CU PHARMACY WAY
FUNDAMENTALS
A collection of weekly insights on our culture fundamentals through the lens of our employees.
Fundamental#1:ActwithKindness
Ourrelationshipsgodeeperthansimplybeingcolleaguesasfaculty,staff,andstudents.Wegenuinelycareforandabouteach other.Chooseyourwordswiselyandbeconsiderateofothers.Showyourcompassion,whetherit’sakindwordduringatough stretch,afriendlysmileeachmorning,orahelpinghandinstressfultimes.
Dear SSPPS Community, I chose this fundamental because it is personal to me. Since grade school, I’ve often been told, “You’re too nice,” usuallysaidwithirritation ortodismissmeorthesituation.Foralongtime,itmademefeellikebeingkindwasaweakness,somethingtosecondguess.Whatstruck meovertime,though,wasthatmanyofthesamepeoplewholabeledmethatwaywouldalsoact“nice”butonlywhentheywanted somethinginreturn.Thatcontrastmademequestionthedifferencebetweengenuinekindnessandperformativekindness,anditdeepened mycommitmenttochoosingtheformer.
Intoday’sworld,kindnessoftentakesabackseattoego.ManyofourdailyinteractionsfallintoapatternofwhatIcall“fauxkindness”or people-pleasing.Doingthingsnotoutofgenuinecompassion,butinhopesofgainingsomethinginreturn. Thesebehaviorsareexhausting.Theycomefromadesiretobeseen,accepted,orrewarded,notfromaplaceoftruehumanconnection. Overtime,thiscyclebecomesanemotionalhamsterwheel,wekeepgiving,hopingtoreceive,yetrarelyfeelfulfilledandattimes disappointed.
Butwhatifwereplacedallofthatwithsomethingsimplerandmoresincere?Whatifwechosetoactwithkindness,notforpraiseor approval,butsimplybecauseit’stherightthingtodo?
Kindnessdoesn’trequiregrandgestures.Itisinsideeverydaymoments.Sayinggoodmorningtoastranger,holdingthedoor,offeringa sincerecompliment,oraskingsomeonehowthey’redoing,andreallylistening.Thesesmallacts,donewithoutexpectation,canshiftyour moodandbrightensomeoneelse’sday.
Oneofmyfavoritequotes,whichcapturestruehumanconnectionfromkindness,isfromMarkTwain, “Kindnessisthelanguagewhichthe deafcanhearandblindcansee.”Tomethisreadsthatkindnessmaystartasagesture,butittransformsintoafeelingandthenmemory. Kindnessisnotweakness.It’squietstrength.Andinaworldthatdesperatelyneedsmorecompassion,choosingkindnesswithnostrings attachedmightjustbethemostpowerfulthingwecando.
Sincerely,RachelWagmaister,Manager
OfficeofContinuingEducationandProfessionalDevelopment
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Fundamental#2:BeStudentCentered
Makeapersonalcommitmenttolearnaboutstudentneedsandsupporttheirsuccess.Createopportunitiesthat enhanceandengagethemintheirlearningexperience.Focusonhowbesttosupportstudentstoensurelong-term successandastrongeducationalreputation.
DearSSPPSCommunity,
DuringmyeightyearsinalumnirelationsattheCUSkaggsSchoolofPharmacyandPharmaceuticalSciences,Iwasfondof saying,“Happystudentsmakehappyalumni.”Thatmantrastickswithmetothisday.Itoriginatedfrommyearlierworkin theExperientialProgramsOffice,whereIsupportedstudentsthroughthefirstthreeyearsofthePharmDprogram That experiencedeeplyreinforcedtheimportanceofbeingstudent-centeredasasharedcommitmenttotheirsuccessandwellbeing.
Workingcloselywithstudents,Iwitnessedfirsthandhowtheirdrive,resilience,andpotentialtocreatepositivechangewere trulyinspiring.Watchingthemtransitionfromstudentstoprofessionals andseeingtheimpacttheymakeasalumni has beenoneofthemostrewardingpartsofmyjourney
Onemomentthatstandsoutwaswhenagroupofstudentslosttheirbelongingsinanapartmentfire Theschoolcommunity ralliedaroundthem,offeringsupportineverywaypossible.Evensmallgestures,suchasdonatingtheremainingbalanceof agiftcard,carriedimmensemeaning Itwasn’taboutthedollaramount;itwasaboutsaying,“Weseeyou Wehearyou You matter ”Thatmoment,andmanyotherslikeit,reflectedtheschool’sunwaveringspiritofcompassionandsolidarity Theseexperiencescreatedlastingbondsbetweenstudents,faculty,andstaff.Theyremindedmethatwhenweeachbring ourbest whetherit’stheschool’sbest,yourbest,ormine wecreateaculturewherestudentsthrive. Istandwithyouinputtingstudentsatthecenterofallwedo Beencouragedtobringyourbesthoweveryoudefineitand remainSkaggsHealthyandCUBuffintheCUPharmacyWay! FundamentallyYours,
JaronBryant, StrategicInitiativesManager
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Fundamental#4:ActwithIntegrity
Demonstrateanunwaveringcommitmenttoactinghonestlyandethicallyineverythingyoudoandeverydecisionyou make,especiallywhennooneislooking.Betruthful,nomattertheconsequences.Ifyoumakeamistake,ownupto it,sincerelyapologize,andmakeitright.
