Advancing Pharmacy Education and Workforce Development Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: Report of the 2020-2021 AACP Academic Affairs Committee

• Published in: American journal of pharmaceutical education 2021-11, Vol.85 (10), p.8716-1158, Article 8716
• Main Authors: Bzowyckyj, Andrew S., Blake, Elizabeth, Crabtree, Brian, Edwards, Krystal L., Franks, Amy M., Gonyeau, Michael, Rospond, Raylene, Turner, Kyle, Gandhi, Nidhi, Ragucci, Kelly
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: AACP Report; Classroom response systems; Collaboration; College admissions; Committees; Core curriculum; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; curriculum; Drug stores; Education; Education, Pharmacy; Educational aspects; Educational Environment; Educational technology; Employee development; Epidemics; Humans; Independent study; Laboratories; Learner Engagement; Learning; Learning Strategies; Pandemics; Pharmaceutical Education; Pharmaceutical sciences; Pharmacists; Pharmacy; Pharmacy colleges; Polls & surveys; practice advancement; SARS-CoV-2; Schools; Schools, Pharmacy; Special Needs Students; Strategic planning; Student participation; Students, Pharmacy; Study and teaching; Teaching; Teaching Methods; technology; United States; virtual learning; Workforce
• ISSN: 0002-9459; 1553-6467
• DOI: 10.5688/ajpe8716

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The 2020-2021 Academic Affairs Committee was charged to (1) Read all six reports from the 2019-20 AACP standing committees to identify elements of these reports that are relevant to your committee’s work this year; (2) Determine what changes made in colleges and schools of pharmacy during the COVID-19 pandemic should be continued to advance pharmacy education; (3) Develop a realistic model for colleges and schools of pharmacy to share resources to meet the curricular needs of member schools; (4) Create strategies by which colleges and schools of pharmacy can meet current and future workforce development needs particularly in light of the changes in healthcare delivery as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; (5) Identify salient activities for the Center To Accelerate Pharmacy Practice Transformation and Academic Innovation (CTAP) for consideration by the AACP Strategic Planning Committee and AACP staff. This report provides an overview of changes made in schools and colleges of pharmacy implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that may be continued to advance pharmacy education; a realistic model for colleges and schools of pharmacy to share resources to meet the curricular needs of member schools; and strategies by which schools and colleges of pharmacy can meet current and future workforce development needs, particularly in light of the changes in healthcare delivery as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The committee is proposing one policy statement for consideration by the 2021 AACP House of Delegates, four suggestions for consideration by schools and colleges of pharmacy (including two endorsements for suggestions from the 2020-21 Argus Commission), and one recommendation for consideration by AACP for CTAP to implement and oversee.