Service Learning

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St. Louis College of Pharmacy (STLCOP) is a reputable school that produces quality pharmacists each year. As the school strives to make more well-rounded pharmacists, service learning is a course that is considered being implemented as a required course in the curriculum. Many students have the same concerns that a new implement to the curriculum would add. When you volunteer each week, time constraints come into play. Even though it is only two-three hours each week that can add up fast for students in a challenging curriculum. Many students barely have time to juggle a social life, academic life, and work life. Other pharmacy schools, such as UMKC and Drake, do not have service learning as a required course, so would it really be a relevant …show more content…
The degree students pursue includes a background of intense math and science courses. Even the electives students can take have a major influence of pharmacy incorporated somehow. Students become encyclopedias of knowledge with a focus in the health care setting of choice and, the common goal of managing patients disease states so they can live a healthier life. The focus on the textbook education students receive has limited students on their education. While there is no doubt that pharmacy students need the factual based math and science classes, there is only so much a textbook can teach you to become a true pharmacist. The service learning course has taught me compassion, empathy, and an understanding of different types of people that pharmacists will encounter daily. This hands on service learning course has given me an education more valuable than any textbook I have yet opened. One of the many draw backs for students is if the service learning component is really relevant. Students will become pharmacists without service learning and, many pharmacists today still provide efficient care to patients. Service learning is simply a supplement that can guide students to a better patient based understanding. Yes, this experience can be gained elsewhere by students own their own time, but the …show more content…
This takes individuals out of their comfort zone and encourages them to work with populations that differ from their own. As you work with different groups of people, your competency and general knowledge about people will expand. Pharmacists, will be working with diverse populations of people and will need to have some understanding of these populations in order to provide optimal outcomes for patients. According to the Missouri Census Bureau, there is a diverse population that resides within Missouri itself. There is a broad range of people from different races, ages, religions, education levels, housing styles, and jobs that will pose a unique sets of challenges. These challenges will force pharmacy students to think and act creatively. Some diseases are more probable to show up in certain races, some religions may refuse certain medications, and those with little education may not be able to read the directions on the bottle of medicine you just handed them. It is nearly impossible to learn the beliefs and customs of each individual, but the service learning course would provide you exposure to different groups of people so you can expand your understanding in this area. Currently, this course offers you opportunities to work with the homeless, the elderly, immigrants/refugees, and children from poor neighborhoods. However, as the course expands students could also
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