(460) Fostering Innovation: A Longitudinal Curriculum for Pharmacy Students in Problem-Solving and Practice Transformation

Objective : Innovation, problem-solving, and practice transformation are important skills for pharmacists to improve patient care and advance the profession. Despite this, there are very few examples of curricula to teach pharmacy students these skills. To address this gap, a required longitudinal innovation curriculum was designed and implemented in 2019, spanning the first to fourth professional years.

Methods: The curriculum is based on the Evidence-Based Problem-Solving Framework. Didactic sessions include specific strategies aligned with each stage of the framework, emphasizing iterative skill development and practical application. The program culminates in an Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE), where students collaborate with pharmacy mentors to address real practice-based challenges. Students present their projects via manuscript, poster, and persuasive three-minute video. Multiple assessment methods, aligned with learning objectives and the Kirkpatrick model, were employed to evaluate student learning and program effectiveness. Assessment involves various stakeholders, including students, faculty, and external mentors.

Results: Analysis reveals positive outcomes in student perception of learning, skill development and application of knowledge to real-world practice. By the end of the curriculum, students demonstrate they can use their skills to actively change and improve pharmacy practice. Feedback from APPE project mentors indicates 91% of projects have been implemented or are slated for implementation with some additional refinement. Additionally, 77% of graduates agree that they are confident in their ability “to systematically solve a problem within my profession”.

Conclusions: The longitudinal innovation curriculum effectively equips pharmacy students with the skills and mindset necessary to address real-world practice-based challenges. This model could offer a replicable approach for institutions seeking to bolster student proficiency in innovation and problem-solving.