Description:

            For our entrepreneurship project, my group chose to develop a pharmacy in a college town. The pharmacy design was similar to one of the current retail designs, but also included specialized services. Three critical factors that guided our design were: target population, affordability, and product and service variability.

Feelings:

            After reading our business plan, I gathered that effort and thought were placed into its completion. I feel that we did a sufficient job of outlining what the blueprint for opening an independent pharmacy would look like. I also feel that we could have brought a bit more innovation into the project. 

Evaluation:

            Our project “Billdoor” added to patient care and patient outcomes by providing health care services and accessibility to the students and faculty of the local colleges and universities. We designed our business to operate in tandem with their particular needs and varying schedules. In our initial design of the project, I believed that we prioritized being patient-care centered. Thus, there is no difference in how I view our project adding to patient outcomes then compared to now.

Analysis:

            In addition to the three factors previously noted, I would like to add collaboration. I believe that it would further develop our relationship with the existing health care community by collaborating with local physicians and providers. By creating this relationship and network, we can offer greater benefit to our customers by being knowledgeable in regards to what services local providers offer.  

Conclusion/Action:

            The primary value of “Billdoor” was providing health care services and accessibility to the local students and faculty of the local colleges and universities. In rural college towns, health care services may be difficult to access and have a slim period of hours of operation. One barrier in our project was engaging only one audience (students and faculty of the local colleges and universities). I think that expanding our target audience to more than that specific group would increase sales and benefit the surrounding community. 

       Ethics Reflection #2- Genomics Case

            Today's class discussion was centered around pharmacogenomics and genetic testing. This discussion was interesting to me because I believe that pharmacogenomics will shift the way that pharmacy is practiced. Currently, healthcare is delivered in a patient-care-centered model; However, treatment plans are still taking an all-inclusive approach. With the use of pharmacogenomics and genetic testing, we will be able to further tailor a patient's treatment plan. This will be allowing health care professions to maximize the benefits to the patient and minimize or remove unnecessary drug therapy. 

The case that we were given today was not as detailed as the two we previously had. Thus, we discussed the various viewpoints rather quickly. It was difficult for me to choose a perspective that clearly stood out as impeding on the ethical principles and rules. Nevertheless, the perspective that I found myself wrestling with was the perspective of HM's PCP. HM's PCP was exercising beneficence by requesting that HM and his family be monitored by public health. The information that would be gathered from their experience would benefit future persons diagnosed with HM's condition. HM's PCP was advocating on behalf of his profession and the overall advancement of science. On the other hand, HM's PCP was also exercising autonomy by not forcing, but rather, requesting for HM and his family members to participate in data collection. 

Fortunately, I have not had an experience where I have encountered this type of ethical dilemma. Furthermore, I am not certain how I would navigate such a topic. If I were in the shoes of HM's PCP, I believe that I would navigate the situation in the same manner. I would present all potential options and expound on the consequences of each. I would also advocate for my profession and the advancement of science. Lastly, I would hold paramount the autonomy of my patient.

The four weeks that I have spent with the staff at the Pharmacy Distribution Center (PDC) have been eye-opening. I was able to experience the application of pharmacy in a different environment. This rotation allowed me to experience practicing pharmacy which indirectly impacts the patient. The staff at the PDC play a pivotal part in ensuring that the patients in the prisons and hospitals are able to receive the medication they need. However, they are not able to establish personal connections with the patients they serve. The interpersonal relationship that is formed when assisting a customer or patient is one of the major components that attracted me to the field. Thus, this experience has reaffirmed my stance on wanting to be directly involved with those whom I serve.

On the other hand, I have developed an understanding and appreciation for the operational side of pharmacy practice. 
By removing the direct patient-care aspect of pharmacy, greater emphasis was placed on the procedural portion of the practice. I was able to see how fundamental policies and procedures are to carrying out the daily tasks of a distribution center. With this knowledge, I am able to shift my mindset and take more of an interest in the operational component of pharmacy.

