Pharmacy Service-Learning

Service-Learning in Pharmacy

The National Service-Learning Clearinghouse describes Service-learning (SL) as, “a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities.” SL is nothing new, dating back to The University of Cincinnati founding of the Cooperative Education Movement in 1903; although, service-learning in pharmacy is a relatively new concept (NS-LC). SL is a way for educators to provide real-life learning experiences to students through providing provision to communities or underserved populations. The major benefits to students of S.L. programs are offering experience, an expansion of knowledge, and personal growth; and can be beneficial to a student’s career and resume. Most all of the requirements of the competencies in Pew’s 1998 competency of practice proposal, including thinking ability, communication skills, valuing and ethical decision making, social and contextual awareness, social responsibility, social interaction, and self-learning abilities, are met through service-learning (Drab, Lamsam, Connor, DeYoung, Steinmetz, and Herbert 44).

Students at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy are offered a four-year S.L. opportunity as part of the Pharm D. program. All of the participants report having an increase in their writing and oral communication skills, having a better understanding of those in need, and an increase in confidence in the work environment (Bartelme, Ticcioni, and Janke 1). Through these experiences, students are able to apply what they have learned in the classroom to real-life experiences. Experience constructs a good resume and creates a fo...

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...by broadening my education by providing information not found in textbooks, and providing pre-professional experience.

Works Cited

What is Service-Learning?. National Service-Learning Clearinghouse.

Drab, Scott, Grace Lamsam, Sharan Connor, Michael DeYoung, Karen Steinmetz, and

Mary Herbert. "Incorporation of Service-Learning Across Four Years of the

PharmD Carriculum." American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. 68.2

(2004): 44. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.

Bartelme, Kassandra M., Andrew J. Ticcioni, and Kristin K. Janke. "Poviding Health

Care Service-Learning Experience for IPPE Credit." Innovations in Pharmacy.

2.3 (2011): p. 1-4. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.

ov/documents/article/cop_article_350618.pdf>.