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Advice

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

Student in Pharmacy practice Lab

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, 2nd 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, 4th year BSc(Pharm) student and Barbara Gobis, Director of the Pharmacists Clinic.

WCC Collage

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

Relaxing

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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UBC Irving Learning Centre
Advice

Welcome Back Series, Part 3: Study Spaces

We are continuing our three part Welcome Back series – this week, we are going to focus the most important aspect of university, academics.

With classes in full swing, and midterms quickly approaching, many students are starting to get back into the academic mode.  This means finding a place to study on campus. While some people prefer their tried and tested study spots, other find it helpful to seek out new places to read over their lecture notes.

If you are looking for somewhere other than Koerner and Irving to study, here are a few options:

The Ridington RoomRidington Room UBC

The real “Harry Potter” room at UBC, not the often assumed Chapman Learning Commons, this is perfect for getting work done. Spanning levels 3 and 4 of the North wing of Irving Library, it is a silent study space.  The room is full of tall comfy chairs for if you just need to do some reading, or there are long wooden tables with warm glowing lamps that will inspire creative writing or problem solving. The outer wall is entirely glass, looking out onto the Arts students of Buchanan.

 

Basement of Woodward Library

While the main section of Woodward building is a popular study spot, especially during finals (as it is open 24/7), the basement of the actual Woodward Library is a underrated study spot. It maintains a relatively quiet noise level, but is not silent. My favourite part is that there are “study booths”, such as in a restaurant, making it easy and comfortable to study with a small group.

Forestry Building

If you are looking foForestry Science Buildingr a beautiful building to work in, this may be your winner. The Forestry building is appropriately a masterpiece of woodwork. The building is warm and inviting, with plenty of table space. Also, the building has its own Tim Horton’s, so there is easy access to study fuel. The only downside is that Forestry students can be quite protective of their building, so be respectful.

Honorable Mentions go to the Law Library, the Life Sciences Building, and the Xwi7xwa Library.

Booking a Study Room

While public study spaces can be great for getting work done, if you are working on a project or are holding a study group, you may want to book a study room. Irving, Koerner, and Woodward each have rooms that can be booked by students as a study space. Bookings tend to fill up during exams, with Irving always being the most popular, but you can usually find a space in Woodward Library. Some of the benefits of study rooms is that you can speak a little louder, there are often plenty of outlets, and there is usually a whiteboard (or chalkboard) for you to write down ideas/problem solve.

Another option is to book a space in the Pharmaceutical Sciences building. Most meeting spaces are exterior facing, giving you a beautiful view while your group studies. Plus, you can go straight from class to a meeting space, if you would like. The Pharm Sci Building Room and Space booking form can be found here.

Check out our previous blog posts offering great study tips here and here. What is your favourite place to study on campus? Tell us in the comments below!

– Sukhman Perhar, Communications and Marketing

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Advice

Scholarships: Where to look, and how to get them.

Let’s face it, university can be expensive. More than just tuition, expenses include textbooks, lab equipment, tutors, transportation, housing, and food – that is before you have factored in a social life. Scholarships and bursaries can make the financial burden of school more manageable, so we have compiled a short list of resources you can use to look for and win scholarships.

Scholarship Websites:

One great way to look for scholarships is to sign up for a website that does the searching for you. Scholarships Canada and Student Awards are the two biggest names in the field of scholarship hunting. Many Canadian students may have had accounts such as these when they were in high school, so it is only a means of updating information. If you did not go to a Canadian high school, you will have to set up a new profile, which only takes about 15 minutes per site. After you hit submit, it comes up with dozens of different bursaries and scholarship opportunities. What is great about using sites like these is that it only provides you with information about scholarships that are still available, so you don’t have to worry about already having missed the deadline.

The trick to websites such as these is to spend time filling out your profile – include all your interests, career aspirations, university goals, parents work information, sports interests, ect. The more information you give the website, the more it can tailor the scholarships it presents you.

Family Affiliations:

Many scholarships can come from your parents work affiliations or volunteer organizations that your family contributes too. Organizations such as rotary, unions, scouting, churches, cultural groups and many more offer scholarships for children of their members – make sure to check out the websites of any organizations your family is affiliated with. Smaller organizations may not know to put their scholarships up online, so check the community boards to ensure you are not missing out!

