Can someone at UT give me some more info on the curriculum? UT had always been my top choice until I had my interview at Tech. I was totally impressed by the technology and clinical focus in Texas Tech curriculum. They just completed their simulation center with mannequin patient plugged into hospital monitors. It was the coolest thing I have ever seen.
After Texas Tech, I had three other interviews(UH, A&M, UT); but I keep thinking about what I saw in Amarillo. Obviously, I don't know if I am accepted yet. But I would like to get more info in case I am fortunate enough to get into both schools. I feel so torn.
So, for the current UT students, how does UT prepare you for clinical pharmacy? Like what kind of hands-on training do you get? Do they do things like hiring actor patients for mock scenarios? The professor at Tech told us they use the simulation and mock scenarios to give the students a chance to practice and make mistakes on NON-living patients.
How about immunization? When and how do you get the training? Do you get to practice on fake arms first? I am sure UT prepares you well for book knowledge, I just want to know if you get enough hands-on experience, too.
By the way, how would you rate the professors at your school? Is UT a great school because they have awesome teachers, or is it because the students they choose are awesome already, so they learn and master most of the materials on their own? Or both?
Thanks a bunch! 😉
Sorry for such a late response - almost every UT pharmacy student has been hiding in a study cave for the last month. I love reading these threads...when pharmacy school gets really rough, its nice to see this thread and realize how many people would love to be in my shoes.
Anyway, UTCOP definitely prepares you for clinical pharmacy. Infact, they're placing more emphasis on it than I think is necessary, considering how few of the student body will go into that field. During your P2 Fall semester, you'll take a course called "Patient Assessment." In this class, you'll basically learn how to do a physical exam on a patient (blood pressure, reflexes, cranial nerve tests, eye exams, ear exams, respiratory exams, listening to the heart, etc etc). In lab you practice on your partner, but during the lab practical exams, they have an actual patient you need to perform the exams on. You also take a course called "Clinical Skills" during P2 Spring semester. In this course, you learn how to navigate patient charts, and you get immunization and CPR-certified. Finally, you have 3 semesters of Pharmacotherapeutics lab. You are given a paper case of a patient, including their chief complaint, labs, history of present illness, meds, etc. You and your group have to diagnose the patient and write a SOAP note on what actions should be taken (therapeutic lifestyle changes, patient education, meds, etc). In later semesters of the course, you will need to present the patient and your diagnosis to a group of professors, who will ask you difficult questions on the spot to test your true knowledge of the disease state and medications.
There are probably more courses, but I have not taken them yet. Overall, I think I'm getting an extremely well-rounded pharmacy education, and I know I'll be prepared for whatever aspect of the profession I choose.