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MCW Pharmacy School Advanced Physical Assessment Certificate Program

The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) School of Pharmacy hosts an Annual Advanced Physical Assessment Certificate Program at the MCW Milwaukee Campus. Pharmacists and pharmacy residents are invited to further their knowledge and acquire the skills to fulfill the expanding role of the pharmacist!

Participants will be able to perform and interpret physical assessments while developing patient care plans.

Professor shows a group of students how to perform cardiovascular assessment on a male sitting on a medical table.

Benefit of the Certificate Program

This program will assist pharmacy schools as they address the new required 2025 ACPE Standards on the implementation of “diagnosis” into their PharmD curriculum.

APhA Certificate Program

Woman reads blood pressure of man wearing blood pressure cuff.
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Learning Objectives
  1. Discuss the role of the pharmacist in conducting physical assessments.
  2. List the four steps involved in the physical assessment process: inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation.
  3. Explain the importance of a patient-centered physical assessment care process.
  4. Demonstrate appropriate physical assessment techniques for the following topics: vital signs, diabetes, respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological.
  5. Interpret physical assessment results and their implications on patient care.
Date and Location

APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition | Nashville, TN

Friday, March 21, 2025
12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Pre-Work and Program Agenda

Pre-Work

The first component of the certificate program is composed pre-work videos providing foundational knowledge of cardiovascular, diabetes, neurobiological, respiratory, and vital diagnostic areas. This portion of the program also includes a final assessment that requires the learner to pass with a score of at least 70%.

Live Program Agenda

Registration, Welcome and Introductions 

Introduction to Physical Assessments 

  • Karen MacKinnon, BPharm, RPh | Director of Outreach, Assistant Professor Medical College of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy, Program Director

Diabetes Physical Assessment 

  • Rachel Kavanaugh, PharmD, BCACP | Associate Professor, Director of Professional Labs – Year 2, Medical College of Wisconsin

Respiratory Physical Assessment

  • Rachele Harrison, PharmD | Assistant Professor, Medical College of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy
  • Amy Zosel, MD, MSCS | Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin School of Medicine

Vitals Collection 

  • Mathew Letizia, PharmD | Assistant Professor, Director of Professional Labs – Year 2, Medical College of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy

Lunch Break 

Advanced Cardiovascular Physical Assessment

  • Zachary Hovis, PharmD | Assistant Professor, Medical College of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy

Neurologic Physical Assessment 

  • Jillian Theobald, MD, PHD | Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin School of Medicine

Wrap Up and Evaluations

MCW School of Pharmacy Certificate Program 

Professor explains to two students how to perform a diabetic foot exam.
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Learning Objectives

  1. Discuss the role of the pharmacist in conducting physical assessments.

  2. Demonstrate the four steps involved in the physical assessment process: inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation.

  3. Explain the importance of a patient-centered physical assessment care process.

  4. Demonstrate and interpret appropriate physical assessment techniques for the following topics: vital signs, diabetes, respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological. 

Date & Agenda

Monday, July 28, 2025
8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

MCW Milwaukee Campus
8701 Watertown Plank Rd. 
Milwaukee, WI 53226

Registration information will be posted at a later date.

Pre-Work

Participants are required to complete three hours of pre-work. Assignments will be distributed two weeks in advance of the program.

Live Program Agenda

8:30-9 a.m.
Registration, Welcome and Introductions
Continental Breakfast

9 a.m.
Introduction to Physical Assessments
Rachel Kavanaugh, PharmD, BCACP, Director of Professional Labs – Year 2, Associate Professor, Medical College of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy

9:15 a.m.
Taking a Healthy Step Forward: Diabetes Physical Assessment
Rachel Kavanaugh, PharmD, BCACP, Director of Professional Labs – Year 2,  Associate Professor, Medical College of Wisconsin

10 a.m.
Time to Catch your Breath: Respiratory Physical Assessment
Zachary Hovis, PharmD, Assistant Professor, Medical College of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy

10:45 a.m.
Watch Me Two-Step: Vitals Collection
Mathew Letizia, PharmD, Assistant Professor, Director of Professional Labs – Year 1, Medical College of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy

11:45 a.m.
Lunch Break

12:30 p.m.
Advanced Cardiovascular Physical Assessment
Zachary Hovis, PharmD, Assistant Professor, Medical College of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy

1:15 p.m.
Neurologic Exam
Jillian Theobald, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin School of Medicine

2 p.m.
Wrap up and evaluations

Fees

Early Bird Registration (Deadline: May 31)

  • Pharmacy Resident or Fellow: $50 
  • MCW Pharmacy Preceptor: $75
  • Pharmacist / Other Healthcare Providers: $100

Regular Registration (June 1 - July 14)

  • Pharmacy Resident or Fellow: $99
  • MCW Pharmacy Preceptor: $149
  • Pharmacist / Other Healthcare Providers: $199

Faculty

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Rachele J. Harrison, PharmD, MEd

Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Sciences

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Zach M. Hovis, PharmD, BCACP

Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Sciences

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Rachel Kavanaugh, PharmD, BCACP

Director of Professional Laboratories - Year 2; Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Sciences

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Mathew A. Letizia, PharmD

Director of Professional Laboratories - Year 1; Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Sciences

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Karen J. MacKinnon, BPharm, RPh

Director of Outreach Programs, Assistant Professor Department of Clinical Sciences

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Jillian Theobald, MD, PhD

Associate Professor; Associate Medical Director, Wisconsin Poison Center

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Amy Zosel, MD, MSCS

Professor; Division Chief, Medical Toxicology; Director of Research Operations and Mentorship

Requirements for Pharmacy CE Credit

Participants who attend this application-based program, complete the program evaluation and assessment for this session, and achieve competence measured by hands-on evaluation of skills will receive 8.0 continuing education contact hours (0.8 CEUs). The evaluation and assessment need to be completed one day following the live program.
Logo showing that Froedtert Hospital is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.

Questions?

We are happy to answer any questions you may have about this program. Please feel free to share this opportunity with pharmacists and pharmacy residents.

Programming:

For programming questions, please contact Karen MacKinnon at

kmackinnon@mcw.edu

Registration:

For registration questions, please contact Teresa Dobrowski at

tdobrowski@mcw.edu

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