Have you heard? Our latest issue of Discover, the official Pharm Sci Magazine, is out. In the summer issue, there was a distinct focus on the future of Pharmacy – and that means our graduating class of 2014.
In this summer’s feature, we can see how the Faculty of Pharm Sci can leave a lasting impression on many of our graduates. Six of this year’s graduates had parents who were also UBC Pharmaceuticals Alumni, demonstrating that a love for pharmacy can be passed down from one generation to the next. Our featured family – the Nolan’s – had three generations of UBC pharmacists!
For many students, the Faculty itself began to feel like family. In a piece interviewing some of our pharmacy graduates, many grads commented on the tight knit community that was created during their four years at UBC. Late nights studying, skits nights, and faculty sports matches’ fostered an environment of friendship and camaraderie.
Along with reliving some of their favourite moments with UBC Pharmacy, grads also offered advice for students remaining in the program, and gave us a glimpse of what the future holds, for themselves and for the pharmacy as a whole. They commented on the importance of exploring as many different opportunities as you can while still in school, and most were very hopefully that the future of pharmacy was going to include an expanded role for pharmacists.
This month’s featured TED Talk, “The Happy Secret to Better Work”, explores the ideas of happiness, perspective, and productivity. Presenter Shawn Achor has spent 12 years studying what makes people happy at Harvard University. Now, you might think, “why study happiness at Harvard, one of the most prestigious universities in the world, with a study body who are amongst the most privileged?”
Achor postulates that our external world (whether we’re at Harvard or at community college, lottery winners or retail workers) only accounts for 10% of our long-term happiness and 90% is based on the way our brain processes our situation. Check out the talk:
How is this relevant? While the summer is in full swing, many students have time to reflect on the year gone by. I think this is the perfect TED Talk to help determine the mindset you are going to have going into your next year. Whether it is course registration, decisions about majors, or career options – this TED Talk proves that having a positive perspective on your situation can make a massive difference to personal outcomes.
Rather than seeing a heavy course load as daunting, it can be seen as a result of attending an amazing institution for learning. Our peers can transform from competitors for class registration and careers, to fantastic opportunities to learn, grow, and network.
If the sheer thought of being happier is not enough to convince you, there are productivity benefits to processing our world with a positive lens. Achor states that our brain works 31% more productively when thinking with a positive perspective, over a negative, neutral, or stressed perspective. Extrapolated out to students, you could get through studying faster, learn material quicker, and (with that extra time) have a better social experience at university.
As you continue to think about the next year, be it school or work, remember to stay positive and truly appreciate the opportunities that are presented to you.
What do you think? Do you have any tips for staying positive while at UBC?
Last week, a fresh batch of students graduated from UBC Pharm Sci. Congratulations to all of our graduates! While leaving UBC might be bittersweet, here are a few simple ways you can stay connected with UBC and UBC Pharm Sci community:
Register Your A-Card
This year, for the first time, graduates will receive an Alumni A-Card as part of their convocation package. Your A-Card comes with many benefits such as discounts to the UBC Bookstore, discounted entrance to UBC Varsity matches and UBC attractions, discounts to selected non-UBC stores, and continued borrowing rights with the UBC Library. The card also automatically enters you into a quarterly rewards program prize. Really, it’s a great deal – so make sure you register your A-Card here.
Connect With Pharm Sci on LinkedIn
To help foster community and networking among Pharm Sci alumni and students, we have created a Faculty LinkedIn page. Connect with us for updates on networking events, conferences, job openings, and other important news and opportunities.
Fill Out Your Advanced Profile for the Digital Alumni Yearbook
You will likely have spent time scrolling through the Digital Alumni Yearbook in the Story of Medicines during your time at UBC Pharm Sci. While all new graduates are automatically entered into the Yearbook, you can submit extra information you might like to share using the Advanced Profile form. Click here to fill out your advanced profile.
Subscribe to our Email List
Subscribing to the Pharm Sci email list is an awesome way to stay updated on class reunions, events, research and other news. Join us here.
Be Proud of Being a Young Alumnus
Did you know there is a separate branch of alumniUBC which caters to UBC graduates who are up to 10 years out from their degree? This includes you – welcome to UBC’s Young Alumni!
This week, Jennifer Chatterton, Director of UBC Pharm Sci’s Student Services, has an important update on admissions.
“As many of you are aware, we sent out a round of admission offers last week and this week. Everyone who received an offer of admission will have until June 2nd to accept or decline their offer of admission. This means that offers will continue to roll out slowly over the next few weeks, as we wait for responses from our applicants. We will notify all applicants of their status (admit, refuse or waitlist) as soon as we are able and we appreciate your patience. We know it is hard to wait!
