Next Generation of Clinical Pharmacists
Annual Report 2011 : Casting Net for Talented, Committed Trainees
Programs take aim at shortage
In addition to her own practice, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist Andrea Landgraf, R.Ph., directs the
Pharmacy Graduate Year 2 program in oncology in the Department of Pharmacy Clinical Programs.
The needs are dire.
In the United States, a shortage of health care professionals — from physicians and researchers to mid-level providers and technicians — is expected to worsen as an aging population retires and requires more care. To attract the best and brightest to essential health care jobs, MD Anderson has a growing number of innovative programs.
Allied health professionals
The mission of the School of Health Professions (SHP) is clear and compelling: to prepare students to meet the critical shortage of health care professionals now and in the future.
Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and located within the heart of MD Anderson’s Texas Medical Center campus, the school provides the current enrollment of 320 students an education that seamlessly combines comprehensive academics with a clinical education.
“Our eight programs touch on every aspect of a patient’s stay,” says Shirley Richmond, Ed.D., dean of the SHP.
The school offers bachelor of science degrees in eight highly specialized fields: clinical laboratory science, cytogenetic technology, cytotechnology, diagnostic imaging, histotechnology, medical dosimetry, molecular genetic technology and radiation therapy. Graduates of the SHP routinely score in the top 25% on national professional certification exams.
To meet growing needs for health care professionals, MD Anderson has multiple educational programs, from allied health professions and biomedical sciences to training for pharmacists, physician assistants, nurses and survivorship researchers, among others.
Biomedical sciences researchers
It’s the first of its kind in the nation. In the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, doctoral students can enroll in a program called “Cancer Metastasis Research: From Bench to Bedside.”
Supported by a grant from The University of Texas System Graduate Program Initiative, the program explores the emergent field of metastasis — spread of disease to distant organs — the principle cause of death in those afflicted with solid tumors.
“We have the resources and a willing and able faculty,” says Gary Gallick, Ph.D., program director and professor in the Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology. “This program would be hard to develop anywhere else.
Pharmacy residents
Most undergraduate pharmacy education involves didactic learning, with little patient contact until late in the process, says Joel Lajeunesse, vice president for pharmacy.
But, at MD Anderson, pharmacy residents get plenty of direct patient contact through the Pharmacy Graduate Year 2 (PGY2) program. PGY2 allows those who’ve completed a one-year residency in pharmacy to specialize in one of two areas for another year.
Six residents specialize in oncology; two focus on critical care. Recruited through a national match program, the residents leave with refined clinical skills and prepared for board certification exams.
Physician assistants
Though physician assistants (PAs) can get a job straight out of school, some opt for additional specialized training and education. At MD Anderson, a few PAs choose to participate in a yearlong postgraduate clinical training program in oncology — the only such program in the country.
Maura Polansky, PA in the Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology and program director of physician assistant education, says PAs who complete this training are seeking a challenging, but collaborative, practice. “By choosing to work with cancer patients, who tend to be very ill, they must stay abreast of the latest advances in cancer care — and are opting for the team approach.”
Nursing externship
At MD Anderson, nurses are the mainstay of medical care for inpatients and outpatients. In addition to a thriving yearlong program, a competitive summer training program for student nurses — the Professional Student Nurse Externship — develops essential skills and confidence for the 30 students chosen.
The 10-week program combines classroom study, outside speakers and one-on-one bedside coaching on an inpatient floor. “You can track how they mature as people and as nurses,” explains Rosa Semien, registered nurse and project manager in
MD Anderson’s Department of Nursing Workforce Development. “Preceptors (mentors) get the chance to give back to students, students benefit greatly, and, importantly, so do our patients.”
Survivorship researchers
“Survivorship is the new wave of cancer care, but we have much to learn,” says Guadalupe Palos, Dr.P.H., manager of clinical protocol administration in the Office of Cancer Survivorship.
She supervises the research of several undergraduate and graduate students and serves on the dissertation committees for three, one of whom is Ellen Mullen, a doctoral student at The University of Texas at Tyler.
