The University of Iowa PharmD student Ashgan Alshawy completed her 5-week rotation at GMU’s Thumbay University hospital on February 3, 2023. She learned from a diverse international experience in the UAE and patients at GMU’s healthcare system. This experience broadened the horizons of her care abilities and deepened her appreciation for the diversity of the world we live in.
Ashgan said, “The experience had a profound impact on my personal and professional growth. Working in a new cultural environment was a challenge at first, but I soon realized that the principles of pharmacy are universal and that pharmacists, no matter where they are from, share a common goal of improving the health and well-being of their patients. Through my interactions with local pharmacists, I learned about their unique approach to patient care and gained new perspectives on the role of a pharmacist in the UAE healthcare system. I thank Prof. Sherief Khalifa and Dr. Jeanine Abrons for arranging this student exchange.”
She added, “I had the pleasure to work with Dr. Dixon Thomas who coordinated my experience, Dr. SeebaZachariah a cardiology specialist, Dr. Ahmad Elouweni in the ICU department, and Dr. Shabaz Gulam an infectious disease specialist. I had the chance to see the difference between the US health system and UAE health system. Additionally, seeing the role and responsibilities of pharmacists in UAE such as counseling, medication history, and ensuring the prescribed medication is suitable for each patient.”
Prof. Sherief Khalifa, Dean of the College of Pharmacy commented, “Ashgan is our first exchange student from the University of Iowa. GMU students, preceptors and faculty enjoyed working with her for the past 5 weeks. It was an enriching learning experience for all of us. We will use the valuable feedback she provided to in our pursuit of continuous quality improvement. We are looking forward to hosting more students like Ashgan in the near future”.