Enhancing Pharmacy Student Leadership
John P. Juergens R.Ph., Ph.D.Marvin C. Wilson Ph.D.
pages: 77 - 90
- DOI: 10.1300/J060v14n02_05
- Version of record first published: 03Mar2008
Abstract:
Leadership is one of the hallmarks of the pharmacy profession. Developing effective leadership skills in students of pharmacy is necessary to allow the profession to continue to move forward. The University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy instituted a program to enhance the leadership skills of the elected student body and class officers, and the officers of the student chapters of the national professional pharmacy organizations. The program consists of regular meetings with student officers to discuss the elements of good leadership, breakout exercises, and discussions of problems and issues encountered by leaders with student input on potential strategies for resolution of those issues. The program also includes a peer evaluation of each organization president at the midpoint of their tenure with constructive feedback provided on their performance. The leadership program has been effective in enhancing the quality of the performance of elected student leaders and in attracting more qualified candidates. Since instituting the program there has been less variability in the student leader performance from year to year.