This is the last in our series of personal stories and testimonials from Pharmacy students about their experiences at UBC Pharm Sci. The deadline to apply for our new Entry to Practice PharmD program is February 2nd, 2015.

“”What’s the right program for me? What should I do?”

I’m sure every student has asked this before, during, and even after his or her time at UBC. Like a buffet, the options available at UBC seem endless; so entertain these questions from my current experience as a UBC Pharmacy student:

“Do you want a profession that is constantly evolving?”

The scope of practice for pharmacists is ever changing. Pharmacists are now qualified to provide vaccinations, smoking cessation services, medication reviews, and prescription adaptations. The UBC Pharm Sci program has faculty and students at the forefront of these innovations and ensures we are kept up-to-date. I’m excited that we are advocating for practice change to optimize pharmaceutical care.

“Do you want to be constantly learning?”

There’s no hiding that there is great camaraderie among pharmacy students, especially as we learn together through trials by fire. But the learning doesn’t just stop in the classroom or after graduation. Pharmacy provides experiential learning and continuing education opportunities for students and pharmacists, respectively, to complement your existing knowledge.

Along with your medication knowledge, you’ll improve your communication skills, as you’ll encounter people from all walks of life. Compassion, empathy, critical thinking and developing a professional appearance are only some ways you’ll grow as an individual. There is no greater motivation for self-improvement than after reviewing a filmed patient counselling session and thinking, “Is that really me!?”

“Do you want to contribute to someone’s primary care?”

What has perhaps been most rewarding thus far is being able to recommend the most suitable treatments for a patient’s given condition, and then have them return to thank you for your care. Granted, I’m only a student now, but the patient encounters I’ve had in the practice lab and as a pharmacy assistant reaffirm why I am in pharmacy – and that is to care for someone.

Bottom line is, pharmacy is only one of many programs here at UBC and I can only tell you my story. Thanks to UBC Pharm Sci, I feel empowered to apply and share my knowledge about medications. If you want to work in a trusted profession, consider pharmacy. If you want to be able to apply your clinical skills, optimize care for someone, and communicate effectively (while having some fun along the way), consider UBC Pharm Sci. Remember here at UBC, Tuum Est.””

– Ainge Chang, Third Year BSc(Pharm) Student

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Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing a series of personal stories and testimonials from Pharmacy students about their experiences studying at UBC Pharm Sci. To learn more about our program, register for the upcoming information session. The deadline to apply for our new Entry to Practice PharmD program is February 2nd, 2015.

“Why choose pharmacy? Besides the fact that pharmacy is a rapidly changing profession offering new and exciting career options, and besides the fact that we have one of the newest and most beautiful buildings on campus (which has even made its way into locally filmed “The Flash”), I chose pharmacy because of the training (both in-class knowledge and technical skills that I apply at work), the great networking opportunities at fun and professional events, and because of the wonderful people in the Faculty.

I currently work as a pharmacy assistant at a privately owned pharmacy, where I shadow practicing pharmacists in the community, and perform technical work. Through the facts and knowledge that I have learned in classes and the communication and technical skills that I continue to gain from lab and tutorial, I have been able to begin to apply some of that knowledge in my work. I am able to see how practice is currently, but also learn about new and innovative ways that we can practice once we graduate and are practicing pharmacists.

Though pharmacy students may sometimes complain about the hours that they spend studying, that’s not all that we do. Currently as a member of the Pharmacy Undergraduate Society (PhUS) Social Committee, I have helped plan fun events such as the PhUS Gala this past November. At events such as these, pharmacy students are able to socialize and network beyond the classroom. Pharmacy is not only an intelligent and professional faculty, but a social one as well.

Lastly, my favourite part of studying pharmacy is the people that I have had the pleasure to meet. My classmates, my professors, and the staff are some of the nicest individuals I have met in my life thus far. Though each entering class of the faculty may seem large and daunting at first, throughout the four years, I know I will have the chance to get to know these wonderful people on a deeper level. Some of the closest friends that I have today are ones that I have met through studying pharmacy.

So why pharmacy? Whenever my family and friends ask me why I chose to make the switch from Science into Pharmaceutical Sciences, I tell them that it furthers my training into a new and rapidly changing field. I tell them that these people are not only smart, but they are great at networking and know how to have fun with events like Gala and at Dodgeball Night. I tell them that I couldn’t imagine going through my studies without the great support of my classmates, professors and the staff of this wonderful faculty.”

– Anna Chen, First Year BSc(Pharm) Student

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Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing a series of personal stories and testimonials from Pharmacy students about their experiences studying at UBC Pharm Sci. To learn more about our program, register for the upcoming information session. The deadline to apply for our new Entry to Practice PharmD program is February 2nd, 2015.

