Service or disservice? Ensuring pharmacy students provide authentic service-learning

Abstract

Service-learning is an academic activity that most US colleges and schools of pharmacy report including in their curriculum. Service-learning can be a valuable form of experiential education that helps to reinforce didactic curricula and develop and refine the soft skills needed for pharmacy practice. However, while providing various forms of service in communities, student pharmacists may not be conducting authentic service-learning. To be considered authentic, service-learning requires the adoption of structured learning outcomes, engaged and prepared students, mutually beneficial experiences for community and students, and completion of student reflection guided with faculty feedback.3-6 Considering all of these essential elements, perhaps service-learning is not occurring in communities and pharmacy education today as much as we thought.