A Wobbly Stool: Rethinking Research, Teaching, and Service

Should most research conducted by faculty simply stop? That's the provocative question posed by William Deresiewicz in a Chronicle of Higher Education essay that caught the attention of our guest David Zgarrick, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Northeastern University's Bouvé College of Health Sciences. Stuart, Jeff, and Kristin dig into pharmacy academia's "three-legged stool" of research, teaching, and service. Is asking every faculty member to do it all producing mediocrity instead of excellence? David draws on four decades in pharmacy education to unpack why clinical faculty are often set up to struggle with scholarship, and why the corporatization of universities often rewards the wrong things. Grab a snack and join the conversation.

 

Intro and Fika Snack Sharing: 0:00 - 3:46

Most Research Should Stop: 3:47

 

Resources

1. Deresiewicz W. Most academic research should stop. The Chronicle of Higher Education. Published May 28, 2026. https://www.chronicle.com/article/most-academic-research-should-stop
2. Park SK, DiVall MV, Lee KC, Lebovitz L, Dey S, Attarabeen OF. Gaps and opportunities for faculty workload policies in pharmacy and health professions education. Am J Pharm Educ. 2023;87(2):ajpe9012. doi:10.5688/ajpe9012. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe9012
3. Smesny AL, Williams JS, Brazeau GA, Weber RJ, Matthews HW, Das SK. Barriers to scholarship in dentistry, medicine, nursing, and pharmacy practice faculty. Am J Pharm Educ. 2007;71(5):91. doi:10.5688/aj710591. https://doi.org/10.5688/aj710591
4. Kehrer JP, Svensson CK. Advancing pharmacist scholarship and research within academic pharmacy. Am J Pharm Educ. 2012;76(10):187. doi:10.5688/ajpe7610187. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe7610187

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The Pharmacy Fika podcast is a positive and compassionate “place” (a virtual community) where pharmacy and other health professions educators gather to discuss teaching, learning, scholarship, and academic life… plus the snacks that support their best work. So grab your favorite beverage and listen to the Pharmacy Fika podcast with your colleagues.

The Co-Hosts are:

• Stuart T. Haines (Executive Producer), University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy – sthaines@olemiss.edu               
• Tina Brock, Monash University - tina.brock@monash.edu
• Jeff Cain, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy - jeff.cain@uky.edu 
• Kristin Janke, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy - janke006@umn.edu

Disclaimer (inspired by Whad’Ya Know?): All opinions expressed on the Pharmacy Fika podcast are well-reasoned and insightful. Needless to say, they are ours and our guests alone, and not those of our employing institutions.

Even though we don’t accept advertising and don’t have any sponsors, we seem to mention Trader Joe’s snacks and various water-based drinks a LOT.

Not sure what fika is all about?  Watch this brief video:  How a Swedish coffee break can boost your wellbeing and performance.

Got a great idea for a discussion topic?  Drop us a line (pharmacyfika@gmail.com) or leave us a voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/PharmacyFika