Pediatric patient care is a specialized area of pharmacy that requires a deep understanding that children are not simply small adults. Their physiology, pharmacokinetics, and developmental stages present unique challenges in medication therapy management. The Pharm.D. curriculum dedicates significant time to this special population, covering everything from common ambulatory conditions like otitis media to the … Read more
Geriatric patient care is a specialized field that requires a unique approach to medication management. Older adults often experience age-related physiological changes that alter drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, increasing their susceptibility to adverse drug events. As highlighted in the advanced patient care and skills lab curricula, pharmacists are central to optimizing therapy in this population … Read more
Pharmacogenomics (PGx) is at the forefront of personalized medicine, studying how an individual’s genetic makeup influences their response to drugs. For pharmacists, PGx is a powerful tool to optimize medication therapy, enhance efficacy, and prevent adverse drug events. The Pharm.D. curriculum integrates pharmacogenomics across various courses, from the “Principles of Drug Therapy Individualization” to advanced … Read more
Enteral nutrition (EN), or tube feeding, is the preferred method for providing nutritional support to patients who have a functioning gastrointestinal tract but are unable to meet their needs through oral intake. The pharmacist’s role in managing patients on enteral nutrition is multifaceted and critical for patient safety. As detailed in the Professional Practice Skills … Read more
Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) is a complex, life-sustaining intravenous therapy that provides complete nutritional support to patients who are unable to use their gastrointestinal tract. The pharmacist plays a central and critical role on the nutrition support team, responsible for everything from calculating a patient’s specific macronutrient and electrolyte needs to ensuring the sterile compounding … Read more
The “Test and Treat” model represents a significant evolution in the scope of pharmacy practice, empowering pharmacists to play a more direct role in managing acute, minor health conditions. As outlined in the Professional Practice Skills Lab and Pharmacy Law curricula, pharmacists operating under specific state protocols or collaborative practice agreements can now perform point-of-care … Read more
Pharmacokinetics, often described as what the body does to a drug, is a fundamental science for every pharmacist. It provides the essential framework for individualizing drug therapy to maximize efficacy while minimizing toxicity. The Principles of Drug Therapy Individualization and advanced skills lab curricula focus heavily on core pharmacokinetic concepts such as clearance, volume of … Read more
Inpatient rounding is a cornerstone of modern clinical pharmacy practice, where pharmacists function as integral members of the interprofessional healthcare team. This dynamic, collaborative process involves reviewing patient cases, optimizing medication regimens, and making evidence-based recommendations directly to physicians and nurses at the point of care. As emphasized in the Professional Practice Skills Lab and … Read more
Epilepsy is a complex neurological disorder characterized by a predisposition to generate seizures, requiring careful, long-term, and highly individualized patient care. For pharmacists, managing epilepsy pharmacotherapy is a significant responsibility that involves deep knowledge of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), including their mechanisms, side effect profiles, and drug interaction potentials. As outlined in the advanced patient care … Read more
Effective communication is a cornerstone of pharmacy practice, and a key component of this is the ability to deliver clear, engaging, and informative educational presentations. As a PharmD student and future pharmacist, you will be expected to educate diverse audiences, including patients, nurses, physicians, and other healthcare professionals. The skills lab and experiential readiness curricula … Read more
