As part of her commitment to advancing clinical pharmacy practice across West Africa, Dr. Teresa Pounds, President of the West Africa Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN), has championed collaborative educational initiatives between pharmacists in Nigeria and the United States.
One of these key initiatives is the Clerkship Training Program, designed to strengthen the clinical skills of pharmacy educators, preceptors, and faculty members responsible for training the next generation of pharmacists. The program aims to bridge the gap between academic instruction and patient-centered clinical practice by equipping participants with practical knowledge and evidence-based approaches to pharmaceutical care.
Successful 2018 Training Session
The inaugural Clerkship Training Program was held in July 2018, with educational sessions hosted at:
- University of Benin Teaching Hospital
- Faith Mediplex Hospital
- Central Hospital, Benin City
The program attracted 130 pharmacists, lecturers, preceptors, and healthcare professionals, all eager to enhance their clinical competencies and improve pharmacy education within their institutions.
Positive Participant Feedback
Following the training, participants completed an evaluation survey to assess the program’s effectiveness and overall impact.
The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with more than 90% of attendees reporting that they were satisfied with the quality of the training and found the content valuable and directly applicable to their professional practice.
The strong response reinforced the need for continued investment in clinical pharmacy education and demonstrated the growing demand for specialized professional development opportunities in Nigeria.
Expanding the Program in 2019
Building on the success of the 2018 program, Dr. Pounds, together with a multidisciplinary team of experienced pharmacists from various areas of practice, planned to host the next Clerkship Training Program in August 2019 in Enugu, Nigeria.
The expanded program was designed to provide participants with practical, patient-focused training in several core areas of clinical pharmacy, including:
- Ambulatory Care
- Drug Information and Literature Evaluation
- Acute Care and Internal Medicine
- Critical Care and Nutritional Support
Strengthening Clinical Pharmacy Practice
The Clerkship Training Program reflects WASPEN’s broader mission of advancing healthcare through education, collaboration, and clinical excellence. By empowering pharmacy educators and practitioners with current clinical knowledge and practical skills, the program contributes to the development of a stronger healthcare workforce capable of delivering high-quality, evidence-based patient care throughout Nigeria and the West African region.