“I thought that perhaps the best way to share my experience studying pharmacy so far would be to give a super-condensed narrative of my journey up to now, with some elaboration on critical aspects of the program and the profession of pharmacy.

The invitation for an interview came upon me as serendipitously as did graduation from my previous BSc. and the interview itself. It was the end of June before I knew it, and an acceptance letter was in my hands. Ironically, and perhaps unsurprisingly, for the first time in my post-secondary life I found that I was truly excited for course registration and for classes to start. September dawned and 1^st year commenced – to say I was fascinated would be to minimize my perception of the eminence of the Pharmacy faculty, students, staff, and the awe-inspiring building we are housed in. Although I was entering my 2^nd bachelor’s degree – none of it felt like undergrad anymore. From the experiences in the lectures, to labs and tutorials, to the sports events outside of class-time – anything pharmacy, felt professional on a higher level. The quality of instruction was phenomenal, the approachability of instructors – immediate and fulfilling, and the respect between students – limitless. My previously held notions of the role of the pharmacy profession in health care rapidly expanded as we spent hours learning physical assessment skills ranging from measuring blood pressure to identification of crepitus in a pneumonia-affected lung upon auscultation.

It wasn’t until the commencement of 2^nd year that I discovered what I regard as one of the most unique qualifiers of pharmacy – the diversity of options to pursue and structure a meaningful career. While doing your degree you can partake in clinical, academic, or ‘bench top’ research either for course credits, as a volunteer or as a paid employee. You can get involved in countless inter-professional events, workshops, and clinics to hone your skills and develop the foundations of inter-professional collaboration. Furthermore, you can team up with other healthcare students and organize informational clinics like the diabetes and heart health workshops, for the welfare of our local communities.

The extracurricular options listed are just to give you a taste of the variety in pharmacy practice. The reality is that a career in this rapidly evolving field extends beyond the typical community role we picture. The niche for drug experts is forming everywhere: hospitals; industry; policy-making; research and development; rural communities; public health forums; and the implementation of pharmacogenomics to achieve personalized drug-therapy. As the complexity of our civilization, and the ailments afflicting it grows exponentially with each passing year – I am thrilled to be in a profession sitting on the forefront of new discoveries.”

– Viktor Kalashnikov, Second Year BSc(Pharm) Student

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Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing a series of personal stories and testimonials from Pharmacy students about their experiences studying at UBC Pharm Sci. To learn more about our program, register for the upcoming information session. The deadline to apply for our new Entry to Practice PharmD program is February 2nd, 2015.

“I entered Pharmacy, drawn by the prospect that I would be able to gain useful knowledge and practical skills to help patients and customers and be an accessible part of the health care team. With our professional training, we would be able to alleviate anxiety, correct misconceptions found on the internet, as well as ensure that patients receive safe and effective medication for their needs. Pharmacy is a growing field and the expansion of roles and new opportunities excited me.

I liked the end goal of pharmacy school and thus entered the program without much consideration for the process, other than hearing that it is “hard”. This program is definitely challenging but in a motivating and inspiring way. I like how applicable the material we learn in lecture and labs are to our work as future pharmacists. Working in a community pharmacy currently, I personally find it so rewarding to be able to recall something learnt in lecture or lab and answer patient questions or do some preliminary medication counselling. I have now become the “go to” person when friends and family have minor ailments or questions about certain medications. It excites me to know that in a few years time, I would be able to counsel all of these medications and to answer any questions that patients may have. This is one thing I like a lot about pharmacy school – the application of knowledge and how the things that we learn are “useable” in “real life” to make a difference in the lives of others. There is a meaningful purpose in the things you learn to do in lab as well as the topics taught in lecture. Like learning how to compound medicated lotions and creams or what the proper way of using an inhaler is. The sense of accomplishment and feeling that your knowledge and the hours you’ve put in studying, is meaningful and worth your effort, is one of the most rewarding feelings in the world. This drives me to want to learn more and own the information, rather than simply regurgitating it on an exam and forgetting about it. Pharmacy is a program where I feel like I am growing, rather than simply completing courses, year in and year out. Furthermore, I like how all of the students take all of the lectures together. It really builds a sense of community and the feeling of being supported, not only by your peers but also by the faculty.

I would definitely recommend pharmacy to anyone who would like to make a difference within their community, enjoys interacting with people, and has a passion for science and healthcare. It is a challenging program but it is also very stimulating. If the idea of learning about the human body, disease states and the various therapeutic options for diseases and conditions interest you, Pharmacy is definitely a good program to consider.”

