Overview of the Global Health PRN

Established in 2015, the Global Health Practice and Research Network (PRN) was created out of a need to provide clinical pharmacists, trainees, and researchers with a single network to address global health concerns, reduce the disparities in the delivery of pharmacy services on a global level, and learn from the successes and mistakes of others through education, research, and idea sharing. Global Health PRN members consist of pharmacists from diverse clinical backgrounds who are passionate about global health disparities and seek to influence ACCP policy from the clinician level. The PRN also serves to facilitate recruitment for various mission trips around the world. The PRN remains active through its email list as well as through multiple committees including the Programming, Member Engagement, and Scholarship committees.

Follow us on our ACCP PRN X account @ACCPGlobal.

Opportunities and Resources for Resident and Fellow PRN Members

• Check out our Directory for Post-Graduate Training Opportunities in Global Health and reach out to us to expand your network! This directory is updated annually by the Global Health PRN and includes PGY1 residencies, PGY2 residencies, and fellowship programs offering global health opportunities.
• Check out our Global Health Resource Directory made up of PRN pharmacist members who have identified themselves as willing and open to speaking with trainees who are interested in, considering, and/or deciding to pursue a career in or related to Global Health.
• Our Scholarship Committee has a mentored writing opportunity consisting of a senior author (more than 5 years of practice) paired with junior authors (students/residents/fellows with less than 5 years of practice) to write an article based on a topic of interest for publication.
• Our Programming Committee offers opportunities for students/residents/fellows to lead journal clubs with colleagues globally to create discussion and collaboration on timely topics with perspectives around the world.
• Our Membership Engagement Committee offers a variety of opportunities from articles for PRN newsletter publication to social media content creation and engagement.
• Join a PRN committee: Member Engagement (with a focus on trainees), Nominations, Programming, and Scholarship. We are actively recruiting students, trainees, and new grads!

PRN Leadership

Chair: Martha Ndung'u, Pharm.D.

Chair-Elect: Rhea S. Soltau, Pharm.D., BCCCP

Secretary-Treasurer: Alexandria Taylor, Pharm.D.

Board Liaison: Jo E. Rodgers, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCCP

Program Spotlight—Clinica Esperanza

Ginger Lemay, Pharm.D., CDOE, CVDOE, PGY1 RPD, for the University of Rhode Island and Walgreens community-based residency program, shares about Clinica Esperanza in Providence, Rhode Island.

How did your global health program begin?

Our residency program partnered with Timmy Global Health to offer residents the opportunity to care for patients in Guatemala as part of a multidisciplinary health brigade. This learning experience was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic with travel crippled worldwide. Our residency was dedicated to incorporating a health equity experience and collaborated with Clinica Esperanza to enhance our training program. Four years later, our collaboration with Clinica is flourishing!

What are the unique aspects of your global health partnership/rotation/residency?

The Health Equity rotation provides the resident an opportunity to participate as a volunteer pharmacist at Clinica Esperanza, which provides linguistically appropriate, culturally attuned medical care to adults without insurance living in Rhode Island. Free health care is provided by a team of multilingual volunteers and core staff to thousands of patients, 80% of whom are Spanish-speaking, through clinic and health education programs. The resident is exposed to issues surrounding the provision of culturally competent care.

What important roles do you see pharmacists having in global health now and in the future? How is your program helping your residents/students obtain the skills to fill those roles?

Pharmacists may influence drug access, public health advocacy, medication safety, and expanded research. We aim to cultivate a new generation of pharmacists who are well prepared to address global health challenges and improve health outcomes worldwide.

Is there any additional information you’d like to share about your program?

Our residency program is like a family. We genuinely care for one another and support each other’s achievements. The bonds we’ve formed will last a lifetime. All of our residency graduates have developed the clinical, analytical, and leadership skills necessary to function as clinical practitioners in community pharmacy and ambulatory care.

Anyone interested in learning more about Clinica Esperanza can visit https://www.aplacetobehealthy.org/.