Phillips Completes Leadership Fellows Program
This summer, Dr. Elizabeth (Lisa) Phillips concludes her participation in the Academic Leadership Fellows Program (ALFP) through the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP).
Deans from all 144 colleges of pharmacy may offer a nomination of a faculty member to AACP to be considered for the program. The nominee must submit a letter of intent, a curriculum vitae, and a letter of recommendation from their dean. Of the applicant pool, 30 are selected to be part of the next fellowship cohort. Phillips is currently in Cohort 16 of the ALFP sessions and represents the sixth faculty member from the School of Pharmacy to be invited to attend the program in the last 14 years.
The fellowship program aims to develop leaders in pharmacy education by providing in-depth personal leadership development, expanding their network of colleagues, and creating opportunities to engage in self-reflection and interpersonal competencies for building strong teams. The program, which is broken into four sessions, also includes an exploration of legislative and public policy issues impacting pharmacy education; current issues in academic pharmacy; and advocacy of the profession, among other topics.
This past February, Phillips participated in a team-based debate during Insight 2020, AACP’s interim meeting as part of the fellowship. The teams presented opposing arguments related to the topic of whether pharmacy schools are responding appropriately to pharmacists’ concerns of a shrinking job market.
Phillips was part of the team that argued that the profession needs more innovative approaches to pharmacy in the practice setting, which will create more positions allowing pharmacists to practice at the top of their license. Phillips drew on several efforts at the School of Pharmacy, including the development of two new residency and fellowship programs and continuing education and certificate programs as successful ways pharmacists can advance in their professional growth and broaden their capabilities in their practice settings.
“This last year has been the most meaningful leadership experience I have had the privilege of being a part of,” said Phillips of the program. “As you can imagine, we have all been very challenged during the current pandemic and I have looked to and benefited from the many lessons learned during ALFP. Just as important—if not more so—has been the relationship I have built with my Cohort 16 classmates, as we truly have utilized each other and our training as we traverse through these challenging times. I am blessed to have this cohort of incredible professional educators and leaders to look to during this last year.”
The program was set to formally conclude in July at the annual AACP meeting; however the final program and graduation has been moved to next year’s annual meeting. In the meantime, Cohort 16 continues to collaborate on publishing several projects including adaptive leadership initiatives and a commentary from the debates.