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Fredrickson ME, Jakab A, Sidhu J, Mikhail S, Singh S, Guere T, Dillig JH, Gothard MD. A preliminary characterization of and call for benchmarking pharmacy alumni engagement. Curr Pharm Teach Learn 2024; 16:34-38. [PMID: 38158331 DOI: 10.1016/j.cptl.2023.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Alumni are essential but often overlooked stakeholders for pharmacy programs, and engaging alumni in philanthropy, volunteerism, events, and communication may have important implications for the growth and success of pharmacy programs. This research aims to preliminarily characterize pharmacy alumni engagement across four metrics and provide a call to action for standardized tracking and reporting of alumni engagement efforts across the Academy. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was sent to alumni relations and advancement personnel at United States schools and colleges of pharmacy. The survey gathered information on the accuracy of pharmacy alumni records, alumni engagement within four categories (philanthropy, communication, events, and volunteering), alumni relations personnel, and barriers to alumni engagement efforts. RESULTS Respondents reported using various database systems to track and measure alumni engagement, and 41% noted having accurate pharmacy alumni records. Opportunities for alumni engagement within the four categories varied across institutions. Fifty percent of respondents indicated that one full-time equivalent position is allocated to pharmacy alumni engagement efforts at their institution. Barriers to alumni engagement efforts included limited budgets, and staff, engaging alumni via in-person events, and maintaining accurate alumni records. CONCLUSIONS The Academy may benefit from expanding the annual alumni survey and developing a consistent tracking mechanism to capture and report alumni engagement activities. Additionally, education on alumni engagement metrics and potential collaborative efforts with institutional alumni relations personnel would be of value. This is vital in developing and optimizing alumni relations efforts and engaging pharmacy alumni bases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary E Fredrickson
- Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, College of Pharmacy, 4209 State Rt 44, Rootstown, OH 44272, United States.
| | - Ava Jakab
- Northeast Ohio Medical University College of Pharmacy, 4209 State Rt 44, Rootstown, OH 44272, United States.
| | - Jasleen Sidhu
- Northeast Ohio Medical University College of Pharmacy, 4209 State Rt 44, Rootstown, OH 44272, United States.
| | - Sandy Mikhail
- Northeast Ohio Medical University College of Pharmacy, 4209 State Rt 44, Rootstown, OH 44272, United States.
| | - Sukhdeep Singh
- Northeast Ohio Medical University College of Pharmacy, 4209 State Rt 44, Rootstown, OH 44272, United States.
| | - Tata Guere
- Northeast Ohio Medical University College of Pharmacy, 4209 State Rt 44, Rootstown, OH 44272, United States.
| | - Jamie H Dillig
- Pharmacy Practice, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, 3333 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL 60064, United States.
| | - M David Gothard
- Biostats, Inc, 501 Wood Street North, East Canton, OH 44730, United States
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Holvoet N, Casten W, Demissie EW, Dewachter S, Gamboa MKC, Adhanom TG, Ibrahim AH, Makundi H, Manguni G, Manyuru GA, Mugabi N, Nawanda YE, Nguyen CH, Pallangyo WA, Pascual-Villar R, Saavedra LP, Salgado MT, Tysmans N, Vu AN, Wuyts E, Weldegebriel ZB. Theory-based evaluation of the impact of Master's programmes in development studies: Insights from a mixed-methods and multicultural alumni action research project. Eval Program Plann 2023; 97:102228. [PMID: 36708698 DOI: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2023.102228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
To understand the impact of the international Master's programmes offered at the Institute of Development Policy (University of Antwerp), a theory-based evaluation was undertaken. In the first phase, a Theory of Change (ToC) was elaborated, distinguishing between three levels of impact (individual, organisational and societal), four learning dimensions (knowledge, skills, attitudes and networks) and five implicit pathways (change agent, social network, widening access, academic diversity, international understanding). Given the multifaceted and vague nature of the 'impact' concept under study, we selected an international, gender-balanced, multi-sectoral team of alumni researchers who fostered inclusiveness of different perspectives, at the same time capitalising on their depth of understanding, having gone through the study experience themselves. A mixed-methods approach was adopted to validate the ToC, combining a Most Significant Change approach, categorisation and text analysis of 101 alumni impact stories. Our findings demonstrate the importance of the three levels of impact and four learning dimensions in capturing graduate impact. While the impact stories confirmed the dominant 'change agent' pathway, they also hinted at the importance of hybrid complementary configurations of pathways to fully grasp how impact materialises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Holvoet
- Institute of Development Policy, University of Antwerp, Lange St. Annastraat 7, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium.
