SIUE School of Pharmacy Infuses Trauma-Informed Care into its Curriculum
Trauma, such as what is sustained from violence, poverty and xenophobia, can be crippling. Specifically, the sustained and adverse effects of racism and COVID-19 have proven to be traumatizing on health outcomes for individuals, communities and systems.
In order to better care for patients grappling with pain and suffering, the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy (SOP) is incorporating Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) and anti-racism education into its pharmacy instruction, according to Lakesha Butler, PharmD, clinical professor and director of diversity, equity and inclusion in the SOP.
“It is critical for pharmacists and future pharmacists to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to provide care with an understanding of how trauma, specifically racial trauma, significantly impacts our communities and patients,” said Butler. “These topics are not traditionally taught in the pharmacy curriculum. However, we are forging a path in line with our SOP diversity and inclusion strategic plan that can be a model for other healthcare programs and institutions.”
Butler, along with Kelly Gable, PharmD, BCPP, professor and director of wellbeing and resilience, and Allie Herman, fourth-year student and PharmD candidate, created a grant proposal that included the development of the pilot TIC program. SOP student organizations, including the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP) and the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA), participated in the pilot program.
Partnering with the new initiative is Alive and Well Communities, a nonprofit organization focused on activating communities in Missouri, Illinois and Kansas. It helps organizations build upon their understanding of how trauma and toxic stress impact the community, as well as how to become more trauma aware, sensitive, responsive and informed. Gable, faculty co-advisor for the CPNP SIUE student chapter, serves as an ambassador for Alive and Well Communities.
From November through April, the SOP hosted four virtual TIC trainings that focused on community trauma, systemic racism, and anti-racism action and advocacy.
“The issues discussed during the TIC sessions led to a great realization that I teach incorrectly about risk and race,” said Lisa Lubsch, PharmD, clinical professor. “I plan to restructure the content of all of my materials for the students with a better understanding about race.”
“It is imperative that we engage our students, faculty and staff in meaningful conversations surrounding the ongoing trauma of systemic racism in our healthcare system and country,” emphasized Gable. “This pilot program offered a much-needed opportunity for our SOP to focus on anti-racism actions within our community that will have a direct impact on the trauma-informed care we provide to patients.”
Photo:
(L-R): Lakesha Butler, PharmD, BCPS, clinical professor and director of diversity, equity and inclusion in the SOP; and Kelly Gable, PharmD, BCPP, professor and director of Wellbeing and Resilience.
