IPSF Newsletter, Issue #105

inside IPSF

IPSF Newsletter | December 2014

IPSF

newsletter 105

IPSF Executive Team 2014-15 IPSF Newsletter

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Since establishment in 1949, IPSF now represents over 350,000 pharmaceutical students and recent graduates in over 70 countries worldwide.

IPSF is the leading international advocacy organisation of pharmacy students promoting improved public health through provision of information, education, networking, and a range of publication and professional activities.

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IPSF Newsletter

inside IPSF

Ms. Essra Noureldin

IPSF Media and Publications chairperson

Editorial Greetings to all our readers everywhere,

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President Secretary General Treasurer Chairperson of External Relations Chairperson of Internal Relations Chairperson of Professional Development Chairperson of Public Health Chairperson of Pharmacy Education Chairperson of Media and Publications Chairperson of Student Exchange Chairperson of the African Regional Office Chairperson of the Asia Pacific Regional Office Chairperson of the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office Chairperson of the European Regional Office Chairperson of the Pan American Regional Office Chairperson of 61st IPSF World Congress

It’s my pleasure to deliver to you the second issue of our newsletters for this term.

In this newsletter you will get a close-up on the people running the Federation. Read their stories and their inspiration to be part of IPSF. Hope you will find it inspiring enough to consider being part of the family next year.

Enjoy reading!

Viva la Pharmacie!

Issue #105, December 2014

Design & Layout

Ms. Essra Noureldin

IPSF Chairperson of Media and Publications

Cover photo

IPSF Executives during the 1st Executive Meeting 2014-15

Proofread by Ms. Sheena Patel

[Editorial Committee Coordinator]

Chairperson of Media and Publications

publications@ipsf.org editor@ipsf.org

Editor-in-Chief

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Parand President Dear IPSF’ers, It is with great honour that I write this piece as President of the Federation. For those who don’t know me, my name is Parand Akhavan. I am 23 years old and I was born in Iran and grew up in the Netherlands.

Currently, I am in the second year of my Masters BioPharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Leiden and hopefully after my mandate is over, it will only take me 6 months to finish my studies and add the title MSc. to my name.

My journey and love for IPSF started at the IPSF World Congress in 2012 as CP for the K.N.P.S.V. This congress made a huge impact on me; seeing all the people who shared the same drive even though we all come from different countries. From there, I was inspired to follow the role of CP with the position of Chairperson of the European Regional Office and finally this lovely

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position as President. If you would have told me 5 years ago that today I would be President of an International Organisation, I probably would have told you that you were crazy. The past 2 years have been amazing. The friends I made, experiences I was blessed to have and the opportunities and risks I took have changed me.

I would not trade the experience for anything in the world. I can only encourage everyone to give it a go.

In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take.

I look forward to the upcoming year, working for the Federation, developing policy statements and pushing the Federation to be the best it can be. Of course I am not doing this alone. I have a wonderful Executive Committee, a very competent Advisory Board and a motivated Team with whom I aim to bring you all the best IPSF has to offer; Friendships, Experiences and Knowledge.

The members of this Executive Committee have all travelled different paths to get here. We have different backgrounds, are at different stages of our education, have different ambitions for the future and come from different grades of involvement in IPSF. Yet what binds us is the love for IPSF and the willingness to devote our time, nerves ;-), heart and soul to work for this wonderful Federation. I hope that our words in this

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As you go through these pages, you will be introduced to the Executive Committee. We are a strange bunch of people put together. During the first Executive Meeting we found that we get along great, have the same strange habits in some cases, fundamentally disagree on certain things, share the same humour and love for food and have only one aim and goal for this year, in hashtag of course: #Getthingsdone!

Newsletter will inspire you to get involved in IPSF, like those who came before us have inspired us. Who knows, maybe we will see your name soon on these pages!

