Impact in Education: Kristen Cook, Pharm.D.

• Name: Kristen Cook, Pharm.D.
• Title: clinical associate professor, UNMC Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, College of Pharmacy
• Joined UNMC: 2007
• Hometown: Grand Island, Nebraska

You are the recipient of the Innovative Practices in Education Award. How has innovation played a part in your teaching career?

Innovation and creativity in teaching are what keep me coming to work every day. I originally went to college to pursue a career in journalism. I loved creative writing and being able to tell a story in a unique and engaging way. I always wanted my readers to take away something new and meaningful through my writing. Through a series of events during college, I made my way to pharmacy school. Early in my career, I spent the majority of my time as a clinician, teaching mainly in experiential education in the clinic. I was happy there for several years but had reached a place of burnout. I needed to find something to bring that creative side to my work, and the classroom ended up being an excellent place to do this through innovation. Being able to utilize new technologies, gaming and simulations to teach skills and knowledge has helped me discover that education is the focus I want my career to move forward in. It excites me to try new things in the classroom, to push students to think about future ways they may practice, challenge them to step out of their comfort zone, and ultimately see what is effective for their learning. To see students really engage with content and be excited about learning allows me to continue to be creative and give students meaningful experiences, not through my writing anymore, but through my teaching.

Describe your proudest moment as an educator.

This award is definitely one of my proudest moments as an educator. I really value collaboration in teaching, so to be nominated by colleagues and former students who feel I am deserving makes this very special for me. Part of being an educator is pushing everyone in your area to continue to improve together as a team, having others that believe that makes me really proud of our UNMC College of Pharmacy.

Walking into pharmacies throughout the city and seeing my former students counseling patients, and being engaged pharmacists always brings a proud smile to my face.

What advice would you give other faculty members who want to have an impact in education?

• Take calculated risks and be comfortable with being uncomfortable. It’s the only way to grow — cliche but true.
• Celebrate wins! When things go well, big or small, give yourself and your team an extra happy hour.
• Find your people. Surround yourself with people who are open to innovation and change. When things don’t go well, they will listen to you overreact and bring you back to what is important.

Do you have a favorite quote or philosophy on teaching?

“Those who can, teach. Those who cannot, do something less significant.”

I’ve been known to shop at Goodwill for T-shirts and picked one up there about eight years ago that had this quote on the back. Little did I know then that teaching would become such a large part of my life. Everyone is teaching someone, something at any given moment. We don’t always realize the impact our teaching or actions have on others until later, in the classroom or outside of it. I still wear the T-shirt once a week, it’s perfectly worn in.