After successfully completing my community rotation at Price Chopper, I felt confident and eagerly looked forward to my second IPPE rotation. Upon my arrival at the Pharmacy Distribution Center (PDC), I was taken aback. I was expecting to be in a traditional hospital setting. This was not the case. I can recall seeing what would best be described as a factory. There had to be at least 20 people in the "pharmacy". This was shocking to me because I have never seen so many people working in a "pharmacy" concurrently.

After I had checked in and received my first task, I remember thinking, "What am I going to take away from this experience?". I remember feeling disappointed in my new appointment, yet grateful for the opportunity. This was not the setting that I had planned to be in. When I thought of my institutional rotation, I thought of myself being in the hospital. I visualized myself observing and working with my preceptor on projects that would stimulate me and contribute to the growth of my novice, yet developing clinical skillset. 

Initially, my outlook on how my rotation would proceed was a negative one. I was thinking that I would miss out on the traditional hospital-setting experience that I had planned for. However, that same day, my evaluation changed. After talking with the technicians and matriculating through the day, I saw potential in this experience. I then felt encouraged and shifted my mindset to enjoy this experience. I believe that my initial reaction to the PDC was not so pleasant because I came into the experience with my own, somewhat unrealistic, expectations. Once I aligned my mindset to be more open and accepting of the experience, I began to see the learning opportunities and experiential possibilities the PDC had to offer.

It is the human condition that allows emotions to block one's vision of the possibilities that lie ahead. This is a lesson that I am learning yet again. In the healthcare field, pharmacy especially, being open-minded and flexible are attributes that I strive to carry with me throughout my career. By exercising flexibility and taking an open-minded approach, I will be able to conceive the positive possibilities in all experiences.

After completing my four-week IPPE rotation at Price Chopper at Shrewsbury, I feel that I have grown into my professional shoes considerably. I have also taken away some interesting clinical points and workflow hacks that will serve me well into my professional career as a future pharmacist. 

When I first started at Price chopper, I believed that it was going to be too quiet for me. Having had experience at a retail pharmacy, I thought that I was going to be bored the majority of the time. However, the slower pace allowed for me to have more time to discuss questions and thoroughly understand the different processes that occur in the pharmacy. In relation to my career goals as a future pharmacist, this opened my eyes to the benefits of working at a smaller pharmacy. One of the benefits of working in a slower-paced environment is that you get more time to complete your work accurately. As a pharmacist, the goal is to deliver the right drug, to the right patient, at the right time, EVERY TIME. Without an adequate amount of time to do so, medication errors are more likely to occur.

Prior to my rotation, I knew that I wanted to be in an environment that allowed me to have more time to interact with and educate customers. Throughout my duration at Price Chopper, I was continuously in awe and pleasantly satisfied with how close the pharmacy team is with their customers. They were able to know their customers on a first-name basis majority of the time. Coming from a larger retail pharmacy this is almost nonexistent. I was able to see the relationships that were created and valued by both, the team and the customers. This was a clear example of how I want and strive to interact with customers as I mature in the field as a pharmacist.

The event that has left me the most confused is the clinical or therapeutic side of dispensing drugs. Although we have dug into medication-related problems, such as drug duplication errors, drug-drug interaction errors, etc. I am still having a hard time understanding the reading or rationale of the error due to the lack of clinical background (or therapeutics). When entering a prescription for a customer and the claim routes to adjudication, I immediately feel a slight bit nervous. I think this is due to me feeling nervous that I may not know how to interpret the error. My evaluation of this kind of event is bitter and sweet. Sweet in the sense that this is a learning experience and my preceptor has created an open space for me to ask all questions. Bitter because I want to be able to resolve the claim for the customer. I believe that I have experienced a bittersweet emotion due to my nerves and the expectation that is set. As an IPPE student, I feel the need to always show improvement and retention of information while matriculating through my IPPE rotation. In the future, I plan on working on data entry more. Instead of shying away from the adjudication queue, I will make more of an effort to resolve issues in this queue.