Viva IPSF! Parand Akhavan IPSF President 2014-2015

taken during EM1 at the FIP Headquarters

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James Dear IPSFers, This is the first time I write to you, but it will definitely not be the last. My name is James Riley White and I was lucky enough to be elected as your Secretary General for the term of 2014-16. I guess we’ll start at the beginning. I was born and raised in a Country town in Australia called Colac, before moving to the unimaginative town of Ocean Grove (can you guess what it is near) to finish high school. At the tender age of 18 I began my Pharmacy degree at Monash University in Melbourne. I fell into Pharmacy by mistake really, since I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. My parents (both pharmacists, I know…. One of those people) suggested I apply for Pharmacy, so I went out on a limb and a prayer and did, and was surprised when I got in. From then on I drove straight in to the world of Pharmacy and found myself loving it. I worked extensively with the Rural and Indigenous Health Club at my Faculty and was involved for a short time with a Charity providing tutoring and mentoring

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Secretary General to underprivileged high school students. In my third year a close friend of mine mentioned this thing called IPSF, which I had no clue what it was, what it was about or what it did. She suggested I apply to attend the Congress to be held in Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Taking her advice I signed straight up for that and for the Leaders in Training event before it.

Flash forward to July 2013 with myself and my good friend Izzie (also from Australia) where we stumbled into the LIT venue after being lost for an hour around Utrecht. I was then greeted by a very loud and very friendly American girl who promptly introduced everyone to us. There were Egyptians, Brazilians, Portuguese, Czechs, Polish, Indonesians, Argentinians, Tunisians, and many more. I was floored, since I’d never been in the same room as so many different nationalities. Slowly LIT turned into the World Congress and I was able to meet more friends from more countries. And then it was over! Just like that, the two weeks where I had heard more languages in my life ever were over. I was devastated, what was I going

the International Pharmaceutical Federation World Congress in Bangkok. The greatest thing out of all these conferences was seeing how much people from IPSF stay in contact. IPSFers from 2001 and later still go to FIP and meet all their IPSF friends. The spirit carries on.

So started the second phase of my IPSF life, I started at the Secretary of the Asia Pacific Regional Office. I was able to travel to Warsaw, Poland to attend the first ever IPSF Trainer Development Camp in January and there met more friends from even more countries. And in the fashion that we are so accustomed to, time went by so fast. Before I knew it I was landing in Porto for my 5 week conference tour around the world. At World Congress I took another chance and ran for Secretary General; and, again surprise, I was lucky enough to be voted in. Those two hours were probably the most nervous I had ever been in my life. From Porto I flew to Malaysia for the 13th IPSF Asia Pacific Pharmaceutical Symposium, where even there I was able to meet even more amazing people. From there I travelled to

So as I sit here on the floor of Jakarta International Airport getting ready for my flight to Melbourne eating Schokobons and ready with a bag full of stroopwaffel, I can’t help but think I have been so extremely lucky and I owe it all to IPSF. Without IPSF I wouldn’t have met so many amazing people from around the world. Without IPSF I wouldn’t have become even greater friends with people from Australia. Without IPSF I wouldn’t have been able to travel 3 times to Europe and twice to Asia in one year. Without IPSF I wouldn’t be where I am today. My closing words to all of you is treasure the opportunities you are given and seize them, because you may never know where you may end up.

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to do with my life, now that I’d had a taste I wanted more. Someone had jokingly mentioned that I should run for Secretary of the Asia Pacific Regional Office because I type fast. I thought why not? I presented myself over skype and surprisingly won. I was shocked, absolutely floored.

Vive La IPSF, Vive la Pharmacie!

James

taken during EM1 at the IPSF flat

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Laurens Beginning anew in the middle

wants money too.

Hi, my name is Laurens Oort, I am 24 years old, from the Netherlands and a graduate in Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences. More importantly for IPSF, I am the Treasurer for the years 2013 to 2015. As we are now living in 2014, this means that I have already completed one mandate and am starting with a new one. As the Executive Committee 2014-15 is a new team however, it feels a bit like a new beginning, although I am already experienced with my portfolio and how IPSF works. Luckily I have some familiar faces alongside me, one of which is my fellow Dutchie Parand, or Ms. President as I always call her.