DearSSPPSCommunity,
ActwithIntegrityfocusesontheimportanceofbeinghonestandethical Morethanthat–itisbeingconsistentlyhonestand ethical(notethewords“always”and“ineverything”inthedefinitionabove).Thisfundamentalhelpssupportaccountability amongcolleagues,researchteams,andotherworkinggroupsintheschool Giventhatmistakesareaninherentbyproduct ofhumanwork,actingwithintegrityhelpsustoacknowledge,address,andlimittheirfutureimpactinreal-time.Makinga mistakeisnotideal,ofcourse;butwhat’sworseismakingamistakeandnotbeinghonestaboutit Whenweownour mistakes,wecanworktogetherforasolutionbyidentifyingtheproblemandworkingonasolutionfornexttime Iworkinclinicalresearchwithhumanparticipants.Integrityisthemostimportantpartofmanagingthesetypesofstudies. WeActwithIntegrityinclinicalresearchstudiesbyworkingwithethicalandregulatorybodiestominimizethepotentialfor participantharms.Duringtheday-to-day,whethersecuringstudyparticipantfilescontainingprotectedhealthinformation orlabelingaclinic-collectedspecimenforlabprocessinginade-identifiedway,everythingmustbedonewithintegrityto ensurepatientprivacyisupheldandstudydataiscollectedresponsiblyandstoredsecurely.
Howweachieveoursuccesses,bothinacademicsandinresearch,mattersjustasmuchasachievingtheminthefirst place ThisfundamentalisagreatreminderforallofustofocusonhowweallcanActwithIntegrityinourwork
Sincerely,
RyanCoyle,MPH SeniorProfessionalResearchAssistant DepartmentofPharmaceuticalSciences
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Fundamental#5:EmbraceChangeandGrowth
Moveoutsideyourcomfortzoneandadapttonewwaysofdoingtaskswhennecessaryforprogress.Whatgotushere isdifferentfromwhatwillgetustothenextlevel.Beoptimisticbythepossibilitiesthatchange,innovation,and growthwillbring.Beflexible,expressenthusiasm,andfosteragrowthmindset.
DearSSPPSCommunity,
Changemightbeoneofmyleastfavoritethings Ihaven’tevenupdatedtoWindows11yet(SorryGabe!)becausesomething insideofmekeepssaying“thisversionofWindowsisworkingjustfine;whychange?!”DespitewhatIbelievetobeanatural responsetochange,IalsohaveseenthemanybenefitsofchangethroughoutmylifeaswellasmytimeatSSPPS.
WhenIfirstarrivedattheschool,IworkedasanAcademicStudentAdvisorfortheDistanceDegreePrograms Withinthe first6months,Iexperiencedtwochangesinsupervisors,arestructuringthatbroughtmeovertotheOfficeofStudent Services,aswellastheannouncementofourprogramsbeingsunset.AfewmonthslaterItransitionedtoyetanother supervisor Itwasawildrideforthefirstyear,butlookingbackitnotonlyaffordedmetheopportunityfornetworkingand buildingconnectionsacrossmultipledepartmentsbutalsoallowedmetoquicklygrowinmyknowledgeofourprograms andfortheschooltobettermeettheneedsofourstudents.
WithanationalDeansearchunderway,weallknowchangeiscoming AlthoughyoucanGoogle“ChangeTheory”and receiveanumberofresultsthatwilllikelyguideyouthroughthechange,IpersonallyrecommendandhaveusedtheADKAR Model.Itnotonlyallowsfortimetoprocesschangebutalsomakesspaceforquestionsandthesharingofknowledge. (Remember,knowledgeispowerbutonlyIFitisshared!)