     According to the Pharmacists’ Inventory of Learning Styles (PILS), my dominant learning style was determined to be a Producer. The producer is described to be one who: prefers working alone or in small groups, avoids being the center of attention, learns from others and personal experiences, prioritizes thorough work, and values organization and attention to detail. I could not have been more surprised by the accuracy of this description. I value organization and flow when working or learning. I also value receiving guidance from others and completing my working placing accuracy above timeliness. I feel that my learning style description was spot on and paralleled my own thoughts in regard to how I learned prior to taking the assessment. I must admit it is satisfying to know that I was privy to some of my learning style characteristics. 

     The two learning styles that work best for me are single session spaced learning (the Pomodoro method) and retrieval practices. Single session spaced learning works best for me because it incorporated breaks into the study session. I can get easily distracted when having to engage for long periods of time. But, by integrating several breaks into my study time, I am able to study for a longer period of time in totality. Retrieval practices like practice questions and self-quizzing are great learning techniques for me due to its repetitive nature. The learning style that does not work for me is interleaving. Interleaving is a learning style in which you learn the material out of sequence. Being that I prefer to learn in a sequential manner, utilizing interleaving would result in feeling a bit chaotic and confused. In the future, I will try to incorporate more organizational and retrieval techniques, because they work well for me. I will also work on maintaining an even balance of importance on accuracy and timeliness.

     On October 2, 2020, I recited the pledge of a pharmacy student with my peers—the future graduating class of 2023. On this day, I also recited the pledge to my mother. To me, the pledge of a pharmacy student represents my oath to the journey that I am embarking on. The pledge marks my commitment to myself, the greater community that I intend to serve, and, ultimately, the profession of pharmacy. Lastly, the pledge is my reminder that I stated that I would bear the title of being a pharmacy student with honor, integrity, and professionalism.

      While reciting the pledge, I was filled with mixed emotions. I felt nervous because of the role that I recognized I was stepping into. These are HUGE shoes to fill. I felt honored because the faculty at MCPHS demonstrate that they believe in my ability to complete this program and excel in the practice. Lastly, I was proud to dwell in the moment and acknowledge how far I’ve come in order to experience this. This was definitely a positive experience. Due to COVID19, my class did not have a white coat ceremony. This was a great way to allow us to have our moment, even if it wasn’t the traditional way. 

      Two aspects of the pledge that I have incorporated into my daily activities are practicing excellence and being cognizant of ongoing reassessment of my personal and professional values. Now more than before, I see the importance of not taking short cuts or putting in half the work—for they will not serve me on this journey. This will be a long, trial-filled road, but I will succeed!

I) Description

1. Interactions with patients
2. Work schedule
3. Problem-solving 
4. Applying clinical knowledge
5. Working with teams

My best match – Ambulatory Care Pharmacy

II) Feelings

           I was so excited to find out my best-matched career path was with ambulatory care! I enjoying working directly with patients like I currently do as a pharmacy technician. In the ambulatory care setting, you are given more time to work with patients individually. Thus, I would be able to make a difference in improving health literacy with each patient.

III) Evaluation

           I think that my best match is a good fit for me. As stated before, I currently work in a pharmacy. I like the patient interactions, but I feel like patients are not able to get the individual attention they need from the pharmacist. I think that on the ambulatory care pathway, I will have the ability to individually counsel and empower patients to take control of their health through health education. I will also have the flexibility of working in both institutional and community settings.

IV) Analysis

            Ambulatory care pharmacy is a good fit for me because it allows me to have the majority of what I want in a career path. In ambulatory care, I can: have a flexible work schedule, interact with patients, consistently apply clinical knowledge, and work with a team. The two main cons of this career path are the volume of documentation per patient and the pharmacist to patient ratio. There are too few pharmacists to serve the large volume of patients that come to the pharmacy.

