2014 Flu Clinic Initiatives

UBC Pharm Sci student immunizes community member.

Once again this year, our trained and certified 4th year students participated as immunizers for several influenza immunization initiatives across UBC campus during the month of November.

Since 2012, our 4th year students have been volunteering at UBC-wide interdisciplinary flu clinics, working alongside nursing and medical students to immunize UBC staff, faculty, and students. These flu clinics are organized by UBC Risk Management Services and 2 of these clinics took place in our very own building. This year, 116 students immunizers participated in these clinics, and 55 of them were pharmacy students.

Since 2013, our pharmacy students have also participated as immunizers at flu clinics hosted by our Pharmacists Clinic. These clinics target members of the public and individuals on campus who are not receiving vaccinations through the UBC influenza immunization program. The Pharmacists Clinic offered 4 influenza clinics this season, and 22 of our students volunteered as immunizers.

We would like to recognize the following 4th year pharmacy student immunizers who helped to make the influenza campaign another huge success this year:

Pharmacy Student Immunizers

Aayusha Koirala
Adam Husk
Andrea Silver
Andy Weng
Anthony Lau
Ayoung Kim
Benton Attfield
Brandon Wong
Candice Leung
Carolyn Wilson
Cathleen Wen
Christina Park
Claire Tai
Elisabeth Kwon
Emily Barnum
Erica Tsai
Erika Lee Smith
Erin Liebich
Esha Randhawa
Flora Yu
Gary Kwan
Gary Tse
Grace Hsia
Gurvinder Gill
Harshan Grewal
Ivan Lo
Jaspreet Dhatt
Jennika Louie
Johnny Yip
Joshua Cheung
Judy Sihyun Lee
Jugina Tsang
Katherine Go
Katie Milbers
Kelly Lin
Kelsey Swinden
Kirandeep Sidhu
Lucy Zhang
Liisa Stover
Lindy Zhu
Lisa Leung
Lucy Lin
Matthew Chiang
Matthew Lum
Michelle Ng
Holly Chen
Nasim Hatami
Nathan Kellock
Nicole Chaudhari
Pegah Arasteh
Polly Tang
Purple Chu
Quaid Castle
Ranjit Sidhu
Robyn Seipp
Shari Martin
Shari-Lee Martin
Shimelis Desha
Sonja Senekovic
Mary Wu
Tegan Graetz
Yeonsoo Jo

Special thanks also goes to 3rd year students Nic Jones, Caitlin Sande, Hyung-Chan Shin, and Trishia Sy, who volunteered their time to help out with administrative duties during the flu clinics that took place in our building.

– Kathy Seto, Instructor, Clinical Skills

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Meet the Student Services Team – Ivy He, Receptionist

Ivy He

This week as part of our ongoing “Meet the Student Services Team” we would like to introduce Ivy He. Ivy is the Faculty’s Receptionist and is the friendly face behind the reception desk in Student Services. Read on to learn more about Ivy:

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

Prior to working at the faculty, I worked at a non-profit organization and assisted people from different age groups and cultural backgrounds. As the first point of contact for visitors to the Faculty and the Office of Student Services, I strive to provide the best experience for the students and visitors.

What is your role within Student Services?

I help students with printing credits, room bookings, supplemental and deferred exams, lab coats, and other enquiries. I also assist with different events such as the Dean’s Luncheons, Dean’s Reception, and Multiple Mini Interviews.

What do you enjoy most about your position?

I enjoy seeing our students become successful in their professional career. It makes me very happy when students come back and tell me that they enjoyed their summer job working in a pharmacy or that they were hired for a position they were seeking.

What do you do in your spare time?

I enjoy dancing and watching movies.

What is your favourite Vancouver winter-time activity?

Sitting by the fire, drinking hot chocolate and watching a movie at home.

Do you have any advice for students?

Other than studying hard in school, start to develop your professional network and get involved in different professional development opportunities. Aim high, work hard, and give back.

If you have any questions for Ivy, please feel free to comment below, or contact ivy.he@ubc.ca.

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Meet the Student Services Team – Sefanit Habtom, Recruitment and Admissions Officer

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.

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Six Ways to Stay Healthy this Flu Season

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:

Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water
Keep your hands away from your face
Cough and sneeze into your arm, not your hand
If you get sick, stay home until your symptoms are gone
Keep common surface areas clean and disinfected
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

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UBC Pharm Sci Digital Engagement Survey: Share Your Feedback!

Are you a social media guru who follows us on all of our channels, or can you barely tell the difference between Facebook and Twitter? Either way we would love your feedback on our social media and blogging efforts! We would really appreciate it if you could take a couple of minutes out of your day to fill out the UBC Pharm Sci Digital Engagement survey. The results will help us to us create and share content tailored to your interests.

