Doctor of Pharmacy

Simulation-based learning

Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences > Doctor of Pharmacy > PharmD Curriculum > Human patient simulation

Human patient simulation is used in a variety of ways. Whether you plan to practice pharmacy in a hospital emergency room, or a specialized clinic, simulations allow you to learn in a controlled environment while receiving immediate performance feedback from our faculty experts who have worked in similar settings.

Using Actors as Simulated Patients

Hired actors are trained for simulations to portray a real patient, also known as a simulated patient. As a pharmacists, you may encounter a patient living with multiple chronic conditions such as hypertension or diabetes and is facing external hardships. Our tailored simulations allow you to learn effective communication and receive feedback in a clinical setting.

Interprofessional Education

Interprofessional collaboration gives you the chance to interact with patients, but also valuable experience working in a professional team made up of future nurses, pharmacists, physicians and social workers. Our interdisciplinary simulations challenge you to think critically in real time while caring for a patient with complex medical conditions and needs.

Team Debrief

Immediately following simulations, the faculty facilitator debriefs students. The facilitator addresses and evaluates communication, professional demeanor, clinical skills and knowledge, and identifies errors.

Simulation Curricula

Clinical Pharmacy Services

You will work in groups of 1-4 during these realistic scenarios to provide care and implement a therapeutic plan for your patient. Our college faculty work closely with health care providers to understand the evolving landscape of pharmacy practice and tailor simulations appropriately. Current scenarios include:

  • Mental Health
  • Counseling
  • Hypertension
  • Infectious Disease
  • Medication Therapy Management (MTM)
  • A variety of new simulations which are developed every year based on real-world situations.

Emergency Preparedness

Effective emergency preparedness and response planning equips emergency responders, such as pharmacists, to be ready for any type of incident or catastrophe. Pharmacists and emergency responders involved in acute care also require training and practice in recognizing and treating rare, but potentially devastating, exposures to toxic agents.