Precepting the next generation

For the 1,440 hours spent on rotation during the fourth year of a pharmacy student’s degree, 240 hours are spent with any one preceptor over 6 weeks. In those 240 hours, pharmacy students are taken under a preceptor’s wing to learn first-hand what it means to be a pharmacist. Through teaching and mentorship, preceptors guide pharmacy students as they work with patients in a variety of health care settings. These experiences are pivotal in determining a pharmacy student’s future career.

To recognize the importance of preceptors, every year the college asks fourth-year pharmacy students to nominate preceptors who go above and beyond in their education of the next generation of Cougar pharmacists for the college’s annual Preceptor of the Year award. The response this year has been overwhelming. Class of 2020 students submitted more than 260 nominations for over 155 individual preceptors.

Within this impressive pool of nominees, two preceptors stood out. Daniel Healey (class of 2015) from MultiCare Deaconess and Aleksander (Alex) Heyfetz (class of 2014) from Genoa-1st Avenue Pharmacy have set themselves apart through their outstanding contributions to educational development by demonstrating high standards of professionalism, ethics and clinical practice within the experiential training environment. Added together, they have precepted over 80 WSU pharmacy students.

Here’s what some of their nominations had to say:
Daniel Healey

Daniel Healey, MultiCare Deaconess
Dan was a fantastic preceptor. He always took time out of his day to answer any and all questions I had and if he was busy, he would take me along and talk while he went to go to wherever. I appreciate Dan’s commitment to making my experience as good as could be and I would love to work with him at some point in the future.

Alex  Heyfetz, Genoa-1st Avenue Pharmacy

Alex Heyfetz working with a student

Dr. Heyfetz provides a challenging and unique learning environment. I had more unique patient care interactions at 1st Avenue Pharmacy than I have ever had in any other setting… I learned valuable lessons about caring for patients with mental health disorders that I will carry with me throughout my career and that will help to guide my perceptions no matter what setting I am working in. On top of my patient care responsibilities I was also provided with projects to benefit the pharmacy and treated like a valuable team member.