We are excited to announce the up-coming new Diploma in Pharmacy Leadership (DPL) program (Target launch: September 2024, pending final approval).
Why a new diploma in pharmacy leadership?
Advancements in the pharmacy profession and its educational landscape, and the enhanced complexity of the healthcare system along with new technologies and models of care have heightened the demand for pharmacists with leadership skills applied to organizational behavior and change management at the individual, dyadic, team, and organizational levels, collaborative practice, and public health initiatives and policy decision-making. The profession demands a new cadre of pharmacists who can not only lead, but also support leadership development in others. In this evolving landscape, a wide range of employers across all sectors of the profession are looking to hire pharmacists with a solid understanding of how pharmacy connects with this evolving healthcare system. We developed the new Diploma in Pharmacy Leadership (DPL) program to meet this need.
The DPL will be Canada’s only educational path designed specifically for pharmacists to become leaders. We expect the DPL to attract pharmacists with leadership aspirations within administrative, corporate, public health, primary care, academic, regulatory, or government roles. Join us, accelerate your career growth, and lead the future of Pharmacy!
Who with the DPL be for and what will graduates be able to do?
Historically, pharmacy leadership roles have been filled by pharmacists with many years of experience in the profession. However, the current demanding labour market, the need to continue to evolve the healthcare system, and the need to further the profession, all demand market-ready leaders who cannot wait years to gain enough experience to lead effectively. The DPL curriculum stems from an extensive consultative process involving stakeholders and employers from across the profession.
The DPL will enable pharmacists to:
- Apply organizational behaviour and change management principles to the critique of existing leadership and practice models.
- Apply best practices and latest thinking, to current leadership issues, challenges, and opportunities confronting pharmacy.
- Apply evidence supporting pharmacy decision- and policy-making to the design, development, and implementation of healthcare policy.
- Apply specific models of communication and principles of conflict management to lead in challenging circumstances.
- Interpret and apply best practices and pedagogical principles to lead and educate diverse audiences.
- Enhance and support leadership development in the self and in others, leveraging individual strengths, values, and roles.
Program Details
The program will grant a Diploma in Pharmacy Leadership (DPL) credential.
The DPL will be comprised of 5 courses, designed to be completed in 12 months. The curriculum will be delivered online, making it accessible and flexible for working pharmacists who live and practice across urban and rural areas. Only a small portion will be conducted in-person during Program Orientation at the UBC Vancouver campus.
Unique curricular features will include a focus on leadership, applicability to many pharmacy career paths, and innovative contributions from the UBC Sauder School of Business.
The DPL Faculty
The DPL will leverage the Faculty’s experience and track-record of excellence within the UBC and Pharmacy communities. The quality of the faculty who have been involved in the design of the DPL have the expertise, qualifications, innovation and scholarly record to ensure program excellence. Pharmacists enrolled in the program will learn from expert and award-winning faculty with exemplary teaching experience and who collectively bring decades of experience developing, inspiring, and supporting students, as well as leading within a range of domains in the profession.