179 Leya Luhar (Part III)
In this final episode of my special three-part series with Leya Luhar, we dive deep into the significant changes coming to pharmacy education in 2026, when all pharmacy students will qualify as prescribers upon graduation.
We explore the monumental change happening in pharmacy education, where all graduates will qualify as prescribers. This represents a fundamental transformation in the profession's scope and responsibilities. Leya and I discuss how this change will better position pharmacists as medication experts within the healthcare system and potentially reduce medication errors.
Clinical Reasoning and Diagnostic Skills
A key focus of our conversation is the introduction of clinical reasoning and diagnostic skills to the pharmacy curriculum. These skills, traditionally part of medical education, require pharmacy students to develop new competencies in:
Taking comprehensive medical histories
Determining appropriate diagnostic tests
Physical assessment skills
Making diagnostic decisions
Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs)
Leya explains the concept of EPAs - a framework commonly used in medical education that outlines 47 activities pharmacy students should be competent in. These range from:
Dispensing medications
Administering immunisations
Creating care plans
Counseling patients and colleagues
Students progress through levels of competence: observing, performing under supervision, performing independently, and eventually supervising others.
Placement Changes and Challenges
We discuss how pharmacy placements are changing to accommodate these new requirements:
Increased placement hours (including potential summer placements)
More diverse clinical experiences
Greater focus on interprofessional learning
Need for students to be proactive in setting learning objectives
Strategies for Success in the New Curriculum
Leya shares practical advice for pharmacy students navigating these changes:
Take initiative to find learning opportunities
Shadow different healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses)
Identify personal strengths and weaknesses
Develop specific learning objectives before placements
Build a professional network through placements
Utilise resources like OSCE Toolbox for practice scenarios
Key Takeaways
Pharmacists are ideally positioned to be prescribers - Their deep medication knowledge positions them to reduce errors and improve patient outcomes
The curriculum shift aligns with student preferences - Research shows pharmacy students often prefer the clinical aspects over heavy science components
Students must embrace a proactive approach to learning - Unlike traditional pharmacy placements, students will need to take more ownership of their learning experience
Interdisciplinary collaboration is essential - Learning from doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals will be crucial
Networking during placements creates future opportunities - Connections made during placements can lead to projects, mentorship, and future employment
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CONNECT WITH LEYA:
Linkedin: Leya Luhar
Website: https://www.oscetoolbox.com/
Instagram: @OSCEtoolbox
TikTok: @OSCEtoolbox
OTHER LINKS:
The music from this series has been created by a pharmacy student! BPSA’s president, Emeka Onwudiwe, is a talented student and incredible entrepreneur. I am so proud to share his music on my podcast. Go and check the music production company and the word that they do: Inplus Music
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