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

Follow

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

Follow

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

Follow

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

Follow

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

Follow

Sefanit Habtom

With the Entry-to-Practice PharmD application process starting, you might find yourself communicating with a member of Pharm Sci Student Services team. This four-part post series will introduce you to the individuals behind the emails. This week, we’d like to introduce you to Sefanit Habtom, Recruitment and Admission Officer.

Tell us about yourself and what brought you to your role with Pharm Sci Student Services?

My name is Sefanit Habtom – more commonly called Sef – and I’m excited to be the Faculty’s first Recruitment and Admissions Officer.  I’m a lover of coffee, captivating books that help pass time on my morning commutes, and trying new places to eat – specifically brunch (and suggestions are welcome).

I’ve recently completed my Undergraduate degree from UBC, studying Kinesiology and Sociology.  Throughout my degree, I enjoyed the many student-positions I held here on campus, and it ultimately excited me to work for the university post-graduation.  Lucky for me, an amazing opportunity with this Faculty had just opened up!

What is your role within Student Services?

As the Recruitment and Admissions Officer, I plan recruitment events, respond to admission inquiries, assist prospective students in course-planning for admittance into our E2P PharmD program, and also do some advising for current Pharmacy students.

What do you enjoy most about your position?

I love interacting with students on a day-to-day basis.  It’s also exciting to be admitting the first set of students into our new E2P PharmD program!

What do you do in your spare time?

I try new restaurants and cafés with friends, and also enjoy reading – my favorite genre is historical fiction.

How do you stay dry during the rainy Vancouver winters?

Born and raised in Vancouver, but I still haven’t gotten used to this rain.  I’m sure to always have layers on and an umbrella close by.  Plus, an extra pair of shoes under my desk comes in handy.

Do you have any advice for students?

Take what you learn in the classroom into your experiences outside the classroom & find ways to engage with Pharmacy in your extracurricular activities to add greater meaning to course concepts!

Do you have any questions you would like to ask Sef? Feel free to leave them in the comments below or shoot her an email at sefanit.habtom@ubc.ca.

Follow

With assignments, midterms and reports all around, flu prevention might be far from your mind. But there is good reason to make it a priority. With a common cold you could miss a day or two of school and the chance of complication is low – but with the flu that is not so. Flu is characterized with high fevers, body aches and pains, exhaustion and fatigue that can last anywhere from 7 days (for fever) to two weeks (for exhaustion). Could you afford that much time off of school or work?

Luckily there are a few simple ways to help prevent the flu:

1. Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water
2. Keep your hands away from your face
3. Cough and sneeze into your arm, not your hand
4. If you get sick, stay home until your symptoms are gone
5. Keep common surface areas clean and disinfected
6. Last but not least, get your annual flu shot!

There are a few easy ways to get the flu vaccine. If you’re a student, staff or Faculty member you’re eligible to attend UBC Risk Management’s flu clinics (where shots are administered by Medicine, Nursing and Pharmaceutical Sciences students). The clinics run from today until November 27^th and flu shots are free. Registration is easy and getting the shot won’t take more than an hour out of your day. Compare that to the week you could spend sick in bed and it seems like a manageable trade off!

If you’re not a student, staff or faculty member then you can either drop by your local pharmacy or our own Flu Clinic run by the Pharmacists Clinic. Registration is easy and getting the vaccine is even easier.

If the above reasons weren’t enough to convince you, contemplate getting the flu shot for the safety of others. It is those that can’t receive the immunization that are most at risk for flu complications. Thereby getting the vaccine will help keep them safe by helping to prevent you from contracting the flu and passing it along to others.

Do you have any questions about our immunization clinics? Ask them in the comments below!

– Ivan Yastrebov, Communications & Marketing

Follow