The Division of Experience Programs provides oversight and support for the Introductory and Advanced Pharmacy Practices Experience Programs. Together, these programs make up at least 30% of the Doctor of Pharmacy degree program.

The Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPE) program spans the first through third years of the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum and is composed of a variety of exposures including community practice, health system practice, ambulatory care, immunization delivery, indigent care, disaster preparedness, and advocacy. Although the majority of IPPEs incorporate direct patient care with opportunities for interprofessional interaction, some simulated practice (e.g. standardized patient program) is included to ensure development and mastery of patient care skills and knowledge.

The Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPE) program consists of eight 5-week experiences during the 4th year of the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum. Of these, five are required experiences while three are elective experiences. Required experiences include Advanced institutional Practice (1), Acute Medicine (2), Outpatient Medicine (1), and Community Practice (1). Elective experiences can be additional experiences in acute medicine, outpatient medicine, community or indirect /non-patient care areas (e.g. research, drug information, nuclear pharmacy, administration, academia, association management). Only 2 APPEs however can be classified as indirect /non-patient care.

Experiential Curriculum

Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPEs)

1st Year
Standardized Patients
This 3 hour simulated introductory experience consists of several standardized patient encounters. Individual encounters provide opportunities to employ the JCPP Pharmacists’ Patient Care process, improve communication skills, and counsel patients using the SCHOLARMAC approach.

Disaster Preparedness
This 6 hour simulated introductory experience provides knowledge and skills necessary for delivering population based health care through the lens of public health during mass casualty and mass dispensing events. Of note: This content satisfies a curricular requirement of disaster preparedness as mandated by the Georgia Board of Pharmacy.

Legislative Advocacy
This 2 hour introductory experience at the Georgia Capitol provides students the opportunity to learn about the legislative advocacy process through lobbying Georgia House and Senate representatives for support of pharmacy-friendly legislation.

Community Pharmacy Block
This introductory experience consists of a 135-hour (45 hours/week x 3 weeks) on-site component at a community pharmacy practice site during the final portion of the spring semester. The purpose of this course is to advance student professional development, knowledge, and pharmacy practice skills in a community pharmacy setting, focusing on exposure to community pharmacy medication use processes and pharmacy care services. During this IPPE, students will build upon and apply the knowledge and skills gained in didactic coursework to a real practice setting. Through a combination of observation and direct participation, students should understand the fundamentals of community pharmacy practice at the conclusion of this IPPE.

2nd Year
Residency Exposure
This 4 hour introductory experience occurs on site at a pharmacy residency program within the state of Georgia the summer between the P1 and P2 year. The goals are to understand the purpose and benefits associated with postgraduate residency training, describe the overall scope and structure of residency training programs, and understand the residency application process.

Immunizations – Influenza and Travel Clinic
This 9 hour experience consists of 2 simulations and one influenza vaccination clinic that prepares and provides opportunities to administer intramuscular and subcutaneous vaccinations. The Fall activities include a mock influenza vaccination clinic as well as a live 3 hour clinic experience where students provide influenza vaccinations in a community based setting. The Spring activity involves a simulated travel vaccination clinic.

Ambulatory Care
This 11 hour experience consists of 1 simulation, 3 patient encounters at an outpatient clinic, and 1 patient encounter at an Interdisciplinary Indigent Care clinic. In order to accommodate the entire class of students, the timing of the various components are divided throughout the two semesters. The goals of the experience are to conduct health histories and medication histories, perform basic physical assessments and point of care testing, use the JCPP Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process, and provide patient counseling.

Health System Practice I
This introductory experience consists of a 121-hour (40 hours/week x 3 weeks, 1 hour activity documentation) on-site component at a hospital / health system setting during the summer between the P2 and P3 year. The purpose of this course is to advance student professional development, knowledge, and pharmacy practice skills in a health system pharmacy setting, focusing on exposure to hospital-based medication use processes and pharmacy care services. During this IPPE, students will build upon and apply the knowledge and skills gained in didactic coursework to a real practice setting. Through a combination of observation and direct participation, students should understand the fundamentals of health system pharmacy practice at the conclusion of this IPPE.

3rd Year
Health System Practice II
This 20 hour experience consists of 2 hours of simulation and 18 hours of direct patient care activities within a health system setting over two semesters. This IPPE provides opportunities for students to participate in inpatient pharmacy care services including medication reconciliation, disease/medication patient education, patient profile review, and quality improvement initiatives at local partner institutions.

Immunizations – Influenza
This 6 hour experience consists of administering intramuscular vaccinations in either community or institutional based influenza vaccination clinics. The goal is to provide opportunities for repetition of the vaccination administration experience from the second year curriculum in order to solidify the knowledge and skills associated with this activity.

Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs)

APPE Structure

The APPE Curriculum consists of eight 5-week rotations during the 4th professional year. (1600 Hours).
Summer (2 APPEs)
Fall (3 APPEs and a 5 week off block)
Spring (3 APPEs)

The APPEs are composed of 5 Required and 3 Elective APPEs.
Required APPEs (5 APPEs)
Advanced Community (1 APPE)
Advanced Institutional (1 APPE)
Acute Care (2 APPEs)
Medicine / Medicine Subspecialty
At least one must be in an adult medicine population
Outpatient Care (1 APPE)

Elective APPEs – 3 APPEs
Can be any of the following:
Acute Care
Outpatient Care
Advanced Community (maximum of 1 additional APPE)

Indirect or Non-Patient Care (maximum of 2 APPEs)
Additional APPE Coursework (For students graduating through Spring 2018)
PHRM 5930 (Pharmacotherapy Care Plans and Professional Development)
This is a 1 credit hour course that APPE students take each of the 3 APPE semesters

Over the year, students complete the following:5 in-depth Pharmacotherapy Care Plans on complex patients
Curriculum Vitae
Attendance at 2 professional pharmacy organization meetings
Provide 2 educational inservices as part of required APPEs
Note: Many of these components will be reallocated to various courses in the new curriculum.

APPE Region and Rotation Assignment
Students are assigned their 4th APPE region in one the following manners:
2+2 campus students
Assignments are made at admission with limited opportunities to swap 2+2 campus location during the 2nd professional year (process handled through UGACOP Student Affairs)
Non 2+2 campus students
Assignments are made at the beginning of the third professional year based upon the APPE Regional Matching System Policy
Students provide preferences for and are assigned APPEs within their given APPE region. There is an option of one out of area APPE, however, students are responsible for providing their own housing.

Information for Current and Prospective Preceptors
Information for Current and Prospective Students
Contact Us

General Experience Programs Information

Assistant Dean for Experience Programs
Lori Duke, Pharm.D.
Phone: 706-542-5315
Fax: 706-542-6022
Email: Ljduke@uga.edu
Office: Athens – R.C. Wilson, Rm 150A

Office Manager and APPE Administrative Lead
Anna Cash
Phone: 706-542-5328
Fax: 706-542-6022
Email: anna.cash@uga.edu
Office: Athens – R.C. Wilson, Rm 152A

Clinical Affiliation Agreements
Pattie Holly
Phone: 706-542-8755
Fax: 706-542-6022
Email: Pholly@uga.edu
Office: Athens – R.C. Wilson, Rm 149G

Senior Public Service Associate
Linda Logan, Pharm.D.
Phone: 706-542-2153
Fax: 706-542-6022
Email: Ldlogan@uga.edu
Office: Athens – R.C. Wilson, Rm 152B

Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPE)

IPPE Associate Director – Community
Kay Brooks, MEd, RPh
Phone: 706-542-1402
Fax: 706-542-6022
Email: Klbrooks@uga.edu
Office: Athens – R.C. Wilson, Rm 149C

IPPE Associate Director – Health System
Andrew Darley, Pharm.D.
Phone: 706 583-0223
Fax: 706-542-6022
Email: Badarley@uga.edu
Office: Athens – R.C. Wilson, Rm 146

IPPE Associate Director – Ambulatory Care
Ashley Hannings, Pharm.D.
Phone: 706-542-0732
Fax: 706-542-6022
Email: Ahanning@uga.edu
Office: Athens – R.C. Wilson, Rm 148

IPPE Faculty
Michelle McElhannon, Pharm.D.
Phone: 706-542-9572
Fax: 706-542-6022
Email: Mmcelhan@uga.edu
Office: Athens – R.C. Wilson, Rm 270F

IPPE Administrative Lead
Monica Williams
Phone: 706-542-3893
Fax: 706-542-6022
Email: Monicaw@uga.edu
Office: Athens – R.C. Wilson, Room Rm 149A

Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences

APPE Director
Lindsey Welch, Pharm.D.
Phone: 706-542-5280
Fax: 706-542-6022
Email: Lhwelch@uga.edu
Office: Athens – R.C. Wilson, Rm 150

Distant Campus Directors, Pharmacy Practice Experiences

Albany/Southwest Georgia Campus
Melody Sheffield, Pharm.D.
Phone: 229-312-0110
Email: Rx@uga.edu
Office: Albany

Atlanta
Mindi Miller, Pharm.D.,
Phone: 770-551-7021
Fax: 770-369-9361
Email: millerms@uga.edu

Augusta Campus
Dianne May, Pharm.D.
Phone: 706-721-4450
Fax: 706-542-3994
Email: Dimay@augusta.edu
Office: Augusta – HM Building, Room 125

Savannah/Southeast Georgia Campus
Misha Thomason Watts, Pharm.D.
Phone: 912-819-8425
Fax: 912-819-7731
Email: MThomaso2@uga.edu
Office: Savannah – Professional Office Bldg, Suite 225

 


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