Hospital Pharmacy - July/August 2017 - 471

719375
research-article2017

HPXXXX10.1177/0018578717719375Hospital PharmacyUbaka et al

Director Forum Series

International Mentoring Programs:
Leadership Opportunities to Enhance
Worldwide Pharmacy Practice

Hospital Pharmacy
2017, Vol. 52(7) 471-477
© The Author(s) 2017
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https://doi.org/10.1177/0018578717719375
DOI: 10.1177/0018578717719375
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Chukwuemeka Ubaka1, Erich Brechtelsbauer2,
and Debra A. Goff2

Abstract
Health-system and community pharmacy practice in the United States is experiencing transformational change; however,
this transformation is lagging in the international arena. As a result, efforts are being made to provide support and education
to the international pharmacy leaders and practitioners. This article describes one effort, the Mandela Washington Fellows
Program, and suggests areas where pharmacy leaders can be involved to help advance the practice of pharmacy on an
international level. The Mandela Washington Fellows Program for young Africa leaders consists of a US-Africa pharmacymentoring program identified ranging from educational opportunities to collaboration for implementation of patient care
programs. The specifics of the mentoring program include daily meetings, clinic and ward rounds, round table discussions
with mentors, and visits to various hospital care systems. Lessons were learned and strategies for sustaining the program are
discussed. These types of programs represent leadership opportunities that may not be apparent to most pharmacy directors,
but expanding their view to helping international pharmacists expand their practice only strengthens the professional goal of
providing patient-centered pharmacy services.
Keywords
international pharmacy, mentoring, education, leadership

Introduction
Health-system and community pharmacy practice in the
United States is experiencing transformational change; however, this transformation is lagging in the international arena.
Contemporary pharmacy practice, such as pharmacists as
decision makers in patient care and education, is slow to
progress outside of the United States due to opposition from
traditional pharmacy disciplines. In addition, this slow-paced
growth results from opposition by members of basic sciences
faculty and physicians. This resistance has also stalled the
full implementation of the proposed Doctor of Pharmacy
program in various countries, including Nigeria. In addition,
global pharmacy education and a consistent vision for the
profession of pharmacy have not been established. In the
2010 Donald E. Franke Lecture Henry Manasse, the
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Donald E.
Franke Lecturer, stated "Pharmacy is made up of polyglot
definitions, diverse philosophies and various viewpoints . . .
however, the profession has and is on an evolutionary journey.1
The lack of a universal definition for the profession, the lack
of a global standard for the training of pharmacists, and the
lack of a definition of the competencies required of a skilled
pharmacist have all been mentioned as reasons for such vast
inequities between nations.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship (MWF) for young
African leaders was started by President Obama in honor of
Nelson Mandela. Founded in 2014, the MWF seeks to
empower young leaders from sub-Saharan Africa to create
change and develop solutions to the continent's most pressing challenges.2 Young African leaders between the ages of
25 to 35 years apply to a 6-week leadership program held in
numerous universities across the United States. Applicants
must have proven track records of leadership in a public,
private, or civic organization and demonstrate a strong commitment to contributing their skills and talents to building
and serving their communities. The 2016 class included
1000 fellows who worked in nearly 40 Universities across
the United States.
The Ohio State University (OSU) hosted 25 fellows,
including 1 pharmacist from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical
Sciences at the University of Nigeria. As part of the
1

University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria
The Ohio State University, Columbus, USA

Corresponding Author:
Debra Goff, Department of Pharmacy The Ohio State University Wexner
Medical Center, Columbus, USA.
Email: debbie.goff@osumc.edu

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