Going Global: International Practice Experiences in Pharmacy Education

by Anne Masich, PGY-1 Pharmacotherapy Resident

University of Maryland School of Pharmacy

Pharmacy practice experiences abroad provide students with unique opportunities to expand their education to a global scale, enhancing their cultural awareness through immersion, exchanging information and creating professional partnerships, conducting collaborative research, and learning about other health care systems. Many students find these experiences to be rewarding, both professionally and personally.¹ During international experiences, students’ activities are hands on, which may involve traditional dispensing, direct patient care, patient education and conducting research. Many of practice experiences are interdisciplinary collaborations, in which students worked with other health care professional students or were precepted by practitioners from another discipline. Students do not view opportunities abroad as a “resume builder”, but rather an opportunity to contribute to global health needs, and to work with and learn about people from other cultures.¹

The American Associationof Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), and the World Health Organization (WHO) have formed special interest groups to promote and develop global education and pharmacy practice, including advance pharmacy practice experiences. In two surveys conducted by the AACP in 2007 and 2010, many US schools of pharmacy offer some type of international experience, several of which are highly competitive to be able to participate.¹ Interest in expanding curricula to include international experiences is expected to continue to grow. Institutions interested in developing or expanding their international experiential opportunities must be strategic to ensure sustainable programs, taking into consideration the institutions vision and strategic plan, student learning outcomes, logistics, finances, communication with the practice sites, etc.

Strategies for developing global pharmacy practice training

Partner organizations

Optimal practice sites are experienced academic learning sites that can adjust based on curricular needs, and that employs permanent staff and licensed health care professionals.^2-3 Institutions should seek out organizations that promote pharmacy education. They should ask questions and begin to develop an understanding of the organization’s abilities and limitations. Once practice site(s) is identified, regular communication and plan for a site visit should be initiated to determine the opportunities of patient care and projects for students. Discuss the organization, competency, safety and management of the program with the organizations leaders, physicians and other staff. Collaboration between the institution and the host organization to develop a quality program will strengthen the partnership and ensure both organizations benefit from the program.⁴

Preceptor considerations

Schools of pharmacy should be flexible in preceptor selection, as in many cases, preceptors abroad will either be a local pharmacist or another member of the healthcare team. Regardless of the preceptor’s background, pharmacist or other healthcare professional, they must meet ACPE (Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education) qualifications and practice standards of practice.^3-4 The preceptor should receive a school orientation to understand the institution’s curriculum, teaching methodologies and student performance assessment. In addition to key preceptor characteristics provided by the AACP Professional Affairs Committee, preceptors of both US students abroad and international students visiting should have an understanding of their own culture and possess cultural sensitivity in student learning and patient care.⁴

Student considerations

Students participating in international programs should be carefully selected and meet the minimal requirements established by the institution. The school of pharmacy should select students who possess the necessary professional skills, cultural sensitivity, and intercultural communication skills.³ Some schools of pharmacy undergo an application process, in which the students’ express their interest, state their objectives, and demonstrate their preparation for the experience. Programs and students should be explicit in their expectations and objectives of the experience. There are several barriers institutions must account for when recruiting students, including funding, faculty and student interest, and timing during the curriculum. Schools of pharmacy should provide assistance to students in the form of monetary scholarships/loans or through support of fundraising activities.

With the globalization of education, there is an increase in the number of colleges and schools of pharmacy interested in creating international pharmacy practice experiences for their students.^1,5 As schools of pharmacy expand their reach beyond our borders, they should take into consideration the practice site, preceptors and students to ensure pharmacy practice standards are achieved. International pharmacy practice experiences provide students with unique opportunities to develop cultural awareness, provide health care to underserved populations, participate in exchanging of information, and form professional partnerships.

References

1.   Cisneros RM, Jawaid SP, Kendall DA, McPherson CE, et al. International practice experiences in pharmacy education. Am J Pharm Educ 2013; 77(9): Article 188.

2.   Global Pharmacy Education Special Projects and Information. American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. Available online at: http://www.aacp.org/governance/SIGS/global/Pages/GlobalPharmacyEducationSpecialProjectsandInformation.aspx

3.   Dornblaser EK, Ratka A, Gleason SE, Ombengi DN, et al. Current practices in global/international advanced pharmacy practice experiences: preceptor and student considerations. Am J Pharm Educ 2016; 80(3): Article 39.

4.   Alsharif NZ. Globalization of pharmacy education: what is needed? Am J Pharm Educ 2012; 76(5): Article 77.

5.   Steeb DR, Overman RA, Sleath BL, Joyner PU. Global experiential and didactic education opportunitites at US colleges and schools of pharmacy. Am J Pharm Educ 2016; 80(1):7