Forthoseofyouwhosuperviseteamsorleadmeetingsthisweekandwanttodiscussthisfundamental,youcanaskCopilot to“CreateadiscussionguideusingtheADKARModel”andyouwillgetasummaryofeachofthestages,discussion prompts,andfacilitatortips
Optimismisakeypartofthisfundamental,andIencourageeveryonetokeepthatinmindduringthe“not-so-fun”moments ofchange.Atthesametime,Iinviteyoutobeopenandhonestaboutyourfeelings;processingandsharingfrustrationsisa naturalpartofthechangejourney,andyourvoicemayhelpothersfeelseenandsupported.
Sincerely,
LizMacLean,M A SeniorAcademicStudentAdvisor OfficeofStudentServices
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Fundamental #6: Act with Transparency With appropriate respect for confidentiality, share information freely throughout your team. The morepeopleknow,thebettertheycan collaborate.Learntoaskyourself,“Whoelseneedstoknowthis?”.Engageotherpartiesasappropriatepriortomakingfinaldecisions. Themorepeopleunderstandthereasonforwhatisbeingdone,themoreactivelytheycanparticipateinthesolution.
GreetingsSSPPSCommunity,
AsIbeginmyjourneysupportingthevibrantcultureofCUSSPPS,Ifindthisfundamentalabouttransparencyinvaluable.Currentlyhigher educationlikelyfeelsfraughtwithuncertainty—thismaycontributetofeelingsofanxiety,fear,andmistrustinasystemwewanttobe successful.Ibelieve,however,transparencyservesasapowerfulantidoteandpreventativeactionwecanusetoaddressthosefeelingsof discomfort.
TherearethreelessonsIcarrywhenthinkingabouttransparencyandhowtobemorehuman-centeredaswebuildaculturethathelpseveryone thrive:
1.Whenwegather,ask“whoismissing?”.Transparencyisfoundationalforcollaborationandtrustindecision-making,remindingmeofthe mantra“NothingAboutUs,WithoutUs”rootedindisabilityadvocacywork.Theindividualactofsharinginformationisnotsufficientwhenthose impactedbydecisionswerenotincludedtobeginwith—itisimperativewedonotlosetheirperspectiveaspartoftheconversation.
2.Whenwehesitate,ask“whomaybeharmed?”.Ioftensharemybeliefthat“knowledgeispower”andIaimtobemindfulhowwemay gatekeepinformationwithdifferingintentions.Inmomentswemayhesitatetoshareinformation,itcanbevaluabletochallengetherationale—is itforavalidconfidentialitypurpose,areweavoidingdisruptionsinpowerimbalances,ordowefearthepotentialforpanic?Questioningand unpackingthereasonisusefultoevaluatewhetherwithholdinginformationmaycontributetomoreharmintheend.
3.Whenweact,ask“whoiswatching?”.Regardlessofourrolesashealthcareproviders,supportpersonnel,researchers,and/oreducators, wemustacknowledgethereisalwayssomeonewatchingandlearningfromourbehaviors.Acrossthesesettingsitiscrucialwemodel transparency,thereisconsistencybetweenwhatwesayandhowweact,andwesetexpectationsforourcommunity.Bemindfulofhowyou wouldliketobetreatedandemulatethattothebestofyourabilitieseachday.
Asyoumayhavegathered,mymotivationtolivebythisfundamentaloriginatesfrommyexperiencesinmomentswheretransparencywasnot valued.Ihavefeltthepainassociatedwithalackofcommunicationaboutdecision-makingprocessesandIhavewitnessedhowalackof transparencycanhavesignificantpersonalandprofessionalconsequenceswithinanorganization.Mycommitmentistosupportacultureof transparencythatenhancescollaboration,encouragesopenness,andremainsaccountabletobuildingtrustingrelationshipswithinour community.IlookforwardtohowIwillbeabletofostertransparencywithintheschool,especiallyforthoseweserve.
Sincerely,
MichaelWolcott,PharmD,PhD,BCIDP AssistantDeanforStudentAffairsandAssociateProfessor LearnmoreabouttheCUPharmacyWay
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Fundamental#7:ListenGenerously
Listenactivelybygivingothersyourundividedattention,andbybeingpresentandengaged.Listeningismorethansimply“notspeaking.” Minimizedistractionsandletgooftheneedtoagreeordisagree.Suspendyourjudgmentandbecurioustoknowmore,ratherthan jumpingtoconclusions.Aboveall,listentounderstand.
