Dr. McGee designed a course for third year Doctor of Pharmacy students to gain confidence prior to rotations.
A panel of her peers recently named Pharmacy Practice Assistant Professor Edo-Abasi McGee, PharmD, BCPS, as the Innovative Teacher of the Year at Georgia Campus – Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (GA-PCOM). Her affinity for teaching is evident as she says, “I love seeing the light bulb come on with my students.”
Selection criteria used by the judges include the degree to which the innovation varies from standard teaching methods, the level of active engagement by the students, and the sustainability of the teaching method.
Three years in the making, Dr. McGee designed the elective course, Antimicrobial Stewardship, for third year Doctor of Pharmacy students who are preparing for rotations the following semester. The objective is for the students to gain confidence when offering their opinions to the medical team while on patient care rounds. Methodology includes structured classroom debate on different case-based scenarios through two active learning methods known as “Think-Pair-Share” and “Fishbowl Debate.”
The “Think-Pair-Share” method facilitates the thought process about issues presented in the course. It works this way: Pre-assigned student groups gather to discuss an issue. Each group works together comparing notes and creating lists to support their argument. Group members choose a final position and edit the list down to their best argument. Finally, the group presents their position to the class.
The “Fishbowl Debate” concept facilitates discussion by allowing five individuals to group their chairs in a circle. An extra chair in the circle encourages a student from outside the group to join the discussion. Students engage as either a presenter, a teammate or as the first responder, the student who is assigned to read the assigned text and share pertinent points.
Dr. McGee plans to survey pharmacy practice preceptors to evaluate whether student learning outcomes are improved through the critical thinking and oral and written presentation skills practiced in the course.
Dr. McGee earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. Prior to joining PCOM School of Pharmacy as a faculty member, she served as a University of Georgia Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences preceptor for internal medicine with a focus on antimicrobial stewardship. In addition, she worked as a clinical pharmacist at Athens Regional Medical Center for seven years.
Dr. McGee completed a Post Graduate Year One residency at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. She holds membership in the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, the Society of Infectious Disease Pharmacists, and the Georgia Society of Healthy System Pharmacist.
The Georgia Innovative Teacher selection committee included Chair Xinyu (Eric) Wang, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Rebekah Thomas, PharmD, PA-C, BCPS, BC-ADM, assistant professor in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies; Michael Selby, PhD, assistant professor of anatomy in the Department of Biomedical Sciences; Esther Lim, MD, research officer; and Michael J. Sampson, DO, associate professor of family medicine/sports medicine and the associate dean and chief academic officer of PCOM South Georgia.
The Philadelphia campus award was presented to Cathy Hatcher, PhD.
Established in 2005, PCOM Georgia is a private, not-for-profit, accredited institute of higher education dedicated to the healthcare professions. The Suwanee, Georgia, campus is affiliated with Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, a premier osteopathic medical school with a storied history. PCOM Georgia offers doctoral degrees in osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, and physical therapy and graduate degrees in biomedical sciences, medical laboratory science, and physician assistant studies. Emphasizing "a whole person approach to care," PCOM Georgia focuses on educational excellence, interprofessional education and service to the wider community. For more information, visit pcom.edu/georgia or call 678-225-7500. The campus is also home to the Georgia Osteopathic Care Center, an osteopathic manipulative medicine clinic, which is open to the public by appointment. For more information, visit pcomgeorgiahealth.org.
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