups/initiatives to support community pharmacy
- Colleges and schools of pharmacy looking to enhance their impact should focus on the seven universal approaches utilized by all 17 Centers of Excellence. Some examples of these include:
- Maximize Impact Across Key Areas:
- Pharmacy colleges/schools should also consider prioritizing activities that enhance their efforts across all or most areas of interest: teaching, service, scholarship, and leadership/partnership. Some examples of these include:
- Post-Graduate Training (Community-based Pharmacy Residency Programs and/or Fellowships)
- Faculty involvement in community pharmacy practices (committed core of multiple faculty)
- Pharmacy colleges/schools should also consider prioritizing activities that enhance their efforts across all or most areas of interest: teaching, service, scholarship, and leadership/partnership. Some examples of these include:
Inaugural ACT Community Pharmacy Centers of Excellence:
- Ohio Northern University Raabe College of Pharmacy
- The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy
- Purdue University College of Pharmacy
- University of Arkansas for Medical Science (UAMS) College of Pharmacy
- University of Iowa College of Pharmacy
- University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy
- University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
- University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy
- University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy
- University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy
- University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy
- University of South Carolina School of Pharmacy
- University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy
- University of Washington School of Pharmacy
- Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy
- Western University of Health Sciences College of Pharmacy
- Wilkes University Nesbitt School of Pharmacy
The Centers of Excellence will serve as ambassadors for pharmacy academia through convenings with leaders in pharmacy and healthcare, uniting to mobilize and amplify community pharmacy practice transformation efforts. These trailblazers will inspire and inform community pharmacy advancement across the pharmacy academy.
Community Pharmacy Centers of Excellence Program Overview
Information about applications reopening will be shared here when available
For questions/support, please email aacpcenter@aacp.org.
The Academia-Community Transformation (ACT) Pharmacy Collaborative will recognize schools and colleges of pharmacy who are committed to advancing community pharmacy practice. Schools and colleges will be invited to submit an application to be recognized as a Center of Excellence based on commitment to community pharmacy advancement in the following areas: teaching, service, scholarship, and leadership/partnership support. Centers of Excellence will be recognized at the AACP Annual Meeting, and the designation will remain for a total of 5 years once achieved. After this time, schools/colleges will be invited to resubmit to maintain the designation.
Eligibility
ACPE-accredited schools and colleges of pharmacy.
Application Instructions
Additional details coming soon.
Key Application Areas
- Teaching
- Didactic, Experiential, Post-graduate
- Service
- Scholarship
- Leadership Support
- Partnerships
Application Review
Eligibility Review
- AACP staff will confirm that accredited schools completed the entire application, and the application will be moved through a peer review evaluation process.
Evaluation Criteria
- Reviewers will look for evidence that the school/college is committed to advancing community pharmacy practice through teaching, service, scholarship and leadership support. The strength of evidence provided will determine if the program is designated as a Center of Excellence or an Emerging Center of Excellence.
Special Thanks
This program would not have been possible without the dedicated workgroup members listed below and the support of the Community Pharmacy Foundation.
William (Bill) Doucette (Lead), Stefanie Ferreri (Lead), Jenny Bacci, Kim Coley, Bianca Daisy-Bell, Cody Clifton, Chris Daly, Kenneth Hohmeier, Nicholas Leon, Sarah Oprinovich, Sarah Ray, Jessica Robinson, Kate Rotzenberg, Kayce Shealy