GreetingsSSPPSCommunity,
Ibelievethattheheartoflisteninggenerouslyisadeepdesiretounderstandtheworldandtofindtruth–andthatdesiremustsurpassany internalneedtoberight.Listeningrequiresanabilitytoquiettheinnerdialogue,temporarilyplaceoverwhelmingemotionsintoaseparate mentalbox,andsettleinquietlytolearnmoreaboutanother’sexperienceoftheworldwithcompassion.Listeninggenerouslyduring disagreementsrequireshumility,butalsoastrongenoughsenseofselfthatthethreatoffindinganerrororchangingyourmindwon’tthreatento crushyourownself-identity.
“Oppositiongivesusasenseofstandingforsomething,afalsesenseofindependence,power,andcontrol.Compassionandhumilitydon’tgive usasenseofcontrolorpsychiccomfort.Wehavetobewillingtoletgoofourmoralhighgroundandhearthetruththattheotherpersonmaybe speaking,evenifitisonly10%ofwhattheyaresaying…Ifweareintocontrolandpredictability,wewillseldomdescendintothevulnerabilityof undefendedlisteningorthescarinessofdialogue ”
–RichardRohr,“CompassionateListening,”CenterforActionandContemplation,July25,2022
Asidefromtryingtoadoptsomeofthecharactertraitsandphilosophicalideasunderlyinglisteninggenerously,Ihavefoundsomepracticaltips tobehelpful.Iassumewehaveallreadarticlesontipsforactivelistening,butusuallyintheheatofastressfulconversation,thosestrategies aren’tevenonmyradar.Boostingmymentalhealthbeforehandallowsmetoaccessthebetterpartsofmyselfbeforestartingahard conversation,andthenIammorelikelytobeabletoaskthoughtfulquestions,showempathy,andnotmakeassumptions.Ifyoulistenforlong enough,Ihavefoundthatyoucanalmostalwaysfindthat10%(ormore)oftruththattheotherpersonisspeakingandthenuseitascommon groundtomovetheconversationforward.
Sincerely,
JessicaEaddy SeniorExternalRelationsStrategist
ColoradoConsortiumforPrescriptionDrugAbusePrevention
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Fundamental#8:SpeakOpenly
Professional,respectfulsharingofthoughts,ideas,andespeciallyissuesiscriticalforfuturesuccess.Speakhonestlyinawaythathelps tomakeprogress.Saywhatyoumean,andbewillingtoaskquestionsorraiseissues,eveniftheymaycausecontroversy,withoutlosing sightofrespectful,professionaldialog.Wheneverpossible,addressissuesdirectlywiththosewhoareinvolvedoraffected.Take responsibilityforcreatingasafeandrespectfulenvironmentwheretheseconversationscanhappen.
GreetingsSSPPSCommunity,
Speakingopenlysoundssimple,butitisnotalwayseasy.Itcanbechallengingtoshareideas,askquestions,andbringupconcernsinawaythat ishonest,respectful,andkeepsthingsmovingforward.
Inacademicpharmacy,thereareplentyofmomentswhenitcanfeelawkwardtospeakup.Maybeyounoticeacourseisusingoutdated guidelinesbutareunsurehowthatwilllandinameeting.Maybeyouhaveconcernsaboutanewpolicybutfeelintimidatedbypowerdynamicsor assumethedecisionisfinal.Ormaybeyouareoverwhelmedwithworkloadanddonotwanttoappearasifyoucannothandleyour responsibilities.
IhavebeenreflectingonhowIcanspeakmoreopenlysincefinishingAACP’sAcademicLeadershipFellowsProgram.Oneofmycommitments goingforwardistobemorevisibleandvocalinmyleadership.MystrengthsofIntellection,Input,andLearnermeanIlovetothinkthingsthrough andgatherinformation,butmuchofthishappensinmyhead.Iamworkingonlettingpeopleinonthatthoughtprocesssoonerandcreatingmore opportunitiesfordialogue.
Iremindmyselfthatspeakingupisnotabouthavingtheperfectresponse.Itisaboutbeingwillingtostarttheconversation,listen,andkeepit respectfulevenwhenthetopicischallenging.Ifyouwanttojoinmeingettingbetteratthis,IrecommendthebookCrucialConversations.It offerslotsoftipsforhandlingdiscussionswithconfidenceandrespect.
Let’skeepfindingwaystohelpeachotherspeakopenly.
Kindregards,
KimberlyStultz,PharmD
AssociateProfessor|AssistantDeanofExperientialPrograms
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Fundamental#9:InvestinRelationshipsMakeabonafideefforttoknowyourcolleaguesonamorepersonallevel.Talkmoreandemailless.
Understandwhat'simportantto others.Strongrelationshipsenhanceourdailyexperienceandenableustoworkthroughdifficultissuesandchallengingtimesmore successfully.
Goodmorning,SSPPScommunity!
