(117) Reducing Curricular Hoarding in a Next Generation Pharmacist Curriculum

Objective : To describe the systematic approach to reducing curricular hoarding while developing a new Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) called the Next Generation Pharmacist (NGP).

Methods: The NGP task force was appointed by the Dean and first met in February 2019. In May 2019, a faculty retreat focused on defining the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary of the Next Generation Pharmacist. Core competencies for the NGP curriculum were drafted by School faculty at the December 2019 retreat. During 2020, job descriptions for 7 pharmacy sectors were developed with input from stakeholders. Using the core competencies and job descriptions, competency statements were drafted and approved in September 2021. In May 2022, a curriculum gap analysis and survey of faculty regarding content areas was conducted. The existing curriculum was also compared to national averages of core content areas. The first version of the NGP curriculum was drafted in December 2022. This began an iterative process including meetings with departments, curriculum committee members, and key stakeholders. The sixth and final version was approved by the faculty in August 2023.

Results: The NGP curriculum reduced credit hours from 155 to 148.5 by removing duplication of topics across classes and combining similar courses. Compared to other schools of pharmacy curricula, VCU had a statistically significant increased amount of social and administrative sciences, which was reduced in the new curriculum. The NGP curriculum added content in pathophysiology, ethical practice, digital health, and increased didactic elective credit hours.

Conclusions: This multi-year process resulted in reducing curricular hoarding in a systematic, collaborative way. A similar process can be used at other schools of pharmacy.