The University of Alberta’s (U of A) Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences recently established a new advisory council to provide input on the future direction of its PharmD program. The faculty is seeking 10 practising pharmacists from across Alberta to join as members of the council.
The PharmD Program Advisory Council (PAC) will play a crucial role in providing advice and guidance to the faculty’s Curriculum Committee in various areas, including curriculum content, clinical education experiences, and policies and procedures (e.g., admissions).
The U of A’s Director of the PharmD Program and the Chair of the Curriculum Committee, Jill Hall, said “they are looking for candidates from diverse settings with a range of experiences from across the province.”
“We welcome recent and not-so-recent graduates—what is really important to us is getting input from folks practising across Alberta who feel they have something to contribute,” said Jill. “We want to have a diverse representation so that we can consider how to better prepare students for real-world practice across the various opportunities available to them.”
Jill provided a few examples of what the PAC will consider, including how students can be better prepared for different practice settings, such as practising in rural environments, and practice roles, including those providing care to specific populations or those working in non-direct patient care roles.
Jill added that they are also specifically interested in improving the PharmD curriculum from an equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility perspective.
“We recognize the importance of equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racist practices in shaping the future of pharmacy education and are also specifically inviting pharmacists who represent equity-seeking groups.”
Jill said pharmacists who want to make a difference and contribute to their profession should consider applying.
“I think this opportunity will be of interest to those who want to make a difference and have their voice heard,” said Jill. “The efforts of the PAC will impact our students’ preparedness for the future of pharmacy practice and members will have an opportunity to connect with faculty, share their perspectives, and contribute to the future of their profession.”
When selecting candidates, consideration will be given to practice type to ensure members can bring expertise and experience from a variety of practice settings.
The 10 pharmacist members will join representatives from the U of A, ACP, and the Alberta Pharmacists’ Association for virtual meetings two to three times each year. A token of appreciation will be provided for members’ participation at each meeting. For those interested in applying, applications can be submitted via the U of A’s Google Form application by Wednesday, January 24, 2024. For more information, email Jill at jhall@ualberta.ca.
