Dear Class of 2T1, 

Thank you for your continued patience and understanding as we navigate the unprecedented situation surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak. As per the Experiential Rotation Updates for Students message sent on April 8, as well as information shared during our 2T1 virtual town hall on April 15,  the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy has made some key decisions regarding your experiential rotations for the 2020/2021 APPE Year.  

For the 2020/2021 academic year, for Blocks 1 and 2, students will only be able to participate in Study Blocks or remote Non-Direct Patient Care (NDPC) rotations. We realize that some of you currently have scheduled NDPC rotations during blocks 1 and 2. The Office of Experiential Education (OEE) has reached out to your assigned preceptors/sites to ask that these rotations continue, if possible, as scheduled. If your assigned preceptor has confirmed that your rotation can proceed in a remote format, you will receive an email from the OEE confirming that you are able to participate in the rotation as planned.

Please note that Direct Patient Care (DPC) rotations are not an option during this time, and any DPC rotations scheduled in blocks 1 and 2 will need to be cancelled and rescheduled.

We are working closely with all of our partner sites to collect additional NDPC availability for Blocks 1 and 2 and we will be conducting a Revised 2020/2021 Match for Blocks 1 and 2. Students without an assigned rotation will have the opportunity to enter the Revised Match and preference a 5-week or 10-week NDPC rotation based on available rotations. If students would prefer to keep these blocks as study blocks, they can opt to do so by not participating in the match.

Please see below for Revised Match Timelines:

Match Stage

Date

Time

Students Informed of Block 1 and Block 2 NDPC Rotation Continuation or Cancellation

Thursday April 23

After 12:00 pm EST

Match #1- Site Selection Opens

Friday April 24

5:00 pm EST

Match # 1- Site Selection Closes

Monday April 27

12:00 pm (noon) EST

Match #1- Schedules Released to Students

Monday April 27

After 7:00 pm EST

Match #2- Site Selection Opens

Monday April 27

After 7:00 pm EST

Match #2- Site Selection Closes

Tuesday April 28

5:00 pm EST

Final Schedules Released to Students and Preceptors

Wednesday April 29

After 3:00 pm EST

We greatly value the input you have provided over last few weeks. We encourage you to continue to provide feedback for our consideration as we continue to make decisions in this fluid environment. Please see the Q&A section below for additional details on the next steps.

Questions and Answers:

How will the Match be run?

The Match will occur in two stages, allowing students to select 2x5 week blocks if they wish to participate in either match. OEE will send details on how to research and select your rotations on Friday April 24.  

Who can participate in the Match?

All students may participate in the Match. Only students who have an approved petition, granted prior to the Winter Match, will have priority.

Do I need to participate in the Match?

No. It is not mandatory that all students participate in the match. If you already have a scheduled 1x5 week NDPC rotation(s), or have no interest in completing NDPC rotations, then you do not need to participate. Any of your Block 1 or 2 rotations that remain open after the match process is completed, will be considered a Study Block.

When will I find out if my NDPC rotation in Blocks 1 and/or Block 2 is still available?

OEE will email all students who have a scheduled NDPC rotation in Blocks 1 and 2 on Friday April 24th in the morning. If your rotation is confirmed as still being available via distance (remote) learning, you will be continuing with the rotation. If your rotation is no longer available, you have the option to participate in the match.

If we inform you that your rotation is still available, please email the preceptor with your resume as soon as possible.

What if I have a NDPC rotation in Blocks 3 to 10?

If you have a NDPC rotation in Blocks 3 to 10, they are still scheduled at this time and have not been changed. Sites are reviewing their ability to retain these rotations, and will be informing us of their capacity in the coming weeks.

What if I have a DPC in Blocks 1 and 2?

If you have a DPC rotation in Blocks 1 and/or Block 2, they are now cancelled. We ask for your patience in the re-arranging of cancelled DPC rotations, as the COVID-19 situation is ongoing and constantly changing. OEE will communicate to students in May with more information on DPC rotations.