Take the Survey Now

Advice

A Day in the Life of a UBC Pharm Sci Undergraduate Student

UBC Pharm Sci staff member setting up in Pharmacy Practice Lab

In preparing to apply to UBC Pharm Sci you may have already looked at the curriculum, explored the different involvement opportunities available and watched our Student Talks videos. But perhaps you’re still not sure what life would be like as a student here at the Faculty? Read on for second-year BSc(Pharm) student Joshua Quisias’ account of a typical day:

“A day in the life of a UBC Pharm Sci student usually starts with a 9:00 am lecture in the new Pharmaceutical Sciences building. Since our schedule is integrated, the topic could range from pathophysiology, to pharmacology, to therapeutics. Regardless of the topic, the material covered will be important for good pharmacy practice, effective patient care, and exams.

After 3 one hour-long lectures, class is over by noon. This is a good chance to take a break and grab some lunch from the Daily Dose, with my classmates. We usually take this chance to briefly discuss the lecture material and upcoming exams, but soon end up putting that on the backburner and talking about any events that are coming up. Recently, the discussions have focused around Mr. Pharmacist and the Pharmacy Gala, two of the most popular annual events for our faculty. Sure, being a pharmacy student is hard work, but no one said it couldn’t be fun too!

After lunch, we split up – half of us head to the practice lab where we practice skills that we’ll need when we’re out on rotation and are practicing pharmacists. Some of these skills include counselling, compounding, and learning how to do certain physical examinations. The other half heads up to a tutorial room, where we discuss patient cases or learn more about the aspects of pharmacy practice.

Once lab or tutorial is over, usually by 5:30 pm, it’s time to head back home, get some food, and hit the books. Preferred methods of studying are personal and dependent on the subject. For me, if the topic is memorization-heavy, such as frequently prescribed medications, I like to make flashcards otherwise is the material is concept-heavy, as pathophysiology is, I like to go over the learning objectives. Usually, this study time includes chatting with friends about some of the more difficult topics, as discussing material really helps me clear up my confusions with the material. Once I feel happy with the amount of studying I’ve done, or once I’m struggling to keep my eyes open, it’s time to go to bed and get some rest before the next day starts.”

– Joshua Quisias, 2^nd year BSc(Pharm) Student

Thanks Joshua! We hope this helped give you some insight into the day-to-day life of a UBC Pharm Sci student. If you have any further questions, feel free to leave them in the comments or on Twitter or Facebook.

– Ivan Yastrebov, Communications & Marketing

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White Coat Ceremony 2014

Last Thursday evening UBC Pharm Sci together with the BC Pharmacy Association (BCPhA) hosted the 2014 White Coat Ceremony. In this annual event the Faculty officially welcomes new BSc(Pharm) students, and celebrates the commencement of their journey. Incoming students recite and sign the Pledge of Professionalism (below) and are presented with a white coat.

“The White Coat Ceremony was one of the first instances where our entire class was together,” says Anna Chen, a first year BSc(Pharm) student. “I am very excited to spend the next four years getting to know each and every one of my classmates! Congratulations to everyone on getting into the Faculty!”

The White Coat Ceremony is an important part of the students’ journey into the profession as it instills a sense of pride and belonging, while highlighting early on the ethical and professional responsibilities of the profession.

The evening included speeches from Dr. Michael Coughtrie, professor and dean, UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, David Pavan, President of the BC Pharmacy Association, Marion Pearson, Director of the Entry-to-Practice Program, Rachel Edey, 4^th year BSc(Pharm) student and Barbara Gobis, Director of the Pharmacists Clinic.

UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Pledge of Professionalism

For students in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at The University of British Columbia, there is a need to build and reinforce a professional identity founded on integrity, ethical behaviour, and honour. This development, a vital process in pharmacy education, will help ensure that you are true to the professional relationship you establish between yourself and society as you become a member of the pharmacy community. Integrity will be an essential part of your ever y day life and it is incumbent upon you to pursue all academic and professional endeavors with honesty and commitment to service.

To accomplish this goal of professional development, I as a student in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at The University of British Columbia will:

ACCEPT the responsibility for my actions as a student and as a healthcare professional that will reflect on both myself and my school.

CONSIDER the needs of others before myself.

DEVELOP a sense of loyalty and duty to the profession of pharmacy by contributing to the well-being of others and by accepting accountability for membership in the profession.

FOSTER professional competency through life-long learning and striving for high ideals, teamwork, and unity within the profession.

COMMIT to the Oath of a Pharmacist and the Code of Ethics for Pharmacists as set forth by the profession.

DEDICATE my life and practice to excellence by an ongoing reassessment of personal and professional values.

MAINTAIN the highest ideals and professional attributes to ensure optimal patient care.