V) Conclusion

            Besides ambulatory care pharmacy, my second-best match career path was office-based medication management. Office-based medication management is an area of pharmacy that highlights the consultation aspect of pharmacy. This is truly allotted time for the pharmacist/provider and patient to sit and discuss best practices for a patient on an individualized basis. In order to pursue this path, I would need to: complete my PharmD program, complete a residency program, and complete specialized certificate training. 

     I still remember my initial impression of Service and Care in the Community (SCC). I was looking forward to this class. I had a desire to help the people in the community. However, that all changed due to Covid19. Due to the pandemic, SCC had to be revamped. Instead of matriculating into the community and providing service, we were going to have in-class discussions and presentations to supplement our learning. Although I was disappointed by not being able to physically do community service, I left this class with many ideas that will aid and contribute to my growth as a future pharmacist. 

     Many topics generated thought-provoking conversations. However, the topic that left the biggest impression on me was the discussion on Root Cause Analysis. Though the topic is quite simple, it can have a sizable impact when put into practice. As a pharmacy technician, this is one of the lessons that I put to use. When working in a fast-paced environment, things can go wrong quickly if everyone is not on one accord. There was an incident when a script was not able to be located. Instead of watching my colleague frantically search for the script, I offered to remake the prescription in order to no longer delay the customer. Once the transaction was completed, my colleague and I began to think of all the possible reasons why the script could have been misplaced. As we worked down the list of the possible options, we were able to locate the script. It was in the wrong waiting bin slot. We concluded that the cause of the script being misplaced was due to feeling the pressure of having to put the prescriptions away promptly before they pile up. In order to alleviate the stress, our pharmacy team decided that the person at pick-up should focus solely on the customers and the rest of the team could take turns filing the prescriptions. 

     As an aspiring pharmacist, I must be able to problem-solve issues as they arise. By utilizing Root Cause Analysis, I have a systematic way of thinking about an issue in an attempt to solve the issue and find a way to prevent it from reoccurring. As future pharmacists, we should not allow a problem to persist. Instead, we should present solutions.

Three of my career goals are:

1)    Become a licensed Pharmacist in NY and Washington, D.C.

2)    Contribute “in any capacity” to Diabetic Research

3)    Outreach to the community and provide voluntary services in local health centers and/or establishments

______________________________________________________________________________

     Volunteering and providing acts of service has always stirred up feelings of satisfaction and gratitude. These acts were exemplified by my family members who worked in the healthcare field but also taught to me from a young age. When choosing a career path, I wanted to couple my desire to acquire and relay knowledge with the act of providing service—AND I discovered both in pharmacy. 

      I started working as a pharmacy technician during the senior year of my undergraduate studies. Initially, the job was to earn money but later birthed a genuine career interest. I was enthralled with the pharmacists and the nature of their work. Their professionalism and knowledgeability were qualities that I attempted to emulate. In hopes of being in their position one day. 

      Working as a technician, removed the veil of glamor that is associated with being a “Dr.” and pin-pointed both the highs and the pitfalls of the profession. Pharmacists do not always get the recognition that they should. However, are team players and play an integral part in patient recovery and/or prevention process. This idea resonates with me because it is not always about who gets the credit, but that someone was beneficially impacted by an act or service. My work in the pharmacy further revealed the prevalence of diabetes and hypertension in all communities. Be it an affluent or impoverished community, customers routinely came to collect their diabetic or hypertension medications. 

The worksheet is attached below.

The Roles Inventory was a great activity. The execution was implemented differently from past years, but the activity was successful in allowing the different health care professions to engage with one another. One responsibility of an acupuncturist that I did not previously know, was that they have the ability to administer medication in the form of Chinese herbs. After the activity, I left with no new information in regard to the responsibilities of an entry-level pharmacist; However, I left with more knowledge and understanding of other professions. I was a bit disappointed that I was not able to interact with my peers from other professions for a longer period of time. I think that with a little more time, the discussions in the breakout rooms would have gotten more in-depth. However, I was glad to see that my peers were so knowledgeable about their field and their potential impacts on patient care. 

