Program Overview

MCW Pharmacy School Teaching Certificate Program

The MCW Pharmacy School Teaching Certificate Program is designed to enhance the participant's abilities to educate and precept future pharmacists and residents, while also improving the everyday education they provide to patients and other healthcare providers. The program provides a robust experience for both pharmacy residents and practicing pharmacists, flexible to meet their individual interests and goals.

About the Program

The Pharmacy Teaching Certificate Program was developed to provide participants with the didactic education, training, and experiences needed to function as a faculty member and/or preceptor in both academic and pharmacy practice settings. The program completion requirements can be completed over 1 or 2 years and include developing a teaching philosophy and teaching portfolio, participating in didactic teaching, lab facilitation, and precepting experiences, and attending live/recorded educational sessions.

Program Completion Requirements

Upon successful completion of the program requirements, participants will receive a certificate of completion from the MCW Pharmacy School. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Residency Accreditation Standards include the delivery of effective education as a foundational skill that should be taught during residency program education. The Pharmacy Teaching Certificate completion requirements have been mapped to the ASHP Accreditation Standards for PGY1 and PGY2 Pharmacy Residency Programs to ensure educational competency is attained.

Affiliated Pharmacy Residency Programs

The program is affiliated with several pharmacy residency programs, including:

• Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Health System
• Children's Wisconsin
• Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center

Educational Sessions

The Teaching Certificate Program will begin with a full-day orientation in July, providing participants with an introduction to MCW, the Pharmacy School curriculum, a facilities tour, and basic foundational education on teaching and precepting. Longitudinal educational sessions will be provided monthly, covering topics such as:

• Preceptor Essentials
• Teaching & Learning Styles
• Creating Learning Objectives
• Writing Test Questions
• Effective Presentations & Using PowerPoint
• Creating Your Teaching Philosophy & Portfolio
• Academia Structure, Rank & Promotion
• Academic Dishonesty & Plagiarism

Teaching Experience

Participants will have opportunities to provide didactic teaching in the primary Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) curriculum, in elective courses, and Scholarly Pathways. Participants will provide a minimum of one 2-hour didactic lecture based on their area of practice and expertise. Participants will also facilitate a minimum of six activities in Patient Care Lab longitudinally during the Teaching Certificate Program.

Teaching Portfolio

Participants will develop a teaching philosophy that reflects their individual teaching style, values, goals, and educational methods. Participants will create a teaching portfolio that summarizes their teaching experience and demonstrates achievement of the program outcomes. The portfolio will include:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Teaching Philosophy
• Teaching Materials (lectures, presentations, worksheets, activities)
• Course Syllabi
• Rotation Manuals (IPPE, APPE, Residency)
• Self-Reflections
• Student Evaluations
• Mentor Evaluations
• Rotation Evaluations

Faculty Mentorship

Participants will be assigned a pharmacy faculty mentor who will provide expertise, advisement, and feedback throughout the Teaching Certificate Program. The faculty mentor will review and provide feedback on teaching materials and didactic teaching experiences, guide discussion and reflection on the participant's learning, precepting, and teaching experiences, and provide career planning advice pertaining to academia, teaching, and precepting.

Academic Educator Distinction

Participants who desire additional training and experience to prepare for a career in academia may choose to pursue attainment of the "Academic Educator" distinction, which includes additional topics and opportunities such as Team-Based Learning, Interprofessional Education, Accreditation and Regulations, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, among others.

Enrollment

The Pharmacy Teaching Certificate Program has limited capacity, with preference given to pharmacy residents in the Milwaukee area. MCW Pharmacy School preceptors will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis until capacity is reached. The enrollment deadline is July 9, 2025.

Program Fees

The certificate program is free for current pharmacy residents at the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Health System, Children's Wisconsin, and the Zablocki VA. Program fees for non-resident pharmacists are $400.00, with discounts available for MCW Pharmacy School preceptors through the Preceptor Benefits Program. Program fees must be paid in full prior to orientation and are non-refundable.