Advisory Board Annual meeting
The Board had its annual meeting on Wednesday, October 14, 2020. Prof. Nageeb debriefed the Board on the new changes in the curriculum for the BPharm program including adding more credit hours for training and clinical/social pharmacy courses. New reforms in pharmacy program admission requirements as per the Ministry of Education have been introduced and implemented starting this academic year including: achieving a minimum high school average of 85%, passing the Admission Exam designed by the College of Pharmacy covering subjects: Chemistry, Biology, Physics. & Mathematics and passing a personal interview.
Dr. Sanah (Board Chair) asked for the Board’s opinion on introducing professional certification programs in disease state management (such as Asthma, Diabetes, anticoagulation… etc.) by the COPHS. Members of the Board welcomed the idea but recommended consistent and continuous offering of the certificate programming for it be successful. They also suggested pursuing a vaccination or immunization certificate programming for pharmacists which will help pharmacists to cultivate on the opportunity to participate in offering these services for the public following the anticipated COVID-19 vaccine being developed at this time, which will soon be available for use. A recommendation to devise a proposal to the officials in Ministry of Health by the COPHS and in collaboration with some Board members explaining the role pharmacists could play and the readiness of the College to work with the Ministry on training pharmacists using the American Pharmacists Association vaccination program.
Other avenues to collaborate with the College were discussed, including students’ training regarding their future job selection, doing interviews and on tips on writing effective CVs. A webinar was proposed to be conducted for the senior class by the end of the Fall 2020 or early Spring semester 2021. Research-based collaborations were discussed and it was explained that the College is looking at promoting interdisciplinary research involving physicians, nurses and dentists in providing care for patients. Some members shared their readiness to involve.