Early Pharmacy Education with Community Teachers (EPhECT): A longitudinal service-learning experience

Early Pharmacy Education with Community Teachers (EPhECT) is a three-year service-learning experience in which students develop a relationship with a community teacher, learn from their community teacher's health and life experiences, and identify and meet their needs, including providing pharmaceutical care. EPhECT is structured in teams comprised of a community teacher, a first (PD-I), second (PD-II), and two third (PD-III) year students, and a faculty member. Students work with their community teacher during community-based visits, community outreach presentations, and the College-based Pharmaceutical Care Clinic. Through these components and subsequent assignments and reflection, students better understand a true patient's perspective while they gain experience applying their didactic learning in a unique early experiential environment. Community teachers gain a better understanding of the role pharmacists serve in health care while also being served through student activities and Clinic-based care. EPhECT continues to develop into an integral component of a patient-centered pharmacy curriculum.