Would You Want Your Students to be Just Like You?

To the Editor. Get plenty of sleep, wear sunscreen, take your vitamins. These are all things that we inherently know we're are supposed to do, but it's always helpful to be reminded. I think that it's the same idea with being a role model. We all know we are supposed to lead by example, but an occasional reminder never hurts. There is much discussion in health care education about the principles of professionalism,^1-5 role modeling,³ and the “hidden curriculum.”^4,6 I'd like to offer my perspective on the subject to serve as a reminder of the responsibility that falls on our shoulders as educators. As a recent PharmD graduate and resident, I have been reflecting on the profound influence my teachers, mentors, and role models have had on me, both positive and negative. Now, as a rookie to the world of academia, I have begun to feel the weight of responsibility for the influence that my actions and behavior may have over future health care professionals who look to me for guidance.

As a student I had enough negative experiences that could have easily left me jaded. For instance, during the interview for my first pharmacy job, I expressed excitement for attending pharmacy school and I was asked, “Wait, you want to be a pharmacist? My God, why? You should go to dental school instead.” Or as a second-year intern when I identified a potentially dangerous drug interaction and was about to call the physician, and the pharmacist said sarcastically “Don't bother. He's not going to listen to you. No one cares. Go ahead, call. I wanna see this. Go on.” Or, as a third-year intern when I witnessed my supervising pharmacist hide behind the retail counter as our lead technician took all of the heat from an angry patient due to a misfilled prescription.

Luckily, I had enough positive influences along the way to make up for the negative. For example, the pharmacist who shocked me when she came out from behind the retail counter and performed a test for cogwheel rigidity on a woman who was concerned she was developing Parkinson's disease, or my former preceptor and now colleague who amazes me everyday with her poise and professionalism in every difficult situation thrown her way. Or my former residency program director and mentor who earns respect and admiration from virtually everyone he meets by exhibiting enthusiasm for our profession, expertise in his field, and engaging communication skills.

Although we can't always prevent the negative experiences from leaving a permanent impression on our students, we can at least do our part to provide enough positive influence to counteract them. We as educators are role models by default, and we need to be continually cognizant of the incredible perceptive capabilities of students. As I became painfully aware when I received my first teaching evaluations, whether the perception of a student is correct or not, one always exists. Therefore I propose this: instead of looking outward to change student behavior by telling them what they should be doing and how they should be acting, we need to turn the focus inward and do a healthy amount of self-reflection. Are we exhibiting the qualities, values, and behaviors that we expect from our students?

Ask yourself, would you want your students to be just like you? Do you always put the best interest of the student or patient first? Do you consistently exemplify honor and integrity? Do you show respect for others? Do your words and actions serve to advance the profession of pharmacy or to stagnate it? Do you demonstrate teamwork, professionalism, and commitment to lifelong learning? Just like when my mother tells me to wear sunscreen and take my vitamins, let's make a continual effort to remind ourselves and our peers of the lasting impact our actions have on the attitudes and perceptions of our students, and hence, on the future of our profession.

Melissa Jean Durham
University of Southern California School of Pharmacy