May 22, 2023
Starting this fall, the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy will offer a Health-System Pharmacy Administration & Leadership Training Program (HSPAL) geared toward those currently working in the pharmacy field.
This new training program is for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to gain important knowledge and skills in health-system pharmacy administration to enhance their current role. Taking part in this training will also prepare participants for a future career move or to take a step towards a Master of Science (M.S.) degree.
“Our programs are intended to serve a wide range of students, including preparing new graduates, enhancing working professionals in their current roles, or advancing individuals within their chosen areas. We strive to ensure our programs use evidence-based teaching practices and curricular design, have high touch with our instructors, and provide networking opportunities for all students,” said Kathryn Morbitzer, Pharm.D., ‘17 M.S., assistant director of the M.S. concentrating in Health-System Pharmacy Administration program, assistant professor in the Division of Practice Advancement and Clinical Education (PACE) and associate director of the School’s Center for Innovative Pharmacy Education and Research.
To accommodate those in full-time roles, this flexible, non-credit certificate program is offered online with both synchronous and asynchronous learning modules. Over the course of one year, participants will complete nine hours of coursework, a quality improvement project, a capstone project and a personal mission statement.
A key advantage to this program is the relationships that will be built between faculty and the program’s participants.
“Being able to engage with future health-system pharmacy leaders has always provided me with energy and passion to keep me going. Not only do I get reassured that the future of health-system pharmacy is in good hands, but I also get challenged by these students to make my teaching better, to think differently and to pose research questions that need answers,” said Stephen Eckel ‘97, Pharm.D., M.H.A., director of the M.S. concentrating in Health-System Pharmacy Administration program, Associate Dean for Global Engagement and associate professor in PACE.
The HSPAL Training Program will provide students with pharmacy administration skills taught by renowned pharmacy educators, knowledge and skills to put into practice immediately and M.S. program student and alumni professional networking and support.
“I believe that the leadership needs for health-system pharmacy will continue for the foreseeable future. The UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, through this program and its partnership with health-systems across the country, are working to help fill this gap,” said Eckel.
Registration for the fall 2023 session is open until June 25.