Throughout this rotation I gained a wide variety of skill sets that will be valuable for my future as a PGY-1 resident and as a future pharmacist. One of the most significant areas that I grew in was my written communication. Throughout this rotation I had to translate clinical and regulatory information for different audiences. I grew in my ability to deliver clear, concise, engaging, and grammatically correct written information. This will help me in my residency as I will have to create projects and presentation involving written communication.

During my rotation with RxPharmacist, I also learned how to effectively deliver verbal communication through delivering lecture presentations. I became more comfortable organizing and delivering information in a structured, engaging manner while also maintaining professionalism. Recording presentations required attention to pacing, articulation, and audience engagement – all of which I improved on throughout the course of my rotation based on valuable feedback from my preceptor.

Additionally, this rotation required me to find primary sources to complete projects. I strengthened my ability to differentiate between the sources I was using for my projects in order to find the most reliable information to deliver. This is an essential skill in my future as a pharmacist as it supports evidence-based decision making and ensures that recommendations and educational materials are based off the most current and credible data.

Finally, this rotation assisted my growth in adaptability and self-directed learning. Many of the tasks required me to independently research unfamiliar topics, apply new tools, and continuously revise my work based on feedback. Using a growth mindset increased my confidence in navigating new challenges, which is essential in the ever-evolving field of pharmacy.

Overall, the skills I developed during this rotation – communication, educational design, critical thinking, organization, time management, and adaptability have strengthened my ability to contribute to both patient care and professional education in pharmacy.

I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to be on this rotation. I appreciate the guidance that I received from my preceptor and the valuable feedback that he provided me to strengthen my medical writing skills. I appreciated having the pre-rotation meeting, as it made me feel like I had a say in the projects that I wanted to work on. This was a great way to end my APPE year. Thank you RxPharmacist!

-Olivia J., University of Minnesota