For those of you who have received an offer of admission, the Undergraduate Admissions Office is currently working on confirming your offers. Once they have reviewed your final transcripts and are able to confirm your offer, they will update your status on the SSC and you will be able to accept your offer and pay your deposit. If you do not intend to accept your offer, we would appreciate it if you could notify us immediately so that we can offer your spot to another applicant. Offers that have not been accepted by June 2nd will be given to other applicants”.
-Jennifer Chatterton, Director, Student Services
Congratulations on the students who have already accepted their admission into UBC Pharm Sci. Patience and good luck to those still awaiting their admission. Feel free to shoot us a tweet @UBCPharmacy, and we would love to congratulate you on admission!
Remember – UBC Pharm Sci’s Official Blog is a platform for you to experience a transparent admissions process. If you have any general questions or concerns, please share them in the comments section!
Firstly, congratulations to the fresh batch of graduates making the transition from students to alumni – we look forward to hearing about all you have accomplished during future alumni events. Welcome to UBC’s Young Alumni network.
This upcoming weekend, UBC will be celebrating Alumni Weekend. This fun filled weekend includes family friendly camps, a beer garden, free admission into all UBC attractions, and a presentation by Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage – host of the show “MythBusters”.
More than the fun fuelled events, Alumni Weekend is also a great learning opportunities with many professors and alumni giving presentations and showcasing their work at UBC. Some of the events that look particularly interesting are: the Paino & Erhu Projecet (for music lovers), WINE: A Blend of Art and Science (for budding wine connoisseurs), and Robots, Resource Books, and Baristas(for young Alumni who are confused about the value of their degree).
Of course, here at UBC Pharm Sci we are also celebrating Alumni Weekend. Pharm Sci prof Dr. James McCormack will be giving a talk on type-2 diabetes. Far from being the usual health talk, Dr. McCormack is using Tom Hanks as a case study to present information that he thinks Hanks would need to know to make an informed decision about treatments. Dr. McCormack’s presentation is Saturday, May 24 at 1:15-2:15 in the Norm Theatre.
We hope to see some of our Pharm Sci Alumni out in force this weekend – see you there!
If you are not familiar with TED Talks, you are in for a treat. TED talks are short (18 minutes or less), powerful talks that are designed to spread ideas. Presenters are often industry leaders and trailblazers. The TED community is actively involved both online and offline, and believes in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives, and the world. One of the most inspiring features of TED Talks is that they are solutions driven – with a focus on presenting constructive solutions to social issues
In honour of some of the great content that is freely available to anyone with an internet connection, we are going to start a monthly feature – TED Talk Tuesday. Each month, we will highlight one TED Talk and we encourage everyone to engage in a conversation about the topics.
This month, I want to share a TED Talk by Freeman Hrabowski called the “4 Pillars of College success in Science”. This talk focuses on the ways that Universities can help ensure that students who enter a science program will successful graduate with a science degree. Check it out:
UBC is consistently ranked as a Top 40 University in the Sciences, and implementing some of the four pillars of success that Hrabowski discusses in his presentation.
The first pillar of success is high expectations, at both the university and high school level.
The Faculty of Sciences, and the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, sets high expectations of students from the start. The Faculty of Science has the highest admission averages, at 93.4% in 2012. Both Faculties take into consideration more than test scores and review applicant’s personal profiles (Sciences) and conduct interviews (Pharmacy). This ensures that students are well rounded and are passionate about their chosen field of study.
The second pillar of success is building acommunity in the STEM faculties. Rather than viewing classmates as competition for grades, internships, and jobs, students should work together and get to know each other as colleagues.
Science One and the Coordinated Science Program, alternative first year programs, help foster a sense of community among Science students. Students are placed in smaller classes and are encouraged to form frienships not just study groups. After first year, almost every science major has a Facebook group where students can interact with and get help from their peers. However, community building has to go past just the academics – which is why I was so pleased to see that there are groups such as PIGS – Pharmacy 2014 International Gastromers – a group of Pharmacy students who like to try out restaurants together.
The third pillar of success is that researchers produce researchers. Having opportunities for experiential learning, rather than just lectures, is critical to success in the sciences.
With the newly opened Pharmacists Clinic, UBC Pharm Sci students can shadow pharmacists and help provide a range of therapeutic services. This is the first University affiliated, licensed, patient care centered pharmacy. The BSc (Pharmacy) curriculum also emphasized experiential learning, in the form of clerkship completed at community hospital sites.
The last pillar is that the faculty must be willing to engage with students. A faulty that is truly invested in the success of its students is critical to their success.
Having just stared working with the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, it is apparent to me how much the Faculty really does care and engage with its students. From trying to keep students informed about their admission status, to featuring their work, to providing opportunities and information about grants and scholarships, the Faculty is committed to the success of its students.
What do you think? Do you agree that these four pillars are part of student success in the sciences? What do you think UBC could be doing better? Tell us in the comments!
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