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Most students considering a job in pharmacy don't expect to be politically
active once they enter the working world, according to Loretta Brickman,
R.Ph., who teaches an elective course titled "Practical Politics in
Pharmacy" at Temple University School of Pharmacy (TUSP). Yet throughout a
pharmacist's career, politics will impact both their patients and their
professions.
Brickman, a '63 alumna of TUSP, and co-teacher Harold Bobrow, R.Ph., both
longtime political activists and past presidents of the New Jersey
Association of Pharmacists, urge their students to be politically active
and show them exactly how to go about it.
"We found that students weren't as actively involved as we thought they
should be, and we asked them why," said Brickman. "Most were unsure about
what to do and how to do it. They told us that no one teaches politics in
pharmacy school."
The two decided to develop a course that would spur political interest
early in a pharmacist's career. Temple University School of Pharmacy was
the first to offer such a course, which is now in its third year.
Political issues facing pharmacists are diverse and include:
Government definition of healthcare providers
Medicare prescription plans for senior citizens
Drug importation from other countries
Pharmacy Benefit Managers
Immunizations
Medication errors and drug safety
Mail-order prescription plans
Brickman and Bobrow teach students how to become better advocates, the key
to which is contact with government officials and participation in the
political process. The secret to gaining access to legislators is
befriending their staffs, such as assistants and office managers.
Last semester, the highlight of the class was a trip to visit legislators
in Harrisburg. This semester's class will be visiting Washington, D.C.,
and students will be able to intern with health aides in legislative
offices. And this spring, thanks to the efforts of Brickman and Bobrow,
the Pennsylvania State Board of Pharmacy will hold one of its monthly
meetings outside of Harrisburg for the first time at TUSP. Students and
faculty from Temple and nearby pharmacy schools will have the opportunity
to attend this meeting and see the legislative process firsthand.
"Although 99.9 percent of the legislators want to do the right thing, they
are often not pharmacists, so their educational base is not as
comprehensive as ours is. We, as pharmacists, can fill in the gaps," said
Bobrow.
Pharmacy student Theresa Anderson agrees. "A lot of people making these
laws don't understand all of the ramifications. We learned how to call our
legislators and make appointments with them. I was surprised at how easy
it was. This experience will change me - I'll be more aware and more
involved."
Brickman and Bobrow hope that the lessons students learn in their course
will follow students through all aspects of their lives.
"Most pharmacy courses are A + B = C. This course is more of an art. We're
essentially teaching social intercourse," said Bobrow.
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