| | - Wanda Casten
- Pilipinas Monitoring & Evaluation Society, 2-P Lee Gardens Commercial Center, Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City 1552, Philippines.
| | | | - Sara Dewachter
- Institute of Development Policy, University of Antwerp, Lange St. Annastraat 7, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium.
| | - Marian Kaye C Gamboa
- National Economic and Development Authority, 12 Josemaria Escriva Drive, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Philippines; Independent MEL consultant.
| | - Tewelde Gebremariam Adhanom
- Department of Gender and Development Studies, College of Social Science and Humanities, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia.
| | - Abdurahman Hamza Ibrahim
- School of Governance and Development Studies, Hawassa University, P.O. Box 05, Hawassa, Ethiopia.
| | - Hezron Makundi
- IDS University of Dar es Salaam, Room 229, IDS-Kiswahili Building, UDSM Main Campus, P.O. Box 35169, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
| | - Grachel Manguni
- Institute of Development Policy, University of Antwerp, Lange St. Annastraat 7, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium.
| | - Georgina Angela Manyuru
- World Bank Group, Uganda Country Office, Rwenzori House, Plot 1, Lumumba Avenue, P.O. Box 4463, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Nicholas Mugabi
- School of Social Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Yahya E Nawanda
- Department of Development Studies (DDS), College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3024, Morogoro, Tanzania.
| | - Chau Hoai Nguyen
- Canadian Development Program in Vietnam, 31 Hung Vuong str., Hanoi, Viet Nam.
| | | | - Rose Pascual-Villar
- National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Region 3, Philippines; Bulacan State University, City of Malolos, Bulacan, Philippines.
| | | | - Mariluz Torres Salgado
- Universidad Centroamericana (UCA) and Fundación Zamora Terán (FZT), Sierritas de Santo Domingo, de la radio estrella del Mar 1 KM al sur. Managua, Nicaragua.
| | - Nash Tysmans
- Independent consultant/researcher, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Anh Ngoc Vu
- Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Sheffield, Elmfield Building, Northumberland Road, Sheffield S10 2TU, United Kingdom.
| | - Eva Wuyts
- Independent Consultant/Researcher, Lier, Belgium.
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Lamer A, Oubenali N, Marcilly R, Fruchart M, Guinhouya B. Master's Degree in Health Data Science: Implementation and Assessment After Five Years. Stud Health Technol Inform 2022; 298:51-55. [PMID: 36073455 DOI: 10.3233/shti220906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Health data science is an emerging discipline that bridges computer science, statistics and health domain knowledge. This consists of taking advantage of the large volume of data, often complex, to extract information to improve decision-making. We have created a Master's degree in Health Data Science to meet the growing need for data scientists in companies and institutions. The training offers, over two years, courses covering computer science, mathematics and statistics, health and biology. With more than 60 professors and lecturers, a total of 835 hours of classes (not including the mandatory 5 months of internship per year), this curriculum has enrolled a total of 53 students today. The feedback from the students and alumni allowed us identifying new needs in terms of training, which may help us to adapt the program for the coming academic years. In particular, we will offer an additional module covering data management, from the edition of the clinical report form to the implementation of a data warehouse with an ETL process. Git and application lifecycle management will be included in programming courses or multidisciplinary projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Lamer
- Univ. Lille, UFRS, ILIS, F-59000, Lille, France
- Univ. Lille, CHU Lille, ULR 2694 - METRICS: Évaluation des Technologies de santé et des Pratiques médicales, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Naima Oubenali
- Univ. Rennes1, LTSI, Laboratoire Traitement du Signal et de l'Image F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - Romaric Marcilly
- Univ. Lille, CHU Lille, ULR 2694 - METRICS: Évaluation des Technologies de santé et des Pratiques médicales, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Mathilde Fruchart
- Univ. Lille, CHU Lille, ULR 2694 - METRICS: Évaluation des Technologies de santé et des Pratiques médicales, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Benjamin Guinhouya
- Univ. Lille, UFRS, ILIS, F-59000, Lille, France
- Univ. Lille, CHU Lille, ULR 2694 - METRICS: Évaluation des Technologies de santé et des Pratiques médicales, F-59000 Lille, France
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Abstract
