VCOM 2016 Annual Report

L I V I N G O U R M I S S I O N

Dominican Community Trained in BDLS T his year, VCOM launched the first series in Basic Disaster Life Support (BDLS) training for employees of the Punta Cana International Airport, further extending access to medical training for residents of the Dominican Republic. This airport is the second largest and largest privately held airport in the Caribbean, as well as the fastest growing with nearly a 20 percent increase in traffic each year. BDLS training was led by VCOM faculty and students, and additional training sessions are planned for the future. Team Building: Inter-Professional Education in the International Setting V COM has charted a course for growth in its Inter-Professional Education (IPE) collaborations in pharmacy and nursing, incorporating professionals from the Presbyterian School of Pharmacy, and Appalachian School of Pharmacy, Radford University and other colleges to work in medical teams during international outreach trips at VCOM-affiliated clinics. Students from the Appalachian School of Pharmacy selected Rosa Alba Hidalgo Jimenez, VCOM Verón Clinic pharmacist and preceptor for Appalachian School of Pharmacy, as Preceptor of the Year in 2016. This honor is a tribute to the inter-professional education efforts of our outreach program, as only six placements are currently available in the Dominican Republic location for pharmacy students. The selection of Jiminez as preceptor of the year confirms the pharmacy students’ positive experience in the VCOM international clinic and demonstrates the excellent work of our IPE staff.

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