– Joyce Chang, Second Year BSc(Pharm) Student

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Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing a series of personal stories and testimonials from Pharmacy students about their experiences studying at UBC Pharm Sci. To learn more about our program, register for the upcoming information session. The deadline to apply for our new Entry to Practice PharmD program is February 2nd, 2015.

“When I began my journey in pharmacy, I really didn’t know what to expect. Sure, I had visited pharmacies and spoken with professionals about the roles and duties of a pharmacist, but by the time that I was accepted, I still had a lot of unanswered questions. Nevertheless, bright-eyed and excited, I happily accepted my offer from the University of British Columbia, and – despite offers from my hometown – left Edmonton, Alberta to begin my training independently as a future healthcare professional.

To my great surprise, I quickly learned that pharmacy was nothing like the media made it out to be. How was I going to translate this joy back to my friends and family? I was sure that they would never believe the experiences that I have had in my short time here as a first year pharmacy student. I have had exposure to bed-side environments at several hospitals, participated in exciting pharmacy research, started my own research project and have become a member of several student organizations. In addition, we have learned in our classes that the scope of pharmacy practice is currently expanding faster than ever before, and that we may be entrusted with new responsibilities in the near future.

My classes involve problem based learning environments where we study and solve real life problems that I am instantly able to translate back into my everyday life. I am personally challenged everyday to learn more about medications, disease, and patient care as I am faced with it at school, and in my exposure to clinical practice at the hospital. I feel that the cutting edge research and volunteer opportunities at UBC are extremely unique, and that an excited prospective healthcare student should be thrilled to get started.

Despite my obsession (for lack of a better word) with my studies and opportunities, I believe that the factor that most justifies my decision to leave my home would be my mentors, professors and colleagues. Aptly dubbed our “Pharmily,” the group of people that we surround ourselves with everyday inspire me to become better, while helping ease the stress of such a competitive program. I can look forward to keeping these friends for the next four years and onward, and eventually becoming a fellow professional to my professors.

I wouldn’t have chosen anything over pharmacy, and would recommend it to anyone who is up to the challenge.”

– Jackson Stewart, First Year BSc(Pharm) Student

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Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing a series of personal stories and testimonials from Pharmacy students about their experiences studying at UBC Pharm Sci. To learn more about our program, register for the upcoming information session. The deadline to apply for our new Entry to Practice PharmD program is February 2nd, 2015.

“When I was asked to write this entry about my experience studying Pharmacy, a hundred different things popped into mind. The start of my first year in the program was an introduction to aspects of pharmacy that had never occurred to me before. Unless you’ve had previous experience working in a pharmacy, you probably assume that a pharmacist counts pills all day. What I’ve learned in my two years here is that although pill-counting is involved, a pharmacist plays a much more meaningful role in a patient’s care.

In class, we focus on patient counselling and communication skills. We also learn the details on disease states and treatment options in preparation for the counselling and interprofessional collaboration that occurs in pharmacies. I’ve come to realize that we are THE drug experts. More so than any other health care professional you will encounter. We can provide invaluable insight into medications and their interactions and dosing. That’s probably what I like most about the field: we are able to apply the information gained from scientific discoveries to real-life patients. And it doesn’t hurt that we learn and apply all of this in our awesome building with state-of-the-art practice labs and patient simulators.

Aside from academics, there are many other experiences I have been grateful for. Pharm students are a tight-knit bunch and there are plenty of ways to meet new friends. From the Welcome Back Barbeque to PhUS Gala and the numerous pharmacy-specific clubs, there’s always something going on! Being involved in the pharmacy community is extremely rewarding and has been one of the highlights of my experience so far.

While the pharmacy program can at times be challenging (especially when workload piles up close to exams), I’m grateful for the experience and confident that there are resources available every step of the way to help students succeed.”

– Carol Dou, Second Year BSc(Pharm) Student

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With our new E2P PharmD program approved and applications open, we have been hosting Information Sessions for prospective students.  These sessions are an opportunity for students to learn more about our new program, and how and why it has changed.  We also review the new prerequisites and give students an opportunity to ask questions.  We host these sessions within our Pharmaceutical Sciences building, but now there’s the chance for individuals to attend from further away!

Our last information session on November 26^th was our first online session ever!  This allowed interested students to join us from outside of the Lower Mainland.  There was also an opportunity to participate in the live session by asking questions online.

The online session proved to be successful, with participants all the way from Prince George, BC to London, ON. We are happy to announce our next Information Session will be held on January 22^nd, from 6:00PM-8:00PM in the Pharmaceutical Sciences Building, Rm. 1101.  No worries if you’re hoping to tune-in from afar – the session will again be offered online.

You can register for our upcoming session on our website.

– Sefanit Habtom, Student Services

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