The emigration of physicians and scientists from resource-constrained countries decreases the country's ability to undertake research. Re-establishing research environments and increasing capacity reduced by these losses are important, particularly in the health sciences. One mechanism for re-establishing strong health sciences research is the introduction of an Alumni Diaspora Fellowship Programme. We define the beneficial effects of a successful single partnership in an Alumni Diaspora Programme. This Host/Alumnus collaboration demonstrates that bi-directional advantages have accrued for both the Host Institution situated in a resource-constrained country and the Alumni's Institution, located in a high-income country. In addition to expanding research in the resource-constrained country, collaborations expanded to other faculty beyond the Alumnus in the sending Institution, in multiple fields including those not readily available in the high-income country (HIV, TB, malaria). The environment at the host Institution in the resource-constrained country has been enriched by increased research publications, training of young scholars (over 200 trained in manuscript and grant application writing), and substantial advances in biomedical informatics. There has been considerable knowledge exchange and development between both Institutions, showing that 'brain circulation' and Diaspora Programmes are valuable strategies for expanding research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beverley Kramer
- a School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand , Johannesburg , South Africa
| | - Roy Zent
- b Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine , Nashville , TN , USA.,c Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center , Nashville , TN , USA.,d Veterans Affairs Hospital , Nashville , TN , USA
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Wotherspoon SE, McCarthy PW. The factors and motivations behind United Kingdom chiropractic professional association membership: a survey of the Welsh Institute of Chiropractic Alumni. Chiropr Man Therap 2016; 24:35. [PMID: 27621800 PMCID: PMC5018935 DOI: 10.1186/s12998-016-0115-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There are many professional associations representing chiropractors and chiropractic in the United Kingdom (UK). Each has its unique selling points (USPs) and chiropractors can choose to join as many as they like; however, cost of membership has to be weighed against perceived benefits. The predictors of UK chiropractic association membership and motivational factors to join these associations, have not formally been identified. This research study aimed to identify some of the factors and motivations in Welsh Institute of Chiropractic (WIOC) Alumni regarding their decision to join (or not) a UK chiropractic professional association. Methods An online survey instrument, comprising 23 questions, was administered from November-December 2015 via a link announced on ‘The WIOC Alumni’ Facebook group (N = 655), the active platform for the WIOC Alumni Organisation. Results One hundred forty-eight respondents (approximately 22.6 % of ‘The WIOC Alumni’ Facebook group membership) completed the survey. Ten factors were reported to be important in decision making: ‘promoting public awareness of chiropractic’ (91.2 %), ‘access to professional indemnity insurance’ (89.2 %), ‘overall professionalism of the association’ (87.2 %), ‘the identity of the association’ (77.7 %), ‘positive attitude to research’ (77.0 %), ‘workplace support and advice’ (68.9 %), ‘access to events \ courses \ seminars’ (64.2 %), ‘Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities’ (62.2 %), ‘cost of membership’ (59.5 %) and ‘addresses my area of interest’ (56.1 %). ‘Many of my friends have joined’ (71.6 %) was considered unimportant, whereas ‘Lobbying: Influencing policy’ and ‘career development’ were considered important by almost twice as many as those that consider them unimportant (45.3 %: 25.7 % and 43.9 %: 27.0 % respectively), ‘requirement of employment’ and ‘associations newsletter’ were seen as unimportant by roughly twice as many as those considering them important (44.6 %: 28.4 % and 35.8 %: 28.4 % respectively). Should it become an option, almost 71 % of respondents would support the unification of the four main UK chiropractic associations, (the British, McTimoney, Scottish and United, Chiropractic Associations: BCA MCA, SCA and UCA, respectively). Conclusions Several factors have an important effect on motivations to join UK chiropractic professional associations. Further research is required to determine if this is WIOC specific or can be extrapolated more generally. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12998-016-0115-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter W McCarthy
- University of South Wales, Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales, CF37 1DL UK
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