Academic Half Day Program

Program Description

CPRB 2.2.2.3; 3.5.2; 3.5.3

Our residents will participate in an Academic Half Day (AHD) Program.  The AHD program will provide a collegial and supportive environment to discuss therapeutic, pharmacy practice and pharmacy education topics and will also provide residents with the opportunity to further develop their clinical, research, precepting and teaching skills.  This program will build upon the knowledge and skills gained during residents’ experiential rotations, as well as introduce residents to new concepts and skills that can be applied during their experiential rotations, as well as in practice.   

The AHD sessions will use a variety of instructional methods, including case-based discussions and didactic teaching and will be facilitated by Interior Health pharmacists.  The sessions will be 1.5-3 hours in length, depending on the topic.  Each resident will also be responsible for developing and facilitating one AHD session.  During the resident-led sessions, the resident facilitator will teach a group consisting of the other residents, using a case-based approach.  A pharmacist facilitator mentor will provide guidance and mentorship to the resident when developing the session plan and session content and when facilitating the session. 

The AHD session content will include therapeutic and clinical skills topics that are encountered in multiple clinical practice areas or are not expected to be taught elsewhere in the residency program.  In addition, the topics will include impactful disease states or clinical skills that are encountered on elective experiential rotations, which not all residents may be completing.

Program Goals

1. To further develop the resident’s therapeutic knowledge and clinical, research and precepting skills through discussion and participation in case-based and didactic sessions and through mentorship by experienced pharmacist facilitators  

2. To further develop the resident’s critical thinking and problem-solving skills

3. To provide the resident with opportunities to further develop their leadership, communication, facilitation and teaching skills 

4. To build connections between residents and Interior Health pharmacist clinicians

Session Time and Location

The AHD session schedule, including session dates, times and locations, as well as pre-session and session objectives, suggested readings and cases, will be posted in one45 in the My Calendar tab under schedules.  This schedule will always be the most current schedule. 

Session Day and Time: Tuesday, from 13:00-16:00 or on other days/times as stated 

Session Location: Meeting room at Kelowna General Hospital and Royal Inland Hospital.  Residents who are at another Interior Health hospital for a rotation at the time of the AHD session will attend the session via videoconference from a meeting room at the rotation site.  Room and videoconference information will be provided prior to the session in the My Calendar section in one45.

Instructional Methods and Session Format

A variety of instructional methods will be used, depending on the topic discussed, including case-based, didactic, observational and hands-on methods.  Therapeutic topics will be taught using a case-based format.  The residents are expected to be actively involved in their own learning during the sessions. 

Role of the Program Coordinator

• The Program Coordinator will be responsible for the overall coordination of the Academic Half Day Program, including determining session topics, confirming session facilitators and scheduling the sessions.

• The Program Coordinator will provide guidance and mentorship to pharmacist facilitators seeking advice and guidance on how to best deliver and teach their session and will work closely with the pharmacist facilitators to ensure that they have to tools and support necessary to conduct their sessions.

• Facilitators are encouraged to contact the Program Coordinator at any time to discuss their Academic Half Day session.