GMU Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students received orientation during the semester preceding the Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE). Clinical Seminar course in Semester 9 is designed to assure the readiness of PharmD students to enter APPE. During Semester 9, students made weekly visits to Thumbay University Hospital (TUH) to select patient cases and collect data for class presentations. This provided ample opportunity to select APPE electives based on direct observation of students at their major APPE practice site TUH.
On January 24, 2019, a formal orientation program was held at TUH for the 2016 cohort of PharmD students currently entering Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE). They had another training session at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City Ajman on January 20, 2021.
The Dean College of Pharmacy Prof. Sherief Khalifa, TUH Medical Director Dr. Fozi Dakilah, and Head of Clinical Pharmacy Dr. Shabaz Mohiuddin addressed the students on their roles and responsibilities during APPE rotations and emphasized the importance of APPE in shaping their careers and future goals. The collaborative practice environment at TUH provides students with optimum training opportunities.
GMU students are privileged with their experiential training opportunities at Thumbay University Hospital, Thumbay Clinics, and Thumbay Pharmacies throughout UAE. Besides the GMU Academic Health System, students are also receiving training at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City Ajman and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.
The Faculty and clinical preceptors provided orientation to specific rotations. Students were also provided a set of videos explaining general processes, ePortfolio, and evaluation in APPE. Students were oriented to all forms and templates used in APPE. A series of training sessions were provided to preceptors, especially the new preceptors in the Community Pharmacy sector.
