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PharmD/MBA Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience

The student will be assigned a preceptor for a five-week experience at a pharmacy- or healthcare related setting to apply the business administration knowledge and skills learned during their dual PharmD/MBA education at Shenandoah University.

Each equivalent week of experience shall contain an average of forty hours of practice. The student will perform pharmacy- or healthcare related administrative functions while under the direct supervision of the preceptor. This PharmD/MBA advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) will provide the student experience in the daily administrative operations of a pharmacy- or healthcare-related organization.

PharmD/MBA APPE General Objectives/Learning Outcomes

The student will:

  1. Gain an understanding of the role of a pharmacist in administrative positions within a pharmacy- or healthcare-related organization.
  2. Describe the daily operational, administrative and managerial functions of a pharmacy- or healthcare-related organization, including but not limited to: human resources, marketing analysis and strategies, financial analysis and strategies, and public relations or communication strategies.
  3. Identify issues affecting operations, administration and/or management within the organization.
  4. Collect data, analyze results, and develop a plan to resolve organizational issues.
  5. Demonstrate appropriate and effective written, verbal, and non-verbal communication skills in all interactions with healthcare professionals and other employees within the organization.
  6. Demonstrate an understanding of the present status and future potential of the organization.
  7. Demonstrate professional behavior in all interactions with healthcare professionals, patients, students, preceptors, and other employees within the organization.
PharmD/MBA APPE Competencies

Over the course of the APPE, the student will:

  • Identify operational, administrative and managerial responsibilities and issues pertinent to the departments within the organization
  • Devise and present proposals to address identified issues
  • Implement the proposals and collect and analyze data (if time permits)
  • Present and document the findings and recommendations based on the results (if time permits)
  • Complete a journal including, but not limited to, the following information:
    • Description of the organization including, but not limited to: history, mission, regional area (e.g., northeast, mid-atlantic, etc.), departments (including function within the organization), employees (referring to titles, not actual names), products and services, strategic plan, values, goals and objectives
    • Summary of daily observations and completed proposals and/or recommendations and tasks within the organization
    • Reflection on what was learned, including how knowledge and skills were applied, and how the experience confirmed or altered career plans
Types of Settings

A PharmD/MBA APPE should occur in a pharmacy- or healthcare-related organization. Examples of appropriate settings include:

  • Hospital pharmacy administration
  • Retail pharmacy administration
  • Clinical pharmacy administration
  • Academic administration
  • Managed care
  • Pharmacy benefit management (PBM)
  • Pharmaceutical industry
  • Public health service (FDA, CDC, NIH, IHS, DEA)
APPE Design

Weeks one and two are designed to give the student a basic understanding of the day-to-day functions of the administrative, operational, and managerial aspects of the organization. By the end of the two-week period, the student should have a basic understanding of the operations within each accessible department of the organization.

Weeks three and four are designed to give the student a more in-depth exposure to administrative, operational, and managerial issues, such as human resources, marketing, cost-benefit analysis, financial management, and public relations. The tasks can be tailored to fit the specific organization to address the needs of the student and/or preceptor.

Week five is designed to allow the student to complete pending tasks, proposals and/or recommendations, journal entries and present remaining findings to the preceptor and/or other relevant individuals within the organization.

PharmD/MBA APPE (pdf)