Design and implementation of a molecular imaging elective for third-year pharmacy students

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Medical Education
• Molecular Imaging

Background:

• Molecular imaging is crucial for drug development and therapy.
• Pharmacy students require foundational knowledge of imaging modalities.
• Current curricula may lack comprehensive molecular imaging education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and implement a molecular imaging elective course for pharmacy students.
• To expose Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students to imaging fundamentals and applications.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of experiential learning in this specialized course.

Main Methods:

• A two-credit hour elective course, "Surveys of Multi-Modality Imaging," was developed.
• Experiential learning methods included field trips, team-based tasks, and hands-on demonstrations.
• Pre- and post-course surveys assessed student confidence in molecular imaging concepts.

Main Results:

• 101 students completed the course, with 72% being PharmD students.
• Student confidence in discussing imaging modalities increased from 2.4% to 97.4%.
• 77.5% of students found the immersive learning activities beneficial.

Conclusions:

• The course effectively increased student appreciation for molecular imaging.
• Experiential learning significantly improved understanding of imaging modalities and their role in drug therapy.
• This innovative course design enhances pharmacy education in molecular imaging.