I am going to miss my old team. The bonding we did when we were all trying to familiarize ourselves with the Federation and our portfolio, or the way I looked up at the ones already experienced with IPSF are strong feelings. I would not be the Treasurer I am now without them. So, if they read this: Guys, thank you so much for your support, friendship and work you did with me. I am going to miss you all and I will never forget the things we did together! I know the new team can learn a great deal from you.

But, while at the same time everything goes on normally, everything feels new again. The first Executive Meeting was with new people, the email addresses changed names, and the email traffic itself changed. Luckily, some things did not change: I still do the reimbursements for the Executive Committee, and they still want more. Also unchanged, the old team

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Treasurer

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Radek was always there to give me advice on how to proceed with the finances and always ready to check my (over)complicated Excel sheets. I would not have been able to start off properly if he had not been around. On the other hand, he was always eager to spend money, asking me in a voice message on Whatsapp if we could spare a few hundred Euro for this or that. Being friends, I had no trouble telling him that we could not spare too much, so he needed to

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taken during EM1 at the FIP Headquarters

stay realistic.

On one morning of the first Executive Meeting one year ago I met a familiar face at the bus stop: Angela.

All wrapped up with a broken leg, but still motivated to travel to Den Haag and crutch her way to the meeting.

Since then I have been able to share a lot with her and she was always there to motivate me.

I have always been baffled by the trust and friendliness within IPSFers. The epitome of this, in my opinion, can be found in one American girl: Sheena. I will never know when we suddenly started to become good friends, but the important thing is we did.

Of course I also want to thank my fellow Dutch coordinators who I worked with. Without Kees the Development Fund would not have been shared and awarded. Also, the well-structured way Kees did his work was amazing and inspirational. Without Endriean the merchandise would not be sold online, or restocked for Porto. Thank you guys for your help and friendship!

have happened with the effort of all of us. Of course I am therefore very excited to share the experience one more year with some of them either in the Executive Committee or Advisory Board. The old mixes with the new. I have an amazing group of people around me, all going for one goal: IPSF. It is nice to see that my new colleagues are enthusiastic and eagerly starting their mandate. Because, this year it is going to happen. This is the year that I can perfect the things I started last year. This is the year we are going to make IPSF even stronger. This will be the year the financial year will make sense. This will be the year the finances and accountancy will be clear to all and not just the interested few. This year will be awesome!

Yours in IPSF, Laurens Oort, IPSF Treasurer 2013-15

I am amazed by the work we all did last year. It could not

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Filipa Chairperson of External Relations

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Dear IPSFers.

decided and wanted to give back and get more

My journey as a true IPSFer began not too long ago, in 2013, when I decided to apply for SEP, that’s when it all started. I sent in my application and after a while I was told that Dijon – France, accepted it. I was so exited, but when I told my friends and family the news, some said I was crazy to go and asked why France if I don’t even speak French. I remember replying, “I don’t care!”

(Now that I think of it, I must speak a little French after all). So, as everything else I set myself to do, I went and I had the most amazing SEP experience anyone could ask for. I had the opportunity to discover inspiring people and places; to learn pharmacy in a different context and above all to make friends for life. This was the first lesson IPSF taught me, that language will never be a barrier.

involved, so as soon as I got home, I started looking for ways to make this possible and after a few weeks I was a member of the Corporate Relations Committee.

Throughout the year I came closer to the federation, to its team and some of its partners and I felt in my heart that it was something I wanted to pursue. After much consideration, and some courage too, I put my best foot forward and chased what I wanted. Now that I’m here, serving IPSF as Chairperson of External Relations, I couldn’t be happier and more grateful to all of you for granting me this opportunity. It has been an incredible journey and the best part is that it is only the beginning.

