November Update

Over Thanksgiving break I saw my mentor Wayne Campbell on the Friday after Thanksgiving. I volunteered for about 2 1/2 hours following one of his pharmacy technicians, Jason. He showed me how they package drugs the hospital orders, how it's barcode is loaded into the hospital system to keep track of it, and how he orders drugs. He also showed me the IV bags, different medicines, pills, capsules, etc. I'm not sure how to post pictures yet, but I will put them up ASAP.

EQ

1. "I reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ."

2. 
a.  This meets the rule of three.
b.  This is not an EQ because the wording does not seem to make sense. How can you find the best way to convict someone?
c.  This is not an EQ because it does not take a stance and can be answered through pure information.
d.  This meets the rule of three.

3. What are the safest and most efficient ways of providing the correct medication to patients?
__________________________________________________________________________
12/2/2013 EQ
 What is the safest and most efficient way of delivering the correct medicine to patients?

Research and Working EQ

1.  What is the most efficient method of providing patients medicine?

2. Having a pharmacist on the medical team to correctly diagnose illnesses.
    Having the ability to compound medication that is tailored for specific patients.
    A hospital's ability to order, package, label, and distribute their own medication 
    through an air tube system.

3.  Observing the Beverley Hospital's pharmacy department and how they are able to distribute medicine around the hospital.

4.  My mentor is Dr. Campbell, head of the pharmacy department at Beverley, and he is relevant to my EQ because with his help I have been able to use an apparent problem in pharmacies as my EQ.

Hospital Seminar

During the month September, I only visited my mentor once for the interview. Beforehand I had accidentally walked in on the last half of a seminar titled "Safe Compounding." Afterwards I met Dr. Campbell for my interview, and, very briefly, talked about how I could come mentor in the morning with other pharmacy students doing patient and rotation rounds.

Independent Component 1 Approva

1.  Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.

I plan to attend a couple seminars for safe pharmaceutical practices because the one I walked in on was very informative, and going on rotation rounds (visiting other hospital departments to check on patients, restock medicine, identify which medicines have been labeled improperly, etc.) with other college pharmacy students. Since I am not able to physically touch medicine or patient records, I will act as an observer and take notes.

2.  Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.

I think I answered the question in my first statement, but to reiterate, I will take notes on observing the students, bring any available pamphlets from seminars, and ask my mentor if I may take a couple of pictures of some of the equipment he has shown me.

3.  And explain how what you will be doing will help you explore your topic in more depth.

My topic, pharmacy, is very broad so I am trying to narrow it down to clinical pharmacy. Going on rotation rounds will allow me to observe how a hospital is run, going with college level pharmacists will allow me to observe the process I must go through to become a pharmacist, and the seminars will give me information on how more effective and safer this occupation could be. Collectively, I hope to explore the impact pharmacy has on other departments of the hospital and its affect on patients.

Second Interview Questions

The purpose of the second interview is justify your mentor as an expert in the field.  Thus, you will be asking at least 5 questions about their background and/or the background of the organization or company where they work.

1.  Who is your mentor and where do they work?

Dr. Wayne Campbell works at Beverly Hospital, Montebello CA

2.  What five questions will ask them about their background?

Why did he become a pharmacist?

What steps did he take to become a pharmacist?

What is his experience as one?

What does he think a pharmacist's most important job is?

How has being in this profession shaped his life?

Blog 5 Project Reflection and Working EQ

The Pentagon: 

(1) Positive Statement: What positive thing happen as a result of what you have completed so far?

I have found more information on what jobs having a Pharm D. Degree can provide.

(2) EQ Content:  Pick a piece of research or your interview.  How has it helped you improve your understanding of your topic?

My interview has helped me understand that topic is critical (in a clinical setting) to saving lives, and with the job comes many issues, such as drug shortages and compounding errors, that could be easily fixed.

(3) What has worked for you so far in the senior project?

Having useful contacts through my mom and friends for people I can interview and ask for helpful sources.

(4) What hasn't worked so far?  

Finding up to date information has been a struggle because the medical field is constantly evolving.

(5) Finding Value:  

 What is a potential question you would like to study this year?  (working EQ)

 What do you plan to do for mentorship?  If you haven't found a mentor yet, then discuss where you are currently looking and who you are talking to to find it.  

My potential question is how does pharmacy impact a hospital setting? Observe and assist a clinical and/or retail pharmacist. I do not have a mentor definitely but I have many people willing to do it. I have one in Beverley Hospital who is Dr. Campbell and a retail pharmacist at a drug store, but I have only met her once.

Interview Preparation

1.  Who do you plan to interview?  Why?

I plan to interview Dr. Wade Campbell because he is the head of the pharmacy department at Beverley Hospital. He is also a veteran of the clinical pharmacy field and has taken on hundreds of college students training as pharmacists before. He is a useful connection because I worked mostly under him over the summer and we are more comfortable around each other. I also find his more old-fashioned view and his answers due to that more interesting. 

