Mentor's Guidelines
The Pharmacy Leadership Academy is a distance-learning platform designed to train pharmacy leaders or those aspiring to leadership positions within the pharmacy enterprise in all types and sizes of hospitals and health systems.
Based on the expertise and experience of a highly qualified faculty, a series of nine modules – each led by a core faculty team – are offered on a range of critical topics, incorporating self-learning and reading, presentations and case-based interactive components to inform and stimulate mentees, with an overriding aim to benefit patient care through enhanced leadership skill at every level of health care organizations.
The Academy curricular plan centers on nine distinct topical modules, each representing a critical contribution to the leadership competencies required in today's complex environment:
• Leading the Pharmacy Enterprise
• Leading Yourself
• Leading People
• Leading Change through Innovation
• Leading for Quality and Safety
• Leading for Effective Financial Management
• Leading for Technology Advancement
• Leading with Executive Presence
• Leading for Results
Each module is comprised of a variety of knowledge and learning activities including:
• Self-study includes required and suggested readings over the 6-week curriculum.
• Weekly reading assignments specific to the weekly learning objectives which address the topical focus for the week.
• Faculty audio-enhanced PowerPoint presentation available online (approximately 1 hour in duration) and downloadable PowerPoint slides for review or presentation.
• Weekly journaling entries are required as a reflective writing piece submission for faculty review.
• Threaded discussions are a vital part of the exchange of information and the learning process. Mentees are required to contribute at least three times each week, on three different days, to the Threaded Discussions section of eCollege during each week of the module. Original postings and comments should be focused on the topic of the week's discussion questions.
• Live Chat is a weekly 1-hour session with faculty available to provide an overview of key issues, answer questions and facilitate mentee and faculty interaction.
• The small group case study analysis and team project assigned for weeks 4 - 6 of the module.
Suggested Frequency and Duration of Meetings between Mentor and Mentee
• Meet prior to the start of the module (~30 minutes) to understand learning objectives and identify the practical application of learnings for the mentee.
• Meet on a weekly/biweekly basis to track progress (~30-60 minutes as a standing meeting).
• Meet at the conclusion of the module to summarize and consider application of learnings (~60 minutes as a standing meeting). Have the mentee summarize learnings and discuss the application of learnings in their job. Determine if there are any aspects of the lessons learned you both wish to monitor over time.
Suggestions for Engagement and Discussion
• Preview the module’s reading list and weekly objectives with mentee during weekly/biweekly meetings. Discuss with the mentee what knowledge was gained and how it can be applied in their role. Identify and discuss if there are departmental or unit considerations.
• As reading and weekly objectives are met, ask if there is a reading that is valuable for both mentor and mentee to read and discuss. Schedule time for future discussion.
• Be willing to share your own stories (or challenges) in applying the material so the mentee benefits from your experience.
• Ask if there is a key learning from any given week where there is application for the mentee to apply and discuss/assess his or her performance over time. This will require tracking, and it is suggested that the mentee manage this list for the mentor.
• Ask what learnings have been gained from the threaded discussions, live chat and case study group project. Discuss accordingly.
• Ask your mentee how their newly gained knowledge might have influenced how they would have approached specific elements differently or how they now plan to approach upcoming project elements.
• Review and discuss followup discussion topics and any action plans from previous sessions.
• Provide feedback to the mentee/mentee about their performance/application of learnings as appropriate.
• Keep a journal in a simple, concise form that allows you to track progress and assess the value of the program. Review quarterly with mentee.