Spring Open House celebrates leadership development

Leadership @ UW will hold its annual Open House from 2 to 4 p.m. May 2 in Virginia Harrison Parlor in Lathrop Hall.

The event, which is open to all, aims to highlight the exceptional leadership development efforts of campus partners.

This year, the School of Pharmacy will be highlighted with its work to integrate the UW–Madison Leadership Framework into its operations to create new and more dynamic leadership outcomes for its students. The framework and its central values align with the mission of the School of Pharmacy: to prepare students to provide high quality pharmaceutical care with the patient as its focus and optimal health as its goal. The program emphasizes the development of leadership for clinical pharmacists as an action-oriented endeavor not based on formal authority positions, and will be used to make student pharmacists responsive to the context of each patient-system interaction.

“The School of Pharmacy is pleased to partner with Leadership @ UW to offer leadership training for our students,” says Karen J. Kopacek, associate dean for student and alumni affairs at the School of Pharmacy. “Professional students may falsely believe that knowledge and leadership training is only intended for those who pursue administrative roles within a corporation or healthcare system. Yet every pharmacist faces situational leadership challenges daily in their practice. We must be able to work efficiently, prioritize and delegate, manage conflict, and engage in difficult conversations with others. It is critical that pharmacy students develop these leadership skills to be effective members of an interprofessional healthcare teams.”

Implementation of the framework within the School of Pharmacy is part of a larger effort that includes development of “named options” for students to pursue and personalize their PharmD degree to their interests and skills. Beginning in fall 2017, the Leadership Certificate will be offered as part of a comprehensive program offering mentorship and in-class experiences that tie leadership to their pharmacy practice.

By giving pharmacists in training the ability to reflect upon their growth as leaders, the School of Pharmacy is promoting the development of highly competent clinicians capable of self-reflection, strategic thinking, and strong connection to community. These qualities will help cultivate student professionals capable of innovative practice and patient engagement.

“Completing the leadership certificate while in pharmacy school allows our students to connect the Leadership Framework with their courses, implement the competencies and values during clerkships and internships, and critically reflect on their professional development. The civic engagement requirement perfectly aligns with our curriculum requirements for service learning that emphasizes patient advocacy,” Kopacek says. “Attending workshops on leadership further strengthens student engagement with state and national pharmacy organizations.

This networking and showcase event will be in an Open House format providing attendees the opportunity to connect with one another while celebrating leadership efforts across campus.