Final‑year PharmD students from the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy have successfully completed a one‑month international clinical rotation at the Gulf Medical University (GMU) Academic Health System in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This immersive experience reflects the growing strength of the academic partnership between the two institutions and underscores their shared commitment to preparing future pharmacists for global practice.
Throughout the rotation, students trained within GMU’s state of the art academic health system, gaining hands on experience across key clinical specialties including cardiology, infectious diseases, critical care, gynecology, and nephrology. Their daily responsibilities; ranging from prescription verification and medication reconciliation to medication history interviews and patient discharge counselling allowed them to refine their clinical judgment, communication skills, and patient care competencies in a dynamic, multicultural environment. There was also opportunities to visit multiple other healthcare facilities in the UAE.
GMU faculty and clinical preceptors commended the students for their professionalism, adaptability, and strong clinical reasoning. The rotation also offered rich opportunities for interprofessional collaboration, exposure to diverse patient populations, and engagement with advanced pharmacy practice models within the UAE’s largest private academic health system.
This international training experience builds on a longstanding collaboration between the University of Iowa and GMU, supporting the development of globally minded pharmacists who are prepared to contribute meaningfully to evolving healthcare systems worldwide. Students reported significant growth in their cultural and clinical competence, describing the rotation as a smooth, enriching, and highly supportive experience within GMU’s multicultural campus hospital.
Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