OneofthemostenduringlessonsI’velearnedinmytimeinpharmacyisthatrelationshipsarenotincidentaltoourwork–theyarethework!My favoritememoriesdon’tcomefromemailssharingnewsofanacceptedmanuscriptornewfunding.TheyallinvolvethepeopleI’vegottento knowandworkalongsideinthehallways,classrooms,andtheclinic.Whethermentoringstudents,collaboratingwithcolleagues,developing patientrapport,orpartneringwithourcommunities,thestrengthofourrelationshipsdeterminesourimpactandthesenseofrewarditprovides. Strongconnectionsdon’tjusthappen.Theygrowfromsmallactions.Takingtimetolisten,followingupafteraconversation,celebrating someone’ssuccess,lendingahandwithoutbeingasked...Thesemomentsbuildtrust,andtrustiswhatmakescollaborationssucceed. Inbothhealthcareandeducation,teamsthatinvestinrelationshipsconsistentlydeliverbetteroutcomes.AquickPubMedsearchrevealsthat cohesiveteamssolveproblemsfaster,commitfewermedicalerrors,improvepatientandstakeholdersatisfaction,andarelessimpactedby burnout.Relationaltrustisakeydriverofinnovationandsustainedprogress.
Butifyou’vebeenpayingattention,youknowonemoreimportantquestionmustbeasked.Towhichbirdshouldweturnforinspiration?The purplemartin,ofcourse!NorthAmerica’slargestswallowsarethesocialbutterflies(well,birds)ofthesky.Theyliveinlargecolonies,returning tothesamenestingspotsyearafteryear.Theyexcelatinterdisciplinaryrelationshipsofsorts,relyingonbothhuman-builtstructuresfortheir housingandtheirowntightknitflocksforprotectionandcommunityastheymigrateacrosscontinents.We,too,flourishwhenwebuildand nurtureournetworks.Likethepurplemartin,weareatourbestwhenwepursueconnection,sharingconversations,challenges,andmentorship. Acrossdisciplinesandacrossspecies,themessageisclear:investmentinrelationshipsmakesourworkmoreenjoyableandmoreeffective.
Wishingyouaweekfilledwithcollaborationandkindness.
Takecare,
LukeOrth,PharmD,BCPPS
AssociateClinicalProfessor
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Fundamental#10:PracticeBlamelessProblem-Solving
Focusonsolutionsratherthandwellingonproblemsormakingaccusatorystatements Identifylessonslearnedtoimproveyourselfandour processessothesamemistakesarenotmadetwice Getsmarterwitheverymistake Learnfromeveryexperience
Goodmorning,SSPPScommunity!
“Learnfromeveryexperience” Asanexperiencedesignerandaneducator,thisphraseexcitesme!Ilovethatunderstandingissues,applyinginnovative solutions,andrefiningourapproachesispartofourCulturebyDesign Thisprocessoftrial,error,andre-trialisessentiallyamapofdesignthinking an approachthathashelpedmeinpracticingblamelessproblemsolving
Someproblemsareextremelydifficulttomanage,andthefast-pacednatureofhighereducationandmedicinecanmeanit’sdifficulttointentionallyaddress them Someissuesaresocomplex,widespread,andmutable(especiallyinhealthcareoreducation)thattheyseemimpossibletosolve!Indesign,theseare knownas“wicked”problems
Wheredoyoustartintryingtosolveawickedproblem?Designthinkingaimstoprovideasetofstagesthatfosterinnovationforjustthisverything In2021, Culveretal providedacyclespecificallytailoredtochangeinhighereducation:
Whilesomethingcanbelearnedineverystepofthisprocess(andIencourageyoutoexplorethem),IwanttofocusontheIdeate,Prototype,andTeststages specifically Thesephasesrelyonopen,non-critical,and“blameless”creativity Ideationfocusesonquantityofideas,notnecessarilyconsideringtheir feasibility Havinganon-judgmentalspacetoproposeideasmeansopeningdoorstosolutionsthatmayhaveotherwisebeenoverlookedornotconsidered Prototypingrequireslearningbybuildingasnewissuesarerevealed,evenafteraproblemhasbeenagreedupon Testingfocusesoniteration;pre-conceived notionsmustbesuspendedinfavorofmeasureddata
Designthinkingisaseriesofcirclesthatencouragesdesignerstofocusonandbuildmomentumtowardsthenextstep Thatmomentumisthesecretbehind innovation,aswellasgoodinstitutionsofhighereducationandgoodpharmacists “Learnfromeveryexperience”
Sincerely,
EmmaRau,MA
AcademicServicesSeniorProfessional ExperientialPrograms
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