February 2019 Vol. 2 No. 1
Welcome to the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Newsletter for Experiential Partners and Preceptors! Newsletters will share updates about the School and Experiential Programs, recognize our preceptors and students, and provide teaching pearls for preceptors.
New Faculty
Kathryn Fuller, PharmD
Director of Practice Experiences: Health Systems
kafuller@email.unc.edu
Kathryn Fuller joined the Office of Experiential Programs in November 2018 as the Director of Practice Experiences: Health Systems and as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of Practice Advancement and Clinical Education. In this role, she will work directly with Immersion and Advanced Immersion Experience sites, students, and preceptors to ensure high-quality educational environments in health systems and nontraditional pharmacy sites. Kathryn will serve as the primary contact for student and preceptor concerns at health system, ambulatory care, and nontraditional pharmacy sites.
Kathryn’s passion for student success in the clinical setting started during her training, as she had several opportunities to directly impact the education of students in the ambulatory care and inpatient environments. Prior to joining the Office of Experiential Programs, Kathryn completed a PGY1 residency at the University of North Carolina Medical Center and an academic fellowship with the School where she contributed to the development and implementation of the new curriculum. During her fellowship, Kathryn also worked part-time as a pharmacist at WakeMed. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy in 2015.
Preceptor Recognition
Congratulations to our preceptors who are recent NCAP awardees! We appreciate how you serve as professional role models to students.
Bowl of Hygeia – Davie Waggett, BSPharm, RPh at Seashore Discount Drug
Excellence in Innovation – Rebecca Grandy, PharmD, BCACP, CPP at MAHEC Family Health Center
Community Care Pharmacist of the Year – Jennifer Burch, PharmD, CDE, CPP at Central Compounding Center
McKesson Leadership Award – Debra Kemp, PharmD, BCPS
NCPA Leadership Award – Debra Kemp, PharmD, BCPS at the Durham VA Health Care System
President’s Service Award – Nita Johnston, PharmD at Cone Health
Preceptor Spotlight
Rebecca Grandy completed her undergraduate and pharmacy degrees at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Afterward, she completed an ASHP accredited residency in the ambulatory care setting with Mission Hospital and MAHEC. Her practice sites at MAHEC Family Medicine include the main campus at Biltmore and a small, rural satellite campus in Enka-Candler. She serves as an Assistant Professor of Clinical Education and preceptor for the rural health curriculum at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Her clinical interests include team-based care, rural health, underserved populations, and Hepatitis C.
Recognizing her work with Hepatitis C, Rebecca was awarded the NCAP Excellence in Innovation Award in 2018, which is presented annually to a pharmacist for innovative practice resulting in improved care.
Rebecca worked with a colleague to incorporate Hepatitis C treatment in rural primary care. This work expanded to create an interprofessional Hepatitis C teaching clinic for medical and pharmacy residents. In addition to increasing access to care for patients with Hepatitis C at her site, she is working with rural primary care practices to expand access by offering treatment at their sites. She also advocates for treatment access for people with active substance use disorder.
In addition to incorporating students into the clinical aspects of her practice, Rebecca looks for ways to advance the current work she is doing while also providing valuable learning experiences. As part of her work with Hepatitis C, students have been instrumental in helping develop and maintain a registry to track patients and their outcomes. They have also performed literature searches to make sure they are providing evidence-based practice and to identify gaps in the literature for future research opportunities.
When asked about her teaching philosophy, Rebecca shared the following: “I believe students learn best by doing and learn the most when they are slightly outside of their comfort zone. I tell them this on day one- that if they feel slightly uncomfortable- that is the sweet spot. I give them as much autonomy as possible to build self-confidence in their abilities. I value vulnerability in learning. I am quick to say, “I don’t know, but we can figure it out” to model that and create an environment where we can all grow.”
Rebecca is originally from Western North Carolina and is happy to continue to call the mountains home. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her family, watching sports, and looking for new hobbies.
