Students Embrace Critical Conversations in Popular Healthcare Controversies Course

The R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy continues to expand its impact beyond professional education through innovative general education offerings, including PCOL 325 Controversies in Healthcare Practice. Now in its second semester, the course has quickly gained popularity, with two full sections enrolling approximately 140 students each.

Jennifer Schnellmann, PhD, a professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, serves as the primary instructor for PCOL 325 Controversies in Healthcare Practice. Her course brings together students from diverse academic backgrounds to examine ethical, scientific, and policy-based issues shaping modern healthcare.

Designed to engage students from a wide range of academic backgrounds, PCOL 325 introduces complex and timely issues in healthcare through a discussion-based format. The course explores 15 controversial topics in medicine, including right-to-die legislation, the opioid crisis, drug pricing and advertising, lethal injection, and transgender pharmacology.

By focusing on real-world issues that intersect science, ethics, and policy, the course encourages students to think critically about the challenges facing modern healthcare systems. Rather than relying solely on lectures, students actively participate in discussions that require them to evaluate multiple perspectives and develop informed opinions.

“This course gives students the opportunity to explore healthcare topics that are often complex and multifaceted, while also encouraging respectful dialogue and critical thinking,” said Schnellmann. “The new Gen Ed, Controversies in Healthcare Practice, is really taking off due to student interest in healthcare careers. They get to see the unvarnished side of medicine and to express impassioned and well-informed viewpoints each week.”

As part of the curriculum, students complete a guided signature assignment, a University of Arizona graduation requirement, allowing them to apply what they have learned to a topic of personal interest. This final project reinforces key skills in research, analysis, and communication.

Student response to the course has been overwhelmingly positive, with many highlighting its engaging format and relevance to current events.
“My favorite topic in this course was the controversy behind drug pricing, advertising, and black-market desperation,” said Vince Padilla, medicine major and pharmaceutical sciences minor. “This course has tremendously changed the way I think about healthcare issues, and once you take it, you never view healthcare the same way again.”

Other students echoed similar experiences, noting that the course not only introduced new topics but also reshaped their perspectives on issues they had previously encountered.

“My favorite topic of the semester was pharmaceutical pricing, and it changed the way I think about how drug companies treat consumers and patient access to medications,” shared Jaden Peters, chemistry and pharmaceutical sciences double major . “The discussion format also provides really helpful feedback, especially when preparing for the signature assignment.”

Zella Johnson, neuroscience & cognitive science major, emphasized the importance of the classroom environment and open discussion. “This course really opened my eyes to the hard conversations that happen within the healthcare community,” remarked Johnson. “Dr. Schnellmann fosters an environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and forming opinions, even when they differ from others. I value being able to develop my own perspective based on evidence.”

For Xristian Berry, medicine major, the course provided new insight into complex and often overlooked issues in healthcare. “My favorite topic so far has been Module 7: Social Medicine,” Berry said. “This course has challenged the way I think about healthcare and opened my eyes to issues I was previously unaware of. I appreciate the discussion-based format because it allows me to express my thoughts without judgment.”

“My favorite topic was drug advertising and pricing,” reflected Ethan Ngo on how the course shaped both his understanding of healthcare systems and his future goals in the field. “This course made me realize how systemic many healthcare issues are, especially for disadvantaged communities. It also strengthened my motivation to serve rural populations and pursue leadership roles in healthcare.” Ngo, now a P1 pharmacy student, also highlighted the value of the discussion-based format. “I enjoy reading other students’ perspectives and comparing them with my own. The feedback we receive has helped me grow as a writer and as a future healthcare professional.”

For some students, the impact of the course extended beyond the classroom, influencing their academic and career paths.

“This course has challenged the way I think about the healthcare field and opened my eyes to issues I was completely unaware of,” Berry said. “I appreciate the discussion-based format because it allows me to express my thoughts without judgment.”

Rene Sosa, a medical pharmacology and toxicology and Spanish double degree, who took the course in a previous semester, described how the class encouraged him to engage with healthcare issues in real-world settings. After learning about access to emergency contraception, he visited a local store to observe how products like Plan B were sold, using the experience to inform his coursework. “This course prepared me for the reality of healthcare,” shared Sosa. “It exposed me to information I had never encountered before and helped me think more critically about issues in the field.”

Sosa added that the course ultimately influenced his academic direction, leading him to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Medical Pharmacology and Toxicology and continue taking courses within the College of Pharmacy. “I really enjoyed how open and evidence-based the discussions were; it helped me form my own opinions while learning from others, and it genuinely changed my academic path.”

The continued growth of PCOL 325 reflects a broader commitment by the College of Pharmacy to provide accessible, thought-provoking coursework that prepares students to navigate the evolving landscape of healthcare. By addressing controversial and often challenging topics, the course equips students with the tools needed to engage in meaningful conversations and make informed decisions as future professionals and citizens.

Learn more about PCOL 325 and all the other classes available on the undergraduate course descriptions page.