I was so grateful to IPSF for the opportunity, that I

Every now and then people ask me “How is it going?” and I don’t know why but I always seem to forget to

IPSF Newsletter

inside IPSF

tell them about the ‘best part of the job’, so today I’m sharing it with all of you. The best part of this position is that it comes with a pet; one I have to take with me everywhere and constantly requires my attention: the external email account; a permanent, seemingly never-ending pile of emails cluttering in my beloved inbox. We are finally getting along and at least I won’t catch this pet chewing my shoes, right?

Overall, I am really happy with the IPSF team I have been working with every day; they will be the ones I will share most of my time and concerns with during this year, and I’m glad I get to do it with such incredible people.

To life, never easy but never dull!

taken during EM1 at the FIP Headquarters

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Luka Chairperson of Internal Relations Dear IPSF! My name is Luka Kosec and I come from ŠS SFD, DŠFS, ŠS DŠFS, ŠS FFA and ŠO FFA (I dare you to read that), Slovenia. My IPSF journey began in 2011, when I attended SEP in Mersin, Turkey. It was a unique opportunity to meet foreign students and experience pharmacy studies and practice abroad.

Furthermore the adventure of living and surviving in a foreign country was just priceless. My journey was set to continue, when in that same year they announced that the 59th IPSF World Congress will be held in Utrecht, The Netherlands. I just knew I had to go there. The Congress was awesome; it was my first contact with how IPSF is run and I saw potential ways of how I could personally contribute to this federation.

As an outcome of that I enrolled into Constitutional Working Party and Motions Committee for the 60st IPSF World Congress. During this work I figured that I could further contribute to IPSF as a member of the

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Executive Committee, so I applied and was elected to serve as Chairperson of Internal Relations.

My other background comes from working for the Student Council both on my faculty and at my university. I worked on advocating for students rights, quality of educational programmes and academic professors and restructuring the organisational system of student representation at our university. During this time I received valuable information on how to create functioning legal frames and how to manage multiple member associations.

My plans for this mandate include reactivation of CPs by freeing their communication paths and encouraging them to participate in discussions as representatives of their associations and nations, creating the IPSF Alumni Platform and expanding the

inside IPSF

borders of IPSF until it represents all pharmaceutical students in this world. I understand some of my goals may be overoptimistic, but I believe that if you do not strive to reach high even the lower brunches may be unreachable. In addition to that I also hope to contribute as much as I can to other portfolios to make this ExCo really reach beyond the frames of the past.

So my dear pharmacy students, CPs, IMs, Alumni, HLMs and others who fall under the supervision of my portfolio I look forward to working and arguing with you to achieve the goals of IPSF: to resent more students of pharmacy better and with more structure. And if you like hash tags you can find the work of current Ex Co under #gettingthingsdone and #whippedintoshape. lp luka

taken during EM1 at the FIP Headquarters

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Stephanie Chairperson of Professional Development Dear IPSFers,

for minor ailments and providing medication reviews for our elderly population.

As a member of the 2014/2015 IPSF executive committee, I am delighted to introduce myself to all of you, my future colleagues around the world. My name is Stephanie Miller and I am the current Chairperson of Professional Development.

I first discovered IPSF when I completed the IPSF Student Exchange Program in Perth, Australia in 2012.

From there I went on to attend World Congress in Utrecht in 2013 and Porto in 2014. It was in Utrecht that I discovered the Professional Development portfolio after competing in the Patient Counseling Event, Team Clinical Skills Event and Clinical Skills Jeopardy. Afterwards, I became highly motivated to get more involved with IPSF. From there, I joined the Professional Development subcommittee where I helped with various projects and tasks throughout the year.