Mullen’s dissertation concerns the effects of telephone counseling on the health behaviors of elderly cancer survivors with low literacy. She recently defended her dissertation — via Skype. “She did a great job,” Palos says. “Our students are so passionate about what they’re doing. We learn from each other.”
In these and many other ways, MD Anderson is ensuring that there will be enough health care professionals to meet the needs of cancer patients for generations to come.
More Stories From Annual Report
Going deep into the science of improvement
New-generation research strives to achieve best value for cancer care
Quality improvement touches employees at all levels
Ibi Opuiyo gives little credence to the word “unfixable.”
Expanding hope
For the past 15 years, Bill Hyslop’s world has revolved around quality — and numbers.
Project helps underserved in quitting smoking
“Do you smoke cigarettes now?” is an important question.
Cancer treatment opens new vistas for teenager
A youth symphony violinist, first-chair trumpet player in his high school band, varsity cross-country runner and stellar student with an affinity for physics, Shane Leonard didn’t have cancer on his busy agenda.
Institutional Review Board ensures patient safety
In 2004, James Yao, M.D., learned that one patient can open a whole new world of possibilities.
ICU team takes ventilator-associated pneumonia down to zero
When Joseph Nates, M.D., joined MD Anderson’s faculty in 2002, he discovered a high incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Regional care centers add surgery
As he ends each week traveling from Katy to the Bay Area to care for his patients, Richard Ehlers, M.D., never loses sight of his calling.
Screening reduces lung cancer-related deaths
Reginald Munden, M.D., sees a light at the end of the tunnel with the release of the findings of the National Lung Screening Trial.
How one survivor copes with side effects
The mirror is not always a glowing reflection of one’s self. For Jason Cox, there was a point when he didn’t even recognize himself.
Pathologist a role model for high school students
Breast Pathologist Aysegul Sahin, M.D., loves to share her knowledge and experiences with young people. The benefits are far from one-sided, she believes.
ASPIRE
A Smoking Prevention Interactive Experience
Junior faculty benefit from experienced scientists
After more than 15 years of submitting grants, Khandan Keyomarsi, Ph.D., knows what it takes to be successful. It’s this knowledge that led her to develop a program geared toward junior faculty, so they would know, too.
Health care in the community church
Cancer Prevention Researcher Lorna McNeill, Ph.D., has embarked on an important ministry.
Student benefits from mentoring
Andria Schibler hopes the yeast she uses every day will do much more than make bread dough rise. Her ultimate goal is to help improve leukemia patients’ survival.
The physical expression of a vision
Facilities focus on meeting needs of patients, visitors, employees
Completion of 1MC fulfills Mendelsohn’s dream
The towering new building anchoring MD Anderson’s Mid Campus resembles a ship with its prow facing the Texas Medical Center.
More patient beds, a firm foundation
It was all part of the initial plan. When architects, engineers and construction workers returned to
MD Anderson’s Alkek Hospital in 2007, the foundation was in place.
New research facilities move patients closer to promising therapies
Advances in cancer detection and treatment will materialize rapidly in the coming decade thanks to the convergence of genome analysis, advanced imaging and the development of targeted therapies at MD Anderson’s South Campus Research Buildings III and IV.
Designers listen to end users
If you had to design a space that appealed to a 5-year-old as well as a 25-year-old, what would it look like?
Endowment will help children affected by cancer for years to come
When it comes to philanthropy, there are myriad ways to make a difference.
Volunteer couple shares gifts of time and money
He’s often on the golf course and you can find her riding a bike, but Twilight and Marc Freedman become a pair when they volunteer at MD Anderson.
Elementary school students learn tradition of giving
Pennies on Monday, nickels on Tuesday, dimes on Wednesday, quarters on Thursday and counting on Friday.
Texas 4000 — the ride to raise research dollars
Don’t underestimate college kids. Each summer, about 50 students from The University of Texas at Austin saddle bicycles and ride for 70 days from their central Texas campus to Anchorage, Alaska.