*Adapted from the American Pharmaceutical Association (APhA) and the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Pledge of Professionalism

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4 Self-Care Strategies to Help You Thrive

Relax – Copyright: davejdoe used under CC 2.0

Do you feel that midterms, projects and extracurricular activities have put you in a squeeze? Stress can cause you to lose motivation, hope and eventually end up in burnout. By taking time in your day to practice self-care you can help manage that stress and thrive throughout the year. Read on for some self-care tips:

1. Appreciate your senses.

– If you have been feeling stressed about a future deadline, noticing the sensations around you can help you focus on the present moment, allowing you to temporarily forget about your worries. Breathe in fresh air, take a hot shower, go for a walk, watch the clouds go by, listen to music and notice all the senses around you!

2. Do a pleasurable activity.

– Allowing yourself time in the day to do what makes you happy will help you keep your focus and motivations for your studies. It doesn’t have to be a large amount of time – small activities such as walking a dog, gardening, watching a movie, journaling, or exploring campus can also work well.

3. Break the routine.

– Getting into a routine can make you feel stuck in place, which increases your stress. By disrupting your daily routine you can feel refreshed and regain motivation. This can be accomplished by busing to a new place, trying a new activity, joining a Meetup group, studying in a new location or even simply striking up conversation with someone you haven’t spoken with before.

4. Get in touch with your inner-self

– With midterms and project deadlines on the horizon, it is easy to focus on studying and forget about yourself. Take some time to reflect on what makes you happy. This could come by way of reading novels or poetry, meditating, spending time in nature, praying, attending church, or anything else that helps you feel connected to yourself emotionally and spiritually.

Taking a small amount of time in your day to practice self-care can have large pay backs in terms of motivation and ability to focus throughout the year. If you are interested in learning more about self-care and positive mental health, be sure to check out Thrive at UBC.

– Ivan Yastrebov, Communications & Marketing

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A Handy Guide to UBC Cafés

Now that school in full swing and midterms are just around the corner you may be contemplating an increase in your caffeine intake! Even if you aren’t a coffee or tea drinker, cafés are a great place to study – providing a change of scenery with snack and beverage options close at hand. With this in mind, we have compiled a handy map of coffee shops at UBC:

Of course, we must mention The Daily Dose – UBC Pharm Sci’s own café serving coffee, snacks and light food items all day. It’s a great place to recharge between classes.

Also, many people find that the ambient noise in cafes helps them to focus on their work. We’re fans of the app Coffitivity which allows you to recreate the sounds of a café in your living room. Coffee not included!

What’s your favourite coffee shop on campus? Let us know in the comments or on Facebook.

– Ivan Yastrebov, Communications and Marketing

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Student Talks Video Series – Highlighting the Pharm Sci Student Experience

Are you contemplating Pharmacy as a career choice and wondering what life as a Pharm Sci student is like? Are you a first year student who is curious about how to make the most of your four years here? Or maybe you would just like to be inspired by and learn more about your classmates. Either way, we are here to help!

The Student Talks video series was launched earlier this year with the intent to highlight Pharmacy student leaders. Each episode profiles a different undergraduate student – showcasing their day-to-day routines and delving into why they chose to study here at UBC Pharm Sci.

The first episode of Student Talks followed then fourth-year student and BCPhA Student Ambassador Aaron Sihota, who commenced as a student senator for PhUS and later became President of the society. Watch below to learn more about Aaron’s experiences and why he chose pharmacy as a profession:

The next episode introduced then third-year student, Rho Chi Honour Society President and BCPhA Student Ambassador Renée Dagenais. Renée has also been involved as a student member of the CSHP through which she participated in the student mentorship program. Learn more about Renée below:

As you can see, there is a tremendous range of opportunities available to become more deeply involved in the UBC Pharm Sci student community. To learn more, check out our previous blog post on this topic.

Do you know a Pharm Sci student who might like to be featured in a future episode of Student Talks? Perhaps you are that person yourself? If so, send us an email at pharmsci.cmassist2@ubc.ca.

Keep an eye out for the next episode of Student Talks – coming soon to YouTube!

-Ivan Yastrebov, Communications & Marketing

INSIDE UBC PHARM SCI

A Blog for Our Students & Prospective Students

2014 Flu Clinic Initiatives

Meet the Student Services Team – Ivy He, Receptionist

Meet the Student Services Team – Sefanit Habtom, Recruitment and Admissions Officer

Six Ways to Stay Healthy this Flu Season

A Day in the Life of a UBC Pharm Sci Undergraduate Student

White Coat Ceremony 2014

4 Self-Care Strategies to Help You Thrive

A Handy Guide to UBC Cafés

Student Talks Video Series – Highlighting the Pharm Sci Student Experience