To give you a little background on myself, I was born and raised in Canada and currently reside in the province of Saskatchewan. I recently completed my Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy at the University of Saskatchewan in June 2014. Currently I am practicing as a licensed pharmacist in a rural community pharmacy, which is located in the ironically small town of Biggar, Saskatchewan. (When I say small I mean a population of 2000!) As a pharmacist in Canada a few of my daily tasks include filling prescriptions, educating my patients about various drugs, natural products and disease states, prescribing medications

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I chose to run for the position of Chairperson of Professional Development because it has a strong focus on clinical pharmacy and professional leadership, which are two things that I am most passionate about.

Our role as pharmacists is evolving around the world.

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Our professional scope of practice is expanding from the traditional dispensing and researching roles to include direct involvement in our patients’ circle of care. As our profession evolves we also need to broaden and enhance our existing clinical skills in order to provide better care for our patients. In addition to that we, as a profession, need to be continuously advocating for our enhanced scope of practice by informing the general public what their pharmacist can do for them. Under the Professional Development portfolio, IPSF members have the opportunity to prove to the public that pharmacists are key members in the health care team. Whether this is by advocating for our profession through awareness campaigns, proving your knowledge and skills in the patient counseling, clinical skills and compounding events or participating in leadership trainings, I encourage all of you to get involved in all the professional development opportunities IPSF has to offer.

During our term my team and I will be focusing on expanding the professional development portfolio around the world. We will be working to publish guidelines on how to run a Pharmacy Profession Awareness Campaign or a Clinical Skills or Patient Counseling Event within your association. We will also be working on implementing a project proposed by the last chairperson, David Čechlovský, entitled “Pharmacy Has Broad Scope” showing the vast responsibilities of pharmacists around the world. Our goal for the training section of the portfolio is to hold Training Development Camps in at least two different regions and develop a database of trainers for all associations to utilize if they want to host their own Leaders In Training event. That being said, if anyone has additional projects, ideas or concerns they would like to share with the PD team please do not hesitate to send me an email!

taken during EM1 at the IPSF flat

It will definitely be a very busy year full of projects, an abundance of emails, some sleepless nights but also invaluable opportunities. I am very much looking forward to working with each of you in this upcoming term! Viva la pharmacy!

Stephanie Miller

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Bárbara Chairperson of Public Health Dear pharmacy students around the world, My name is Bárbara and it is with great joy that I am writing to you. If someone had told me 3 years ago that I would be Chairperson of Public Health I would never believe it. I barely knew anything about IPSF as Brazil, where I am from, was just joining the federation.

Studying in Canada at that point and very bored with just 4 classes, running for a position in IPSF PARO seemed like the natural choice. After all, I had been part of student organizations since I was about 13 and this was the first year I was not involved in anything.

After one year of hard work came the time to take part in LIT and my first official IPSF event. While the World Congress in Utrecht was not an easy one for me, the jump from Vampire Cup chair of IPSF PARO to Regional Projects Officer was.

The second jump required a bit more thinking and pondering. The brain might say “this is not a good move” but, considering that after Canada I switched 14 IPSF Newsletter

my entire career plans towards public health, the brain lost the fight. At the end of the day, this is the quote I try to live by: ““Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.”

Only a few days after the mandate has started and everything is at full speed, with many wonderful plans in mind and amazing coordinators. Everyday they impress me with their creative ideas, bold plans and pro-activeness. And as for the new ExCo, I know they will do great things! When we run for an IPSF position there is always the question of who the team members will be and I am very thankful to have had only great teams since I have started this journey. If it was not for Amber Liu, Van Duong and Lucas Ercolin I would not have the support in my first year to finally run for RPO, and during my second year I had the support of so many people I don’t want to forget any. From my lovely coordinators in PARO, to the Regional Working

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Group, to the committees and the chairpersons I worked with, all of them gave me the courage and support to run for my current position. I hope to be as inspirational to my team this year as I was inspired by others in the past.

This year we hope and are working for further developments from health advocacy and our relations with WHO, collaborations with other student organizations such as IFMSA and IVSA, campaigns that are more focused on the community while also giving students support, further developments with PAS (Project Accreditation System), among many other plans. Hopefully, in India, I will be able to tell you that at least as well as share exciting new developments!

