Preceptors: The Heartbeat of Pharmacy Education
The art of pharmacy is passed from preceptor to learner through mentorship, modeling, and guided practice.
Being a preceptor is so much more than checking boxes or signing off on competencies. It’s about bringing pharmacy to life for the next generation. We’re the preceptor leaders who show students and residents what the art and science of pharmacy really look like in the real world—far beyond textbooks and lecture halls.
Sure, pharmacy schools give learners a strong foundation, but it’s in our practice settings that they really start connecting the dots. Through mentorship, modeling, and guided hands-on practice, we help them turn knowledge into confidence, and confidence into patient care.
And maybe the best part? We get to inspire them to pay it forward. Our goal isn’t just to train great pharmacists, it’s to grow future preceptors who will keep this cycle of mentorship and professional growth alive for years to come.
Precepting isn’t just a role we fill; it’s a legacy we build together.
You may enjoy the Precept2Practice podcast: Precepting the Whole Student
Picking the Right Article: The Secret to a Great Journal Club
Set the tone for a powerful journal club experience
We all know journal clubs can be a game-changer for learners but let’s be real: the article you choose sets the whole vibe. Pick a solid one, and you spark curiosity, conversation, and learning. Pick a dud, and…well, you’ve been there.
When you intentionally match your article choice to your learners’ goals, the payoff is huge.
Why It Matters
A journal club isn’t just about reading an article – it’s about sharpening skills, building confidence, and connecting what learners are reading to what they’ll be doing in practice. Your selection sets them up for success from the start.
Match the Article to the Goal
- Teaching literature evaluation? Choose a clinical trial with clear methodology and real-world patient implications.
- Prepping for board exams? Go for a landmark guideline or a systematic review.
- Keeping learners current? Bring in a recent, high-impact article from their area of interest.
A great fit makes your journal club meaningful, not just another task.
Let Them Help Decide
Want instant buy-in? Invite learners to help pick the article (within your goals). When they see how it ties to their work and interests, they show up more invested and ready to engage.
Format Counts, Too
Different goals call for different setups. Some articles are perfect for debate and group discussion. Others are better for solo reflection or small-team presentations. Your choice drives the energy and depth of the conversation.
Your Role as Preceptor
You’re not just a discussion leader, you’re a preceptor leader modeling thoughtful, intentional teaching. Explaining why you chose an article shows learners how to be strategic and purposeful when reading literature themselves.
Another Helpful Course: Mastering Journal Club Facilitation: A Toolkit for Engaging Learners
The Bottom Line
The right article makes all the difference. Align it with your learners’ goals, and your journal club becomes more than an assignment—it becomes a launchpad for growth.
Want to dive deeper?
Check out How to Develop and Lead a Journal Club Activity at Your APPE Site by Sherrill Brown, DVM, PharmD, BCPS—available in your Preceptor By Design™ subscription.
Building Confidence with EPAs: A Preceptor’s Guide to Making Assessments Meaningful
If you’ve been hearing about Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) lately, you’re not alone. EPAs are quickly becoming a cornerstone of pharmacy education and for good reason. They help bridge the gap between competency checklists and real-world readiness, giving us as preceptor leaders a more practical way to assess whether a learner is truly ready to take on responsibility.
Instead of only asking, “Can they do this skill?” we’re now asking, “Would I trust them to do this independently?” That shift is huge—and it reflects the way we practice.
How to Bring EPAs Into APPE Rotations
Would you trust them?
Don’t think of EPAs as “just another assessment tool.” Lean in and picture how much clearer it can make expectations—for you and your learners.
For example, when assessing a student on collecting and interpreting patient information, start using the entrustment scale to decide if you’d let them complete a med reconciliation on their own. Instead of “meets expectations” or “needs improvement,” you could say, “I’d trust you to do this with minimal oversight.” That subtle shift can lead to more meaningful conversations about growth.
Watching a student who is rated at “direct supervision” early in the rotation grow to “indirect supervision” by the end, is rewarding. The structured language of EPAs gives you both a clear, shared understanding of their progress.
The Hurdles We Face
Let’s be honest: integrating EPAs isn’t always easy. The subjectivity of entrustment ratings is a common challenge—we all have slightly different comfort levels when it comes to trust. Some EPAs are also harder to evaluate in certain settings (think ambulatory care vs. inpatient).
One way to tackle this is by talking openly with colleagues about how to rate similar activities. Those discussions help you calibrate expectations and make assessments fairer for the students.
Practical Tips That Have Helped
- Consistency is key. Write down what “trust” looks like for each EPA in your setting. This helps keep ratings consistent between students.
- Focus on feedback. EPAs are a framework, but the feedback you provide brings them to life. Use EPA ratings as a springboard for reflective discussions with learners.
- Lean on training. CEimpact’s resources and institutional workshops have helped many preceptors feel more confident and less overwhelmed when implementing EPAs.
Looking Ahead
EPA-based assessments are here to stay and honestly, that’s a good thing. They give us a realistic, practice-focused lens to evaluate learners’ readiness.
For new preceptors dipping their toes in: start small. Pick one or two EPAs to focus on at first. Use them as conversation starters rather than checkboxes. Before long, you’ll see how much more meaningful your assessments become.
