U of T Pharmacy open house signals new focus

School may be almost out for the summer, but for a group of industry leaders, alumni and others, May 24 presented an opportunity to go back to pharmacy school and find out what students will be learning as they kick off their pharmacy education this fall. The Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto invited the pharmacy community to an Open House event to introduce its five-year academic plan. The new strategy is built on six key themes: Champion equity, diversity and inclusion Educate pharmacy for tomorrow Deliver impact through cutting-edge discovery Build leadership, wellness and community Advance use of digital technology Support sustainability in healthcare Dean Lisa Dolovich addressed the guests and explained that to meet these goals and prepare pharmacists for the post-pandemic reality of healthcare in Canada, the curriculum at the school will change quite significantly over the next couple of years. Even the building itself—which was newly built in 2006—will change, with the student-led pharmacy, known as the Discovery Pharmacy, moving to the ground floor of the building to be more accessible to the community. Even before the discover of insulin by U of T researchers Banting and Best back in 1922, medical research has been a cornerstone of the pharmacy and medical faculties. A new funding push and increased collaboration with other disciplines and community sectors will drive an ongoing focus on innovation and productivity in drug discovery and novel technologies. Read: New CAPSI president Christine Vaccaro shares her goals and motivation Lab tours and mini lectures by current teaching and research staff put context to many aspects of the new plan, and poster displays by students illustrated some of the innovative thinking being encouraged in the new curriculum. One important initiative already underway in the curriculum is new Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Management (LEM) certificate program for Pharm D students. Led by Zubin Austin, the program is designed to equip graduating pharmacists with the skills and confidence to take on advanced roles in the profession, particularly leadership roles that can help determine and improve all aspects of health policy. In addition to the LEM program, the curriculum will include more opportunities for pharmacy students to build their leadership and business skills and to think like entrepreneurs, including a student business plan competition, a Leader in Residence program and participation in the Discovery Pharmacy research and education hub for pharmacy innovation. More information about the new academic plan can be found on the faculty website Read: The steps towards pharmacy ownership

U of T Pharmacy open house signals new focus

Register for free access or login.

Related Topics