The Post-Doctoral Fellows Program in the Combined Pharm.D./M.S. Degree Program in Pharmacotherapy

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The VCU Department of Pharmacy offers a Combined Degree Program allowing selected students the opportunity to simultaneously obtain a Pharm.D. and M.S. or Ph.D. degree. This document summarizes an optional post-doctoral training program (called the Post-Doctoral-Fellows Program (PDFP) for selected students enrolled in the pharmacotherapy track of the Pharm.D./M.S. program. This PDFP option is not currently available for applicants who already have completed requirements for a pharmacy degree.

Purpose of the Masters-Post-Doctoral Fellow Pprogram

The primary goal of the PDFP is to provide to the Pharm.D.-MS student with one additional year of practical experience in research, teaching and clinical activities in order to ensure competency in the student’s field of focus.

With respect to teaching, at the completion of the year the fellow will be expected to be able to:

• Develop a course syllabi and schedule and write measurable learning outcome statements
• Describe various teaching techniques to achieve a variety of learning outcomes
• Serve as a preceptor for pharmacy students receiving clinical training in the fellow’s areas of expertise, including:
  • Assigning students projects, patients and other assignments as appropriate.
  • Guiding student patient-presentations that serve as a positive learning experience.
  • Making fair and documented assessments of the student’s abilities and progress.
• Develop objectives, handouts, and/or PowerPoint slides for classroom presentations.
• Participate in skills labs and conferences.

With respect to scholarship, at the completion of the year the fellow will be expected to be able to:

• Write a project proposal in NIH format, including justification for:
  • Study methodology
  • Study design
  • Statistical analysis
  • Budget
• Write up the results of a project for presentation at a scientific meeting, including the abstract.
• Write up the results of a project for publication according to the selected journal guidelines, including data manipulation, statistical analysis and clear statement of conclusions.
• Perform critical peer-review analysis of manuscripts submitted for publication (from the advisor with approval from the journal).
• Lead journal club discussion in the student’s area of focus.
• Mentoring students who are working on research projects.
• Becoming (re) certified in IRB research requirements.

With respect to clinical competency in the fellows area of study, at the completion of the year the fellow will be expected to be able to:

• Provide accurate and relevant answers to issues related to the appropriate use of drugs in a given patient, based on a critical assessment of the literature.
• Identify potential problems resulting from inappropriate drug therapy and be able to recommend alternative therapies or course of action.
• Apply the principles of pharmacokinetics and therapeutic drug monitoring, based on a critical assessment of the literature, to an individual patient.
• Explain the rationale for therapeutic recommendations in an individual patient, based upon an understanding of the relevant literature.
• Be able to discuss alternative treatment option and explain the rational for the option that is selected and recommended.
• Explain the monitoring parameters, including laboratory monitoring, for an individual patient following a therapeutic recommendation.

It is expected that the graduate of the Pharm.D.–MS- PDFP will be competitive for faculty positions where teaching and scholarship are of primary importance. A secondary goal of the program is to provide additional clinical experience in the student’s area of focus. Proficiency will be accomplished by providing additional opportunities that are developed by the faculty advisor and the student. In general it is anticipated that the student will spend 50–75% of the PDFP year on research-related activities, ~25% of the PDFP year in teaching activities (with an emphasis on didactic teaching, but including clinical teaching in the area of focus) and ~ 25% of PDFP year engaged in supervised clinical activities in the student’s area of focus. Students in the PDFP will likely be participating in more than one of these areas (above) at the same time. The student should reach a level of independence in teaching and scholarship at the completion of the year that will make it possible to compete, for example, for tenure-line faculty positions in clinical pharmacy department or entry-level positions in industry related to clinical research.

Admission into the Post-doctoral Training Program

It is the responsibility of the Combined Degree Steering Committee to review students for admission into the Pharm.D./M.S. degree program according to guidelines for the Combined Degree Program in Pharmacotherapy. During application for the Pharm.D./M.S. degree program, students may state an interest in the added masters-post-doctoral training option; however, only students enrolled in the Pharm.D./M.S. program can apply to add the masters-post-doctoral training portion. Applications are due annually by September 1 and request may occur as late as the P-4/G1 year. The application must consist of the following elements:

• The applicant must state their goals for the post-doctoral training year, and their plans following the training year. They must identify how the activities in the training program will be of value to their career goals.
• The faculty advisor must identify the qualifications of the applicant and the details of the training program, including monthly activities and the outcomes to be achieved and a statement of support. The elements of a successful application are found in the bullet-points below.

The application must be submitted to the Vice-Chair for Graduate Studies in the Department of Pharmacy. Applications will be reviewed by the PDFP advisory committee appointed by the department chair. Applications will be evaluated based upon the applicant’s maturity and career plans, past grades, the quality of the application including the rigor of the proposed program (specific items listed below) and recommendations of the advisor. The application will detail the progress made by the student in previous years of the program and will identify how the proposed additional year will be an extension of previous activity. The fellow year is not intended to be the time that the student will begin the activities described, rather the fellow year will be the time for a logical extension of activities already clearly in progress. It is expected that successful applicants will complete the program in one year. The advisor will provide a written summary of the students progress, activities and accomplishments at the 6-month time period and submit it to the advisory committee who will evaluate the students progress. In general, admission to the PDFP will be a rolling process and up to three students will be enrolled each year. Those selected for the PDFP component will be notified by December 31 of the application year.

Overview of Post-doctoral Training expectations

For those applying to the post-doctoral training program, the following activities should be addressed, as well as other activities as appropriate for the program. While the program stresses an individual approach to training, many of the following items will generally be central to a successful application and a successful program.

Teaching

• Co-coordinate an elective course with the advisor within the VCU School of Pharmacy and provide a number of lectures to be determined by the advisor.
• Didactic presentations in the pharmacotherapy course(s) in the student’s area of focus, to be determined by the advisor.
• Conference leader in the pharmacotherapy course(s) in the student’s area of focus, to be determined by the advisor.
• Precept Doctor of Pharmacy candidates for 2-4 APPE rotations in the student’s area of focus.
• Assist in the Doctor of Pharmacy Practicum skills lab at VCU School of Pharmacy

Research and Scholarship

• Preparation of an NIH-style project proposal or completion of a similar NIH-grant writing or training program.
• The student will prepare and submit at least one major research project for publication. The project will be planned, data will be collected and a manuscript written by the student with guidance and support from the advisor.
• Attendance and presentation of research at a major conference in the area of specialization.
• Completion of the on-line clinical investigator training program at VCUHS if not already certified.
• Participation in journal club in the area of specialty, if available.
• Practical experiences at outside experiential training programs, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Applied Health Outcomes (AHO) or the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) as appropriate and required by the advisor.

Clinical Service/Teaching activities

• As arranged by the faculty advisor and committee.

Professional Development

• Attendance at continuing education seminars as appropriate.
• Attendance and participation in conferences as available and appropriate in the area of focus.
• Completion of additional coursework as required by the advisor.
• Attendance and participation in Department, School, University and professional committees as available and appropriate in the area of focus.