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The Harrison College of Pharmacy was recently recognized by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, or ACPE, for 50 years of continuing pharmacy education accreditation. “The Harrison College of Pharmacy’s enduring commitment to excellence in lifelong learning has made a lasting impact on pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and the patients they serve,” said Dimitra V. Travlos, PharmD, ACPE assistant executive director and director of Continuing Pharmacy Education Provider Accreditation.
Since its inception in 1975, ACPE has set the standard for high-quality, evidence-based continuing education for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, ensuring lifelong learning that enhances patient care and healthcare outcomes. ACPE assures the quality of pharmacy education and training and supports the advancement of the pharmacy profession, while providing accreditation services and professional development activities.
“We’re a highly respected program where people know that they can come to us to get high quality continuing education, and I think that’s emphasized by the fact we’ve been doing it for so long,” said Spencer Durham, PharmD, associate clinical professor and director of Alumni and Professional Affairs at HCOP.
Durham said that the philosophy for Alumni and Professional Affairs is to provide timely continuing education programs that cover recent updates and to listen to attendee feedback. “Our big goal is to make sure that we’re giving CE that people want,” said Durham. “We take our feedback and comments that we get from participants very seriously, regarding the topics that they need for lifelong learning and professional development,” Durham added. As an example, Durham pointed to recent published changes in guidelines for complicated urinary tract infections, with resulting plans to provide CE on the topic next month. “When there’s a big change in guidelines, we strive to get the information in the hands of pharmacists and other healthcare providers so that they’re most up to date with what’s going on in the profession,” said Durham.
Durham said that a post-graduate education committee reviews the feedback and develops ideas for potential education topics. Additionally, topic ideas are solicited from the faculty and staff at the College, and an annual survey is sent out in January, soliciting ideas and feedback.
According to Durham, the combination of many virtual class offerings and ACPE accreditation means that people from across the U.S. take part in these continuing education courses.
“For five decades, the HCOP has served as a trusted leader in continuing education—equipping pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and other healthcare professionals with the tools to evolve, innovate and lead in an ever-changing healthcare environment,” said Kimberly Braxton Lloyd, associate dean of Clinical Affairs and Outreach.
In calendar year 2024, HCOP offered twenty-six live and thirty-seven home study courses to 2,540 pharmacists and 518 pharmacy technicians. A number of other individuals in healthcare professions took advantage of the continuing education courses, including 538 physicians, 624 nurses, twenty-one social workers and 1,294 allied healthcare professionals. In total, 7,703 credits were issued to 5,535 continuing education course takers in 2024.
Go to the Harrison College of Pharmacy website to view upcoming Harrison College of Pharmacy continuing education offerings.
