New & Improved Curriculum??

[MuraRX]

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I recently went to an interview at "X" school of pharmacy where the dean spoke to us about why their program has an advantage over others due to their heavy focus on experiential learning and case studies. As current and former pharmacy students, do you think there is too much emphasis put on memorization and not enough on problem solving (ie. case studies) and patient interaction? If you've already graduated and you are now doing a residency or working in a clinical setting, do you feel that you were prepared for it right after graduation?

I'm a pre-pharm student, hoping to get my choice of schools this year (still waiting on a few more replies). The reason I ask is because I'm trying to decide if "X" school's way is a new and improved way of preparing future pharmacists, or if the conventional way (mostly memorization) is just as, if not more, effective.

Thanks for any feedback! 🙂

 

[Trancelucent1]

UF's curriculum is highly highly focused on case studies and clinical scenarios. I've spoken with preceptors who've said that they feel this type of learning really prepares students. I've also heard that students from these types of programs are more independent in clinical settings. I go on rotations in 5 weeks so i'll know then but I definately feel prepared. That being said I also plan on doing a residency and the students that i've seen in residency programs locally for the most part came from big, research schools. I've found that these types of schools tend to focus more on case-based learning and patient interaction-type of learning. This of course is a generalization as this is not the case for all schools.

 

[rxlynn]

I recently went to an interview at "X" school of pharmacy where the dean spoke to us about why their program has an advantage over others due to their heavy focus on experiential learning and case studies. \

Thanks for any feedback! 🙂

Just FYI - some of these changes may be because of ACPE changes. My class (I'm a P1) is being required to do some very different things for our early experiences and having to document more hours for those experiences than the prior classes. We have been expressely told that this is at least partly due to changes in what ACPE expects for continued accreditation. Also, we have already had some case-based experiences in a couple of classes.