Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Pharmacy and Chiropractic Students Collaborate

Buffalo, New York – November 15, 2012 – In a unique student collaboration, D'Youville College School of Pharmacy students spent a week with the college's Department of Chiropractic students during their clinical rotations. The pharmacy students had the opportunity to 'shadow' the chiropractic interns at the D'Youville College Chiropractic Health Center on Main Street in Buffalo where faculty and students treat members of the community. The students also spent time at the campus Chiropractic Clinic and Buffalo Spine and Sports Institute in Williamsville, N.Y.

"Pharmacy students observed chiropractic treatments being provided to members of the community, reviewed patient cases and shared their knowledge of medications commonly prescribed to patients with back and neck pain," said Jack Koford, assistant professor and director of the Experiential Education program in the School of Pharmacy. "For some of the pharmacy students it was their first experience with chiropractic."

This effort provided both health professions, which are taught at D'Youville, a chance to collaborate in the review of patient cases in an environment conducive to learning about each other's profession.

"Both the Department of Chiropractic and the School of Pharmacy recognize the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to foster improved communication and an understanding of other's profession," said Lisa DeMarco, assistant professor in the chiropractic department. "We believe this will improve patient outcomes while administering evidence based quality care."

On schedule is another rotation for the spring semester where the chiropractic students will participate in the pharmacy rotations in the community.

A number of D'Youville faculty members also participated in the collaboration.

Contact: Lisa DeMarco at 716-923-4375 or demarcol@dyc.edu.