If there is a scholarship, express your interest in person (if possible, such as at a meeting or by talking to the scholarship organizer) as it helps put a face to the name, allowing you to stand out in the selection process. Tailor your scholarship application to the particular organization you are applying through – highlight your work with children if you are applying through a youth center, or your work in the community if you are applying through a humanitarian organization.

The University:

The University itself tries to provide you with opportunities for scholarships and the resources to ensure that your scholarship application is strong. Visit Brock Hall and speak to an Enrollment Services Professional if you have any questions regarding University scholarships. Many scholarships, especially for current university students, require a resume and/or cover letter – Career Services, which is also located in Brock Hall, offers advising appointments for resumes, cover letters, and CVs. This can be especially helpful if you are not familiar with Canadian resume customs.

The University offers many scholarships for continuing students, you can check out the information on their scholarship website – pay close attention to the deadlines, if you know that school is going to be very busy for you in the fall, make sure to apply to the scholarships now.

These resources and opportunities are available year-round, so even if you have missed a deadline for a scholarship this past year, you can ready yourself for the next.

Where do you look for scholarships? Have any great tips for creating a stellar scholarship application? Share them for other students in the comments section below!

– Sukhman Perhar, Communications and Marketing

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UBC Summer Campus Gems

Without a doubt, UBC is at its most stunning in the summer months. Beautiful clear skies create a sparkle in the water, outdoor patios boast friends catching up, and late sunsets at Wreck Beach mean plenty of time to work on a tan. While everyone may know that Nitobe is stunning this time or year, or to Instagram the Rose Garden, there are a couple of more low key spots on campus to enjoy during the summer. I asked around the office, and here are a few of our summer campus gems.

 “This university has no shortage of beautiful spaces around campus, but one of my absolute favorite gems at UBC has to be the Museum of Anthropology (MoA). Architecturally, the MoA is stunning. Designed by Arthur Erikson, the towering concrete pillars and floor to ceiling glass make it one of the most visually appealing structures on campus. Not only is the museum itself magnificent, but tucked between the park’s trees, the MoA sits on the edge of campus, giving it a beautiful view of the ocean and a perfect spot to watch the sun set over the water. The area surrounding the museum features a serene reflecting pool and is accompanied by a series of First Nation’s totem poles. The large green space and hills outside of the MoA make it an ideal place to sit, take in the beautiful scenery and unwind after a long day. I find the museum and all that surrounds it to be one of the most peaceful and quiet places on campus and try to venture out to it as much as I can.”

MOA

– Brandon Lal, Communications & Marketing Assistant

 “One of my family’s favorite places on campus is the community garden, located just down Main Mall towards the Stadium. We’ve had a plot there for the past 3 years and every summer my kids would run/bike to the garden after dinner to water it, and to of course pick and eat peas, carrots, strawberries, lettuce, etc.  I grew up in Los Angeles not knowing a thing about growing my own vegetables and fruits, and while I still don’t have a clue (thanks to my husband who does all the gardening), I absolutely LOVE watching the joy and excitement in my kids when picking and eating stuff out of our own garden!   Not only that, the garden becomes a very popular socializing spot in the summer where all of our friends gather around and catch up.”

UBC Community Garden

– Grace Wood, Manager, Office of the Associate Dean, Practice Innovation

 

As for me – if you are looking for a quick thrill without leaving campus, the Greenheart Canopy Walk is definitely for you. You can find it in the heart of UBC Botanical Garden, making it much closer than a comparable adventure in Capilano (plus, I honestly believe the UBC one is better). Designed by Greenheart, a Vancouver company that has eco-centric projects all over the world, the Canopy Walk allows you to take a beautiful stroll in the trees. The platform at the highest peak (20 meters) allows you to see the forest in a whole new light – peering at the tops of 100 year old trees, rather than looking up from below. It leaves you with a sense of awe and reverence for nature. While I may be 65 feet in the air, suddenly I always feel more grounded than ever before. The actual canopy walk is a little wobbly, but never nauseatingly so, making it a great place to take your family when they visit.

ubc canopy walk

 

What is your favourite hidden campus gem during the summer? Comment below, or tweet it to us at @ubcpharmacy, or hashtag a picture with #ubcCampusGems

–          Sukhman Perhar, Communications and Marketing Assistant

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TED Talk Tuesday: Freeman Hrabowski and the Four Pillars to College Success in Science

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 a community 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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