Preceptor Pearl: Moving Motivation
Charlene Williams, PharmD, BCACP, CDE
A commonly requested topic in experiential education is “learner motivation.” Understanding the psychological origins of motivation may lead to strategies to promote it. Motivation is on a continuum and is not a permanent state or characteristic; therefore, an individual’s motivation may vary based on the individual task or over time.1
Read moreInclement Weather Policy for Immersion and Advanced Immersion Experiences
Abbey Kruse, M.Ed.
As we continue through the winter, inclement weather is likely to happen and may impact the safety of travel to pharmacy practice sites. The Office of Experiential Programs has developed guidelines to ensure safety and timely communication with preceptors, regions and students. The UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy will monitor campus closures and travel recommendations provided by national, state and local officials to determine any modifications to immersion or advanced immersion schedules. Student pharmacists should also be in contact with their preceptors to communicate plans for the day. If a student pharmacist does not feel that it is safe to travel to the site, they should be allowed to make up the time missed. Please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Abbey Kruse, Assistant Director of Curricular and Student Affairs, Experiential Programs (abbeykruse@unc.edu) with any questions.
What is FERPA and How Does it Affect Preceptors?
Abbey Kruse, M.Ed., Brad Wingo, M.Ed.
What is FERPA?
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) is a federal law that in part governs the privacy of student educational records. Educational records that are protected under FERPA include student evaluations as well as any written and/or verbal notes or communication associated with the student’s experience at your site. This is similar to patients’ rights to privacy under HIPPA.
How does this affect me?
Preceptors should only discuss educational records with appropriate University employees. Those with a legitimate need to know FERPA protected student information could include faculty and staff within the Office of Professional Education and the Office of Curricular and Student Affairs or Regional Directors.
Can I discuss my student’s performance with other preceptors?
In short, no. Although it may seem that sharing performance-based information would be helpful to the student and preceptor, this type of data regarding a student’s performance is protected under FERPA guidelines and cannot be shared with other preceptors. Any information that could potentially bias the next preceptor should not be shared.
Instead, you can submit an Eshelman Care Team Referral if you are concerned about the student’s current or future performance or well-being. You may also contact the corresponding Director of Practice Experiences to discuss ways to help the student be successful or to discuss your concerns for the student’s future immersion experiences. The Director of Practice Experiences may then discuss strategies to help the student be successful with other preceptors if deemed necessary.
Additional information can be found on the Department of Education’s website: https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html.
Eshelman Care Line
Brad Wingo, M.Ed.
Realizing that a serious student need, issue, or concern can develop at any time of the day, the Office of Curricular and Students Affairs has established the UNC Eshelman Care Line. The Care Line will serve as a singular point of contact if and when a significant, time-sensitive student issue surfaces – whether while on campus, off campus, or on an immersion experience. In the past, the School has had no one point of contact for these types of emerging issues which only adds to the stress in that moment. The Care Line will ring to an “on-call” staff member in the Office of Curricular and Student Affairs who can provide detailed guidance regarding the situation and who can also decide what other steps may need to be taken at the School or University level. The Care Line is not a substitute for calling 911. If there is an immediate emergency or an imminent threat, you should always first contact the authorities and then reach out via the Care Line. The Care Line should only be used during a serious student need, issue, or concern that requires an immediate School intervention. The Care Line should not be used for general questions or inquiries or other matters that are not serious or pressing in nature. We encourage you to save the UNC Eshelman Care Line number to your contacts for quick reference.
UNC Eshelman Care Line: 919-813-0481
Preceptors are encouraged to continue submitting non-urgent student issues and concerns through the Eshelman Care Team Referral Form online.
Upcoming Events
Preceptor Development
Save the date! Thursday May 8 12p-1p The Center for Innovative Pharmacy Education and Research (CIPhER) and the Office of Experiential Programs will be offering a preceptor development program as part of the Preceptor Design Lab Series. This program will be focused on fine-tuning feedback to promote student learning. Options for attendance will include live, streaming, and on-demand. Please click on the link below for more information and to register:
The first of our new on-demand preceptor training videos will be released later this spring. These will be released as on-demand digestible mini-modules/videos to accommodate preceptor schedules. The first of these modules will focus on curricular updates, requirements for PharmD accreditation, and the needs of new preceptors. More advanced modules will be developed in the future.
