Three final year PharmD students (Neda, Salimatu, and Razan) of College of Pharmacy, Gulf Medical University successfully completed their advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) hospital pharmacy rotation in March 2019 at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City Ajman (SKMCA). Three students undergo hospital pharmacy rotation every month from January to July.
This training is as part of the MOU signed between the Gulf Medical University and SKMCA. The GMU students were very much part of the pharmacy practice activities with the Preceptor Pharmacists encouraging students to learn.
Students were posted in 3 different pharmacies inside SKMCA. As per the students, it was a nice learning experience being part of a big pharmacy team serving 3 hospitals inside SKMCA. Methods were on the place to manage inventory well, proper drug distribution system, prevention of medication errors and adverse drug events. SKMCA is accredited by Joint Commission International (JCI). Students received hands-on training in compounding parenteral nutrition.
Along with improving pharmacy practice related to typical pharmacy operations, students were also following up cases to study and suggest best treatment choices. Students did present cases as part of continuing pharmacy education activities. The case presentations were prepared with the help of clinical pharmacists and the sessions resulted in active discussions and exchange of pharmacy practice knowledge.
- Salimatu did present on Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS)
- Neda did present on a case of ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction
- Razan did present on a case of Ischemic Stroke
The Dean of the College of Pharmacy, Gulf Medical University, Professor Sherief Khalifa commented; Having APPE rotations at advanced healthcare facilities observing international standards of pharmacy practice represents a major quality assurance and enhancement measure in the delivery of our PharmD curriculum at GMU. In addition to SKMCA, our PharmD students receive internship training at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Tawam Hospital, Al Ain, Virginia Commonwealth University, USA and University of Saint Joseph, USA. All these experiences serve to enhance their overall pharmacy practice and clinical pharmacy skills, broaden their horizons and internationalize their education enabling them to practice pharmacy anywhere in the world after their graduation.