Building a HBCU/PBI Pharmacy Collaborative as an Approach to Sharing Successful Practices and Resources

Abstract

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs) are distinct minority-serving institutions that share a mission of providing access to higher education for African Americans, while also being open to and supporting the learning of all students regardless of ethnicity or background. HBCUs and PBIs address the unique needs of their student populations and seek to address disparities in health care and education. Despite differing historical origins and designations, HBCUs and PBIs face similar challenges, including funding pressures and evolving accreditation mandates. To address these challenges and enhance outcomes, the HBCU/PBI Pharmacy Collaborative (the Collaborative) was established, providing a formalized network for shared learning, faculty development, and student success initiatives. Grounded in social learning theory and employing the Community of Practice model, the Collaborative leverages mentorship, shared resources, and strategic partnerships to foster organizational growth and innovation. Its early efforts included professional development workshops, licensure preparation programs, and networking events that have demonstrated measurable success in strengthening faculty capacity and improving student performance. These initiatives have created a robust framework to address student, faculty, staff, and program needs for HBCU/PBI pharmacy schools. The Collaborative aims to foster partnerships with other affinity groups, promote joint programming, and advance context-aware education. Focusing on shared challenges and opportunities, the Collaborative offers a scalable and impactful model for institutional collaboration within the Academy. This paper outlines the Collaborative’s foundational efforts, operational strategies, and future directions, underscoring opportunities to inspire broader partnerships and transformative outcomes in academic pharmacy.