Preceptor Newsletter
Office of Experiential Education at the College of Pharmacy
Message from Dean Lynda Welage
Dear Preceptors,
As Dean of the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, I want to thank you for your help in preparing the next generation of pharmacists. I know time is valuable and often scarce with your busy schedules, so I greatly appreciate your dedication to sharing your expertise and help in training our students for practice.
Even before starting as Dean two months ago, I heard great things about the Minnesota pharmacy community. I am very excited to now be a part of it, and I look forward to meeting you and learning more about you and your practice.
Over the next several months, I will be traveling around the state to meet as many people as I can. I will be at MPhA’s Southeast Minnesota Pharmacist Night Extravaganzapalooza in Rochester on Oct. 12, and have tentatively scheduled an event in Duluth for later in the month. I will share the dates of other get-togethers as the details are confirmed. Please watch for an invitation soon in your inbox, and join us if your schedule allows.
I look forward to meeting with you, and listening and learning to achieve our shared vision for the College of Pharmacy.
Thank you,
Lynda S. Welage, PharmD, FCCP
Dean
Highlights from our Career Fair / Preceptor Development Program
Thank you to all who were able to attend the Preceptor Development Program during Career Fair Day in September on the TC and Duluth Campuses. UMN CoP Class of 2012 Alumnus Dr. Robert Mueller spoke to preceptors about his experience precepting multiple learners at Froedtert Hospital where he was a resident and at his clinical practice site of St Joseph's Ascension where he is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice with Concordia University Wisconsin School of Pharmacy. He presented shared and individualized approaches to manage teams of residents, APPE, and IPPE students.
Dr. Mueller explained, at Froedtert, 57 students and 35 residents are dispersed across 30 rotations. Froedtert uses shared orientations, presentations, and expectations for all students, which are jointly managed by the preceptors. This has allowed expanded services as students are integrated into the hospital’s regular workflow while giving residents experience as preceptors.
At St. Joseph, Ascension, a smaller cohort of 38 students and 8 residents are spread across 11 rotations. Less constant cohorts of students has required an individualized approach, where preceptors tailor a unique experience to the needs of each student while providing close feedback and attention.
Dr. Mueller recommends that a successful site blend both approaches and multiple teaching methods in developing a model where residents can be integrated into precepting while the preceptor provides custom feedback and tasks to meet the professional needs of each student.
Dr. Mueller speaking to preceptors in our ITV classroom
Robert Mueller, PharmD and Christene Jolowsky, MS, RPh, FASHP
Student Perspective
ANI Pharmaceuticals Hosts First Pharmacy Student
This year ANI Pharmaceuticals in Baudette MN hosted their first pharmacy student. Max Thompson (pictured left) is a P4 student. His preceptor, Sarah Betterman, is an engineer and Manager of Product Development at ANI Pharmaceuticals. They have shared this experience with us and we are sharing it with all of you. Read more about Max ad Sarah's experiences
Preceptors Recognized by Others
Awardees from the Minnesota Pharmacists Association Annual Learning Networking Event held in September
Preceptor Molly Ekstrand, RPh, MPhA Past President, preceptor Michelle Aytay, RPh MPhA President, Tom Nilsson, Pharmacists Mutual with preceptor Kati Dvorak, PharmD
Kati Dvorak, PharmD is a preceptor and practioner at Firstlight Health system in Mora, Minnesota. She received The Distinguished Young Pharmacist Award Sponsored by Pharmacists Mutual Companies at the MPhA Annual Learning event in September. This award recognizes one pharmacist in each state for individual excellence and outstanding contributions as a pharmacist, and to professional associations and their community.
Kati plays an essential role in expanding the MTM practice at the First Light Health System's Moral Hospital and is an excellent preceptor for students and residents. She is an integral part of multidisciplinary teams and is respected by her peers for the quality and detail of her individual patient care plans. Kati cares for patients both in the hospital and in the community and is passionate about refining the transition of care process.
Kati shares with her students the importance of leadership in the profession through her involvement with Minnesota Pharmacists Association, Speaker of the House, and American Pharmacists Association - House of Delegates, Delegate for Minnesota. View Kati's FirstLight profile
Preceptor Michelle Aytay, RPh MPhA President, preceptor Molly Ekstrand, RPh, MPhA Past President, Laura Palombi, PharmD, and Mark Amundson from Cardinal Health. Read more about their award
Preceptor Molly Ekstrand, RPh, MPhA Past President, preceptor Todd Sorensen, PharmD, and preceptor Michelle Aytay, RPh MPhA President. Read more about the award
Ann Philbrick, PharmD, BCPS Elected as a Fellow of ACCP
Congratulations to Associate Professor Ann Philbrick for her recognition as a fellow of ACCP. Ann is a preceptor at her clinical practice site, Bethesda Family Medicine Clinic.
APhA Pinnacle Award: Daniel Rehrauer
Daniel Rehrauer, PharmD, and his team at HealthPartners received a Pinnacle Award from the American Pharmacists Association. Watch a video describing the impressive outcomes of HealthPartners’ Medication Therapy Management Program. Dan and the HealthPartners pharmacists are preceptors for students during their Amulatory Care, Community and Elective rotations.
Meet the Class of 2021
This year, the college received 624 applications and admitted 168 students in its PharmD Professional Program (60 in Duluth, 108 in the Twin Cities).
Here's a look at this year's incoming class:
- Average GPA: 3.4
- Average Science GPA: 3.27
- Average PCAT Composite: 78%
- Bachelor's degree or higher completed: 92%
- Master's or doctoral degree completed: 4%
- 77% Minnesota residents
- 10% international students
- Average of 22 months paid healthcare experience
- 61% female, 39% male
- Average age: 25
- 43% attended the University of Minnesota
- 42% speak two or more languages
Class of 2017 NAPLEX at 97%
Class of 2017 PharmD students passed the NAPLEX at 97%, returning to our previous high and proving that our new curriculum has been successful in preparing our students. Combined with new curricular efforts, Office of Student Services has increased efforts to improve job search preparation and opportunities, which has also led to one of our highest placement rates soon after graduation, with 88% already confirming a placement after graduation (46% employed, 39% residency, 2% fellowship, 1% further education, 6% still seeking, 6% no response). Thank you, preceptors, for helping to prepare our students for their pharmacy careers!
Experiential Education Calendar of Events
APPE
- 10/2/17 - 11/3/17 APPE Block 5
- 11/6/17 - 12/15/17 APPE Block 6 (students complete 5 of the 6 weeks; this provides time to attend ASHP Midyear)
- 11/23/17 - 11/24/17 University Holidays (students excused from site)
- 1/8/18 - 2/16/18 APPE Block 7 (students complete 5 of the 6 weeks; this provides time to attend interviews, etc)
- 2/19/18 - 3/23/18 APPE Block 8
- 3/26/18 - 4/27/18 APPE Block 9
IPPE
Future Newsletters
Have an idea for a future newsletter item, would like to provide content, or have a topic you would like included in a future issue? Email COPExpEd@umn.edu. We are always looking for contributors!
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