I hope to see many of you this year, being in the World Health Assembly or at World Congress. Or if you want to visit me in Brazil, I would love to have you here and my family loves to have guests! If none of that works out, feel free to also contact me via email or any other way with suggestions, tips or even just to chat.

Viva la pharmacie!

Bรกrbara

taken during EM1 at the FIP Headquarters

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Brittany Chairperson of Pharmacy Education Brittany Gabrielle Mani was raised in The King of Pop - Michael Jackson’s hometown in Gary, Indiana USA. In 2010 she completed her Bachelors of Science degree from Indiana University. She is currently a thirdyear student in the Doctor of Pharmacy program at Howard University’s College of Pharmacy located in Washington DC. She aspires to be a pharmacist due to her early obsession with the therapeutic components of drugs and herb healing ailments of the body. She has a very jovial yet humble spirit and is best known at school as the “ambitious one”, but if you ask her she just wants to leave a legacy of making a difference in this world by living every day as if it is your last. As God has blessed us all with multiple gifts, on a personal level, she rarely shares that she is also gifted with the technical skills and matching talent to make her a famous Broadway Superstar in New York City. She can get away with making you believe she used to be a professional dancer and has an affinity for the art form that is A cappella. It is important to mention that she

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is very family oriented and shortly after World Congress she got engaged in Portugal.

She is a proud member of affiliations such as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity, Inc. that have helped her to mold her leadership and interpersonal skills up to this point. Her motivation as a member of IPSF and LIT 2014 alumna is to apply her leadership skills on a grander scale, as well as portraying her passion and innovative influences to enhance the federation and the pharmacy profession.

She looks forward to working with her experienced and extremely hard working executive committee as well as the members of the pharmacy education team, which hold a special place in her heart.

The primary focus for this mandate is to provide IPSF members with stimulating and engaging symposiums as well as thought provoking and relevant publication content. Her desire is to work closely with the Publica-

Needless to say, a large responsibility of this portfolio is internship maintenance and acquisition. She plans to personally make contacts with major pharmaceutical companies in her current location of residence on the east coast of the United States as well as in her home state of Indiana. With the assistance of the pharmacy education committee, FIP, and most importantly the contact persons, she hopes to create a live list on the IPSF website to provide access to all internships known globally to future pharmacists.

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tions and Media portfolio in effort to provide members with a more transparent look of what goes on behind the scenes within the pharmacy education portfolio.

Another objective of this mandate is to increase the level of responsibility of pharmacy education ambassadors. The pharmacy education ambassadors will serve as the lens of the pharmacy students’ ambition in their prospective country.

primary objective is to determine what, we as a federation, can do for them. She would like to know where our motivations and values overlap and establish a relationship that could potentially flourish for years to come. Unless it occurs organically, there will not be as much pressure put on starting an internship agreement with UNESCO. However, considering the relationship she currently has with the staff at the DIA (Drug Information Association) headquarters in DC, an ISPF exclusive internship agreement may be more achievable.

She is aware that her claims for this mandate are very ambitious, but she firmly believes that you should “Go Big or Go Home”. An opportunity to be an executive member of IPSF may not come again, and she wants to do what is humanly possible to use the small influence she has to make a big difference.

She plans to optimize the partnership with UNESCO by visiting their liaison office in New York where the

taken during LIT

at the IPSF 60th IPSF World Congress ,Porto,Portugal

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Essra Chairperson of Media and Publications Warmest Regards Dear Readers, This is Essra Noureldin, and I’m this year as IPSF Chairperson of Media and Publications, and for those who don’t know me, I would like to introduce myself.

I’m a recent graduate from University of Khartoum, Sudan.

My first involvement with IPSF was back in 2011 when I attended the 2nd IPSF eastern Mediterranean Pharmaