From February 03 to March 05, 2020, Ornesha Watson and Will Wilson, final year PharmD candidates of the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) School of Pharmacy and Physician Assistant Studies carried out their Acute Care Rotation at Gulf Medical University Academic Health Center.
In their five weeks long APPE, they were able to;
- Comprehend and compare differences and similarities in the UAE and USA health systems.
- Visit Sheikh Khalifa Medical City Ajman, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, DUPHAT Conference, Dubai, MOHAP Innovation week at Al Qassimi Hospital, Sharjah, Thumbay Clinic, and Pharmacy in Ajman.
- Visit other places in UAE to have an understanding of cultural diversity in the UAE.
- Participate in daily ward rounds at Thumbay Hospital Ajman to learn from patients in acute care, including some rare conditions.
- Involve in direct patient care, including patient history interview, medication reconciliation, drug therapy modifications, and patient discharge counseling.
- Interact with healthcare professionals to be immersed in collaborative practice at Thumbay Hospital Ajman and the brand new Thumbay University Hospital in Ajman.
- Participate in interprofessional education case presentations, virtual patient learning, and team-based learning sessions.
- Participate in influenza vaccination training for pharmacists.
- Meet with GMU administrators including, President, Chancellor, Vice Chancellor Academic, Dean College of Pharmacy, to have a comprehensive overview of health professions education and healthcare delivery.
Vice Chancellor for Quality and Global Engagement and Dean of the College of Pharmacy, Prof. Sherief Khalifa appreciated Ornesha and Will for being actively involved in capitalizing on all possible opportunities to add to their experience. GMU students were welcoming to Ornesha and Will; they became friends in no time and collaborated well for learning together. With excellent facilities and preceptors, GMU is building its reputation as one of the best educational institution in the country.