Students Gain International Perspective In Pharmacy Patient Care

Fifteen students participated in the elective Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) “Comparative & International Perspectives in Pharmacy Patient Care” in Germany this summer.

The APPE was designed for students to learn about pharmacy practice in a different culture; learn firsthand about the German healthcare system and how it affects patient care; and also to learn about patient care in a different cultural context. Students also met with German representatives of industry and regulatory affairs, and shared knowledge of pharmacy practice in the U.S. with German health professionals.

"I chose to participate in this APPE because of the unique opportunity to travel abroad. Any opportunity to experience a new culture firsthand provides learning experiences that can’t be taught in the classroom,” said Abbie Frank, a fourth-year student who participated in the APPE. “I also really wanted to learn about pharmacy in a different health care system and the foundation for its philosophy. Understanding the best practices in the German system as well as the United States system is a great way to generate ideas on the best way to serve our patients.”

The APPE was offered in a community pharmacy in Velbert, Germany, a small city with< 90,000 residents in the western part of the country. The preceptors were adjunct faculty members Jochen Pfeiffer, Pharm.D., and Nic Foerster, Pharm.D., two native Germans who received their pharmacy degrees in the United States.

"Our students are very interested in learning about pharmacy and healthcare systems outside the U.S.,” said Henning Schroeder, associate dean for research and graduate studies. ldquo;Moreover, ‘internationalization’ of educational programs is a top priority for the University. Students need to understand the global implications of healthcare. This exchange is a great opportunity for our students to learn and broaden their expertise in international healthcare, as well as build transatlantic connections that may last for a lifetime.”

According to Dean Marilyn Speedie, supporting international cooperation is important to the College of Pharmacy and builds on the school’s emphasis in building students’ leadership skills to empower them to go on to be change agents in the profession.

"In Germany, our students observed and reflected in a new environment and a new practice of pharmacy,” said Speedie. “By exposing our students to a different culture around illness and drug taking, we will better prepare them to focus on the core mission of providing care. This unique experiential education also validates the students’ learning and training in a real world experience.

(Originally published in The Record, Summer 2009.)