            As stated before, this was a great activity. I think that allowing students to educate and collaborate with their peers is a great way to facilitate learning in a less formal manner. Looking back on the event, this was a positive experience. I can now say that I have a surface-level knowledge of the other 10 professions, and I know what some of their responsibilities are. This activity allowed me to see how working in a more diversified patient-centered team can significantly improve patient outcomes, and serves as an advantage for patients in many ways. One major advantage is knowing that your patients’ care plan is not only planned in accordance with evidence-based practices but also the plan is therapeutically cross-checked by varying professionals. Each professional is able to use their expertise and verify that the approved plan is the best for the patient. This reduces errors. Also, with the varying levels of authority, the patient is given more options in regards to different methods of diagnosis and treatment. Reflecting back on this activity, I see why it is pertinent to be comprehensive and competent in your area of expertise as a professional. As a future pharmacist, I will be looked to as the drug expert and others will rely on information that I give. To be an effective and efficient team member, I need to bring the most current and accurate information to the team and to all that I counsel.

Co-Curricular Activity Documentation Form

Students must answer all items below to receive credit.

1. Student Name/ID#: Shaneequa Bennett
2. Expected Year of Graduation: 2023
3. Name of Activity: Tips on Writing Career Goals
4. Date of Activity: September 8, 2020
5. Name of Presenter(s)/Activity Leader(s): Jeanette Doyle
6. If this activity was identified by a student, was an approval obtained from Dr. Abir Kanaan? N/A
7. In 150-200 words, please describe how the activity contributed to your professional and/or personal development

            The activity I attended was on career goals. Specifically, Dr. Doyle expounded on how to create, and achieve one’s career goals—or any set goal. This lecture presented a new technique that I could use when creating goals. Previously, I would create a goal without setting a specific time frame on when that goal should be completed. I also would not set up checkpoints to measure my progress toward completing a goal. This would result in me becoming discouraged or forgetting the goal I had set altogether. By using the S.M.A.R.T goal method, I will have a way of gauging if the goal I set is measurable, achievable, and set a time on when it should be completed. This lecture contributed to both my personal and professional development by shifting my perspective on how to create a well-planned goal. With the use of this method, I hope to see an increase in both my follow-through and completion of my future goals.

Co-Curricular Activity Documentation Form

Students must answer all items below to receive credit.

1. Student Name/ID#: Shaneequa Bennett
2. Expected Year of Graduation: 2023
3. Name of Activity: Introduction to Mindfulness Practice
4. Date of Activity: October 6, 2020
5. Name of Presenter(s)/Activity Leader(s): Maryann Cooper, Cheryl Durand, Christine McNulty-Buckley
6. If this activity was identified by a student, was an approval obtained from Dr. Abir Kanaan? N/A
7. In 150-200 words, please describe how the activity contributed to your professional and/or personal development

I was particularly interested in the topic of mindfulness because of the developing self-awareness component associated. We began the activity with a breathing exercise. The exercise was calming and much needed before my biochemistry exam. The presenter then moved on and discussed the origin of mindfulness and how it can be cultivated. One important thing that I took away from the activity was that meditation and mindfulness, though related, are two different things. Meditation is the activity or action that develops mindfulness. Mindfulness, on the other hand, is a quality that is possessed. I also learned that by cultivating mindfulness I could better: manage stress, my quality of sleep, and develop my sense of awareness. This activity was present at a time when I am working on developing health stress management skills and habits. This activity will contribute to my professional and personal development by aiding me in coping with stress in my day to day life and improving my quality of sleep. By better managing stress and improving my sleep quality, I will be better equipped to show up in the present moment and serve as an aspiring professional. These are skills that will serve me for a lifetime.