Interdisciplinary Team Integrates Ethics Instruction Across Curriculum

Carol Kobulnicky

Kem Krueger

Janelle Krueger

Michelle Hilaire

Will students who develop higher levels of moral reasoning become better, patient centered care-providing practitioners? According to experts, the answer is yes. In addressing this educational need, it is believed that providing students with more than one course in which to learn, and apply ethical principles, facilitates a better response to ethical controversies.

Originally funded by a Kaiser Ethics Project Grant, several School of Pharmacy faculty members continue to integrate ethics instruction and assessment across the Pharm.D. curriculum.

Carol Kobulnicky, Ph.D. and Kem Krueger, Pharm.D., Ph.D., both associate professors of social and administrative pharmacy, Janelle Krueger, M.S., clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice and director of the Experiential Education Program, and Michelle Hilaire, Pharm.D., C.D.E., clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice work together to incorporate ethics components into non-ethics courses.

Their overarching goal is to help students develop a greater ability to make ethically sound decisions in practice. Their approach includes, among other components, the use of controversial practice-based cases. Simulated real-life situations provide students opportunity to discuss and apply ethical principles, for the purpose of becoming better decision-makers. The interdisciplinary team members are developing plans to assess learning outcomes and are strategizing for expansion in the coming years.

Posted on Thursday, October 01, 2009