Asheville Summit
The Asheville Summit is an annual event hosted by UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Asheville Campus. The event is planned by pharmacy students for pharmacy students, pharmacists, and other members and students within the healthcare field. Over 120 people representing 10 schools from across the southeast come together to engage in an event that centers around innovations in healthcare. Attendees will leave with new ideas and new relationships and return energized to share and advance the ideas that they have learned.
Each year, the Asheville Summit gives its participants the opportunity to explore a theme within pharmacy that is both relevant and timely. In the past, we have discussed provider status, innovation within pharmacy practice, and the importance of interprofessional care.
This year we will explore topics relevant to women’s health, discuss the current status and future of women in leadership, and share ideas for the promotion of women’s health and leadership. Come join us as we will have participants who are not only professional leaders in their respected fields but display endless passion for the people they serve. Topics will range from mental health, contraception, access in rural areas, obstetrics and much more!
4.75 hours of CE credit available for pharmacists. Register to attend here:
http://ashevillesummit.web.unc.edu/about-the-summit/
Newsletter Suggestion Box
We would love to hear from you! Please submit your feedback and suggestions for newsletter improvement along with ideas for future content (preceptor spotlight, student spotlight, preceptor pearl, etc.) here: https://unc.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0UlbSEkLOTRqGmF
Office of Experiential Programs Contact Information
Office Leadership:
Nicki Pinelli Reitter, PharmD, MS, FCCP, CDE
Assistant Dean of Experiential Programs: Health Systems
Leads the strategic vision and assessment of the experiential curriculum and strengthens partnerships with sites and preceptors at health system and other nontraditional sites (e.g. academia, governmental, Indian health, industry, managed care, nuclear, professional associations, veterinary).
Macary Weck Marciniak, PharmD, BCACP, BCPS, FAPhA
Assistant Dean of Experiential Programs: Community
Leads the strategic vision and assessment of the experiential curriculum and strengthens partnerships with sites and preceptors at community pharmacy sites.
Abbey Kruse, M.Ed.
Assistant Director of the Office of Curricular and Student Affairs – Experiential Programs
Provides operational oversight of student logistics prior, during, and after Immersion and Advanced Experiences. Assists the Directors of Practice Experiences with student academic and well-being concerns.
Practice Experiences and Preceptor and Student Concerns:
Brian Donahue, PharmD
Director of Practice Experiences: Community
Provides oversight of Immersion and Advanced Immersion experiences and serves as the primary point of contact for preceptor and student concerns at community pharmacy sites.
Kathryn Fuller, PharmD
Director of Practice Experiences: Health Systems
Provides oversight of Immersion and Advanced Immersion experiences and serves as the primary point of contact for preceptor and student concerns at health system and nontraditional sites.
Experiential Software Management and Systems Support:
Pam S. Jackson
Preceptor and Partner Specialist
Implements student schedules and manages RxPreceptor accounts. Serves as point of contact for RxPreceptor inquiries, AHEC digital library access, completion of preceptor application and training, and AHEC housing questions.
Student On-boarding and School Requirements:
Mercedes Tolbert
Compliance Specialist
Ensures student completion of site-specific onboarding and school requirements (e.g.immunizations, drug screenings, criminal background checks, CPR, HIPAA Training, OSHA Training, TB Status, and other onboarding as required by sites).
Preceptor Training, Development, and Recognition:
Charlene Williams, PharmD, BCACP, CDE
Director of Preceptor Development
Develops and oversees preceptor onboarding, training, development, and recognition. Point of contact for preceptor training and development needs and preceptor newsletter content.
Newsletter Content Editor:
Charlene Williams, PharmD, BCACP CDE
Content Marketing Manager:
Erica McCready
ericamccready@unc.edu