2.  You have to ask 5 questions.  What additional questions do you plan to ask?  Ask open-ended questions. 

Additional questions I plan to ask are: How has the field changed since you started working? Have other jobs been folded into yours or removed completely and why do you think that happened? Do you see pharmacy expanding beyond its current borders? What makes this occupation so important and how does it affect others (patients and other health care physicians)?

Blog 3: Topic Choice and Semester 1 ESLR Goals

1.  My topic is pharmacy

2.  For my senior year I plan on being an

a) iPoly Citizen by putting myself out there. I have been shy my last 3 years at ipoly and may be it's time I become more involved by attending senior gatherings and going to at least 3 of the parties this year.

b) Effective Learner by trying to keep up my studies for both senior projects and young scholars. I will also do my best and strive for an AE or, at the very least, a B.

c) Effective User of Technology by using my blog and checking my e-mail more often. I have never had online communication (facebook, Skype, twitter, etc.) so this will be a new experience for me.

d) Effective Communicator by talking more with other people in my house, helping others in classes if they are struggling (already a tutor on the third day), and approaching teachers more if I need help. Hopefully I can tackle my shyness this year.

2013 2 Hour Presentation Reflection

1. (Know) What presentations did you see?
 Day 1: Theater Acting by Dean N.
 Day 2: Tai-Kwon Do by Indra N. Teaching Elementary Science (STEM) by Joe G.
Day 3: Non-profit Organization by Audrianna All-star Cheerleading by Pricilla W.
Day 4: Water Treatment by Ryan S. Structural Engineering by Andy
 Day 5: Structural Engineering by Andy G. Art in Education by Catherine C.
Day 6: Floral Shop Administration by Aldo R.
Day 7: Art in Education by Emani L. Yoga by Jordan L. Day 8: The Art of DJing by Edwin R. Physical Therapy - Olivia P. Day 9: Music Education by Amanda K.

Interpretive

2.  (Need to know) What questions do you have that haven't been answered about the senior project?
The minimum amount of content I need to provide for my audience.
What is the minimum speaking time (mentioned once but I forgot the number).

3. What was the most important part of the senior project based on what you are seeing in the 2-hour presentations?
For myself, the most important part is trying to keep the audience's attention. It's a personal goal for me because I am more soft-spoken and shy when it comes to presenting. Now trying to do a 2 hour presentation is going to be a tough road for me to climb. I think this is the most important aspect because if you can't get the attention of the audience then your information is not going through to them.

4.What topic are you considering doing and why?
It's set to either Orchestrating Music or Pharmacy.

Summer Mentorship Component

 Literal 
1) (Know) Log of specific hours with a total and a description of your duties.
Please select the following link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtvpYh4lH0jadGJtblN3R2VlbzhzaDhRNDU4dmlsQkE#gid=0

2) Contact Name & Number:
Dr. Wayne Campbell in the Pharmacy Department
Telephone: 323-837-3470

3) (Need to know) What questions were raised because of the ten hours of experience?  List them.  
Are there alternate paths to becoming a pharmacist?
What different types of pharmacists are there?
Why is it so important to have a full department for pharmacy?
What other duties do clinical pharmacists have aside from drug categorization and distribution?
How do pharmacists impact the hospital?
Is their a reason to why some hospitals buy drugs already sealed in containers, and other hospitals seal their own drugs on sight?
(To the above question) What are the advantages and disadvantages?
Why is America in need of more pharmacists?
Do we need pharmacists? Because certain positions can be replaced by other types of jobs (I.e. clinical pharmacy can be replaced by an anesthesiologist or doctor)
Interpretive

4) What is the most important thing you gained from this experience? Why?
I was able to talk to the college students who were doing rounds at this hospital for hours in med school. I found that each of them came from a different part of the United States and applied to pharmacology in different ways. Two of them applied to pre-med school then their current school? One entered an elite program and was able to get a seat at USC's pharmacy program (this elite program no longer exists.) Another decided to go to community college, then two years later went to UCLA. The oldest member of the group did some abroad studying and major switching until she finally decided on her path to pharmacology. I view this as my important experience because in gave me an insight to five different people with varying personalities who all entered pharmacy through options. It is important to me because it allowed me to expand scope and realize that I'm not limited in my options to enter the field I want to have an occupation in.

Applied

5). How did what you did help you choose a topic?  Please explain.
Going into this project I had it down to two decisions: Music and Pharmacy. I originally picked music (specifically conducting) because it would allow me to incorporate some fun, have creative lessons in understanding rhythm and "emotion", I had a contact at Pixar Studios set up, and it is something I am truly passionate about. However, other people were doing music related topics. I finally settled on pharmacy because my ten hours at the hospital gave me enough information to talk about. At first I was uneasy because this topic is dry, and if the audience is bored then no one will listen. Fortunately I went to see one pharmacy seminar at Whittier Hospital Medical Center and found some cool ideas the speaker used to keep the attention of the audience.