A word of encouragement and welcome to upcoming students and all AAPS members continuing to adjust during uncertain times.
By Joseph W. Polli, Ph.D., FAAPS, President
To each student beginning or returning to class this fall, I wish you the very best as you undertake your studies and research. The approach and attitude one takes always has a significant impact on how and what one learns from any experience. Perhaps this is truer now than in previous years. Without a doubt, this academic year will be different than what you and your fellow students planned or expected. You may find yourself with new challenges (e.g., virtual learning) or without a critical part of your support system that had always been there before the COVID-10 pandemic (e.g., face to face time with other students and faculty). AAPS is here to support you. In everything we do, AAPS considers the needs of our members, including those who will comprise our next generation of pharmaceutical scientists.
There are many benefits of being an AAPS member including complimentary access to all four AAPS journals and the AAPS Newsmagazine each month, year-round learning opportunities, scientific discussions through workshops and webinars, a discount on PharmSci 360 attendance, ongoing dialogue with colleagues through the AAPS Community boards, and recognition opportunities through awards and leadership roles.
Despite the current pressure and stress that we are dealing with at this time, I believe we can achieve success with efficient practices and a focused, agile mindset. The effects of the pandemic highlight the significance of your and our memberships’ scientific contributions to the field to find a vaccine and/or other drug therapy. I hope on some level that this pandemic has sparked new inspiration, motivation, and even expanded your goals to be working towards something greater; perhaps your research has taken a new direction due to the pandemic. It also means that realistically, what we can do each day is considerably lessened, as we continue to juggle our time and attention constantly while trying to stay healthy and manage personal commitments. So, we must be intentional and flexible about how we plan to meet our academic and research goals this year.
Perhaps you have heard of the 10,000-hour rule. The idea behind this popular concept is that with 10,000 hours of practice one can master a skill. In the decades that have passed since this was popularized, it has been met with some criticism. It is not the amount of time you put into your goals but the quality of that time that matters most.1 The 10,000 hours rule sheds light on the concept of deliberate practice, which emphasizes the quality of the time spent learning alongside constant constructive criticism.2 For me, 10,000 hours seems like a very long time! Seth Godin recently had a blog on ‘The 100 hour asset’,4 where he shares that even investing 100 hours to learn a skill, you likely will acquire it. After 100 hours, one may not be a master, but for most skills, this is not required. My challenge to all the students is where will you spend your 100 hours this year? How can AAPS help?
Deliberate practice is a personalized, effective way to increase your ability to meet a goal. Professionals in fields from science to sports use this technique to break through plateaus in their skillsets and expand learning.3 The best part is that even in our current situation, we can incorporate the elements of this strategy. Deliberate practice incorporates constant feedback and refining goals down to small parts to improve over time. If you find yourself stuck in a rut or completely overwhelmed by how you will meet a goal, consider these steps:
- Find someone—a professor, mentor, friend or fellow AAPS member—who will give you consistent, reliable, honest feedback.
- Deconstruct your goal into smaller, more manageable steps.
- While you practice or work toward your goal, constantly identify areas for improvement, ask for feedback from others you value and trust.
- Create and establish methods for improvement in any necessary areas and continue the process until you have mastered it.
If you are looking for a mentor or colleague to connect with, be sure you are registered for PharmSci 360 where you will have access to the Connect360 tool, which can link you with scientists from around the world. There is no limit to the positive impact this networking and interaction can do for you or for your career. I am excited that PharmSci 360 attendees will still be able to fully connect with each in the virtual setting and that everyone will have access to the full scientific content from the meeting.
In this issue of AAPS Newsmagazine, we are also exploring key traits for finding success in your career and sharing the results from a recent member survey on how COVID-19 impacted the work environment of AAPS members. The cover story on nano- and microrobots inspires big thinking concerning the role of pharmaceutical science in the future of customized, personalized health.
Thank you for being a part of the AAPS membership. I hope you have enjoyed the benefits so far. It is a great time to commit to exploring more of what AAPS has to offer and looking for ways to be more involved. If you have any questions or would like to discuss something further, please reach out at any time: president@aaps.org.
With gratitude,
Joe Polli
References
1. Scientists Debunk The Myth That 10,000 Hours Of Practice Makes You An Expert
2. What is Deliberate Practice?
3. The Beginner’s Guide to Deliberate Practice
4. The 100 hour asset