Pharmacy Professionalism Toolkit for Students and Faculty Provided by the APhA-ASP/AACP Committee on Student Professionalism

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Professionalism Committees

Description of activity
Professionalism committees can serve as the catalyst for professionalism activities in the school. Many schools have created professionalism committees specifically for this purpose. Although not all current committees are called professional committees per se they may perform similar duties.

Rationale
A separate committee designed to foster a “culture of professionalism” can help give this issue the attention it requires. A professionalism committee, after defining professionalism and professional behavior, could help promote professional development on the campus. Whether this means organizing campus activities that promote professionalism or rendering decisions on honor code violations, this committee would oversee and respond to issues related to professionalism.

Areas of professionalism addressed
Professionalism committees perform a self-regulating function; students accept a shared responsibility for professionalism at their schools.

Special issues involving planning / promotion / implementation
Committees may consist of faculty or deans, members of each student organization, as well as representatives from each pharmacy class. Although representation from these groups is very important, arranging meeting times that accommodate the different class schedules, exam dates, and for some schools, different campuses, may be a challenge. Selection of members and committee chair(s) are at the discretion of each school or college of pharmacy. However, the chair or co-chairs should themselves represent high standards of professional behavior and be familiar with the professionalism concerns of their school.

Examples of programs and resources

• Duquesne University
• Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Boston
• Mercer University
• Nevada College of Pharmacy
• Purdue University
• Virginia Commonwealth University
• University of California, San Francisco
• University of Michigan
• University of Mississippi – “Report of the Student-Faculty Relations Committee on Developing Professionalism in Students”
• University of Rhode Island
• University of Washington

2004 AACP School Posters:
“Promoting Professionalism in Pharmacy Education at The University of Mississippi.”
John P. Juergens, John P. Bentley, Alicia S. Bouldin, and Marvin C. Wilson, The University of Mississippi.

“A Strategic Approach to Student Professional Development at the University of Missouri- Kansas City School of Pharmacy.”
Maureen Knell, Mary L. Euler, Patricia A. Marken, University of Missouri- Kansas City.

Reference
Berger BA, Butler SL, Duncan-Hewitt W, Felkey BG, Jungnickel PW, Krueger JL, Perry CR, Taylor C. Changing the Culture: An Institution-wide Approach to Instilling Professional Values. Am J Pharm Educ. 2004; 68(1): 22

Professionalism Scholarship and Awards
Professional Committees
Patient Care Projects
Poster Presentations
Patient Counseling Activities/Competitions
Developing a Portfolio
Honor Codes
Broadening the Scope of Practice
Leadership Conferences
Mentor Programs
Interprofessional Activities
Etiquette Dinner
Monthly Column on Professionalism
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