Academic Calendar

Curriculum

30% of pharmacy courses are offered through active learning exercises

The College of Pharmacy at NEOMED offers an innovative and interprofessional curriculum that blends classroom and practice experiences to give graduates the knowledge, skills and professionalism that is necessary to succeed as pharmacists.

Central themes build a foundation

The curriculum is organized to give each year a central theme that serves as a foundation for each successive year. Courses are developed and integrated to establish the annual theme to allow students to learn information in the classroom, apply that knowledge and practice pharmacy skills in experiential sites.

Year 1 Theme: Dosage Forms

The cornerstone of pharmacy practice is to know the medication products that pharmacists dispense. Students need to understand the various forms by which medication can be effectively administered to patients and the advantages of the different routes of administration. Students must also have the knowledge and skill to compound a new form of medication if the patient situation necessitates such activity. Students will learn about the anatomy, biochemistry and physiology of the human body to aid in selection of appropriate routes of drug administration. They will gain a thorough understanding of the various physiological and drug formulation factors that influence the rate and extent of drug release from various delivery sites. The ability to search and analyze the medical literature enables the student to recommend new forms of therapy to healthcare providers when available medication and dosage forms do not meet the patient’s needs. Interaction with medical students in classrooms and in simulated patient care situations will build communication skills in these situations.

Year 2 Theme: Medication Use Systems

Pharmacists are responsible for providing medication to patients in an optimal dosage form that is appropriate for administration. Students will work closely with healthcare providers and patients to ensure the right drug is prescribed, documented and dispensed and will learn the pharmacology of drug action as well as the science behind the absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination of drug molecules. Students will use this knowledge to guide the selection of the appropriate drug and dose as well as to counsel the patient on expected outcome and adverse effects. Technology in the form of mechanized dispensing systems, computerized prescribing and electronic patient profiles offer increased speed and efficiency in providing medication to the patient. Students will be exposed to and become competent in using this technology at various practice sites and will become certified in several skills including administering immunizations and Medication Therapy Management (MTM) services. Interaction with medical students will
continue with a comprehensive self-directed interprofessional team project.

Year 3 Theme: Patient Safety

Society expects healthcare providers to heal and protect it from adverse outcomes. Pharmacists are charged with providing medication that is individualized for the patient based upon medical needs, limitations imposed by disease processes and the potential for adverse events while being error free in dispensing prescription drugs. Students will develop an understanding and appreciation of pharmacotherapeutics as they are
immersed in pathophysiology, pharmacology and management of disease with therapeutic agents. Students will continue to grow as a pharmacist by developing skills in patient assessment, therapeutic decision making and monitoring of patient outcomes, while gaining an appreciation for the outcome of individual patients. Students will also learn how to manage populations of patients through institutional medication safety programs. Interactions with medical students in this step may occur in interprofessional case discussions, standardized patient encounters, health fairs and immunization clinics. Experiences in class and in practice settings will prepare students to enter full time patient contact in year four where they will share in the care of and decisions concerning patients.

Year 4 Theme: Patient-centered Care

In the fourth year, students will be directly involved in patient care at acute care, ambulatory care and pharmacy practice settings. They will work with healthcare teams to assess patient medical problems, decide on therapeutic and non-therapeutic care and assume responsibility of monitoring patient outcomes. This time will be an opportunity to apply the knowledge and experience they have gained from the previous three years to patient care. High quality pharmacist preceptors who invite you to share their professional responsibilities and personal fulfillment of caring for patients will mentor students. As the year progresses, they will grow in comfort and skill for guiding decisions and interacting with patients.