What if I am not placed in Match #1?

If you are not placed in Match #1 then you will have the opportunity to select rotations in a Match #2. Students should make a substantial number of picks in Match #1. Students cannot expect to be successful by not selecting any picks, or only a small number of picks in Match #1.

What if I am not placed in Match #1 or Match #2?

We are working to offer as many NDPC rotations as there is student interest. However, we recognize that depending on student interest and preceptor availability, we not be able to place all students in a NDPC rotation in Block 1 and Block 2. If you are not matched then Blocks 1 and Block 2 will be Study Blocks. If you already have more than one additional Study Block scheduled for later in the year, the OEE will make the necessary adjustment to your schedule to ensure that you only have three (3) Study Blocks in a year.

What if I have a Study Block already in Blocks 1 and 2?

You may keep the Study Blocks already scheduled. If you would like to replace them with a rotation, please participate in the Match. This applies to Study Blocks assigned via Petition as well. If you would like to cancel them, you may do so.

What if I am going to a site in Blocks 3 to 10 and I see that they are offering new rotations in Blocks 1 and 2, can I be scheduled to that rotation?

Rotations offered by current preceptors are in addition to, not replacing other rotations. Students who are at the site already for a later block will not be granted priority at that site for Block 1 and Block 2. *Note: we kindly ask that students do not contact preceptors directly to ask for an exemption or to reschedule rotations.

Can my later 2 Consecutive (10 Week Blocks) be made into 5 Weeks?

We have asked all sites if all scheduled 10 week rotations in Blocks 3 to 10 could be switched to 5 weeks in length. Sites are not agreeable to this based on the scope of work required and ask that their rotations remain as 10 weeks in length.

How many NDPC rotations can I have?

Students can still only have two (2) 5-week NDPC rotations during the APPE year.

Do I need to finish my pre-rotation requirements?

Students do not need to ensure that their TB, Tetatnus/Diphtheria/Acellular Pertussis, CPR/First Aid or Mask Fit is complete at this time. However, students must have their WSIB form completed on CORE ELMS.

If I am scheduled to a rotation, am I giving up another one in my schedule?

As per program requirements, students are only allowed to complete two (2) 5-week NDPC elective rotations during the APPE year.

  1. If you receive two (2) 5-week or one (1) 10-week NDPC elective rotations during the Revised NDPC Match, this will replace any of the Elective (NDPC or DPC) rotations you have scheduled for this year. The OEE will make the necessary adjustments and these previously scheduled rotations will be deleted.
  2. If you receive only one (1) 5-week NDPC elective rotations during the Revised NDPC Match, this will replace one of the Elective (NDPC or DPC) rotations you have scheduled for this year. The other unfilled block will be changed to a study block. The OEE will send a message at a later date, after the Match, to provide additional information on the status of rotations scheduled for block 3 to 10.
  3. If you do not receive any 5-week NDPC elective rotations during the Revised NDPC Match, these blocks will automatically be converted to Study Blocks. If you already have more than one additional Study Block scheduled for later in the year, the OEE will make the necessary adjustment to your schedule to ensure that you only have three (3) Study Blocks in a year.

Once the Revised NDPC Match – Blocks 1&2 is complete, the OEE will send all students a follow up email to provide an update on the status of the experiential Blocks 3 to 10.

How will I know what the rotation will be about?

Students will be able to research the rotation starting Friday after 5:00 pm EST; OEE requested that all preceptors supply a detailed description of their rotation. The course outlines, objectives and goals will be consistent with typical NDPC rotations. Students will be working and connecting with preceptors in real time through video and/or phone conferencing. 

Please look for a further email on Friday. Due to the high volume of calls we receive daily, we recommend that students send an email to oee.phm@utoronto.ca if there are any questions related to the Revised NDPC Match for Blocks 1&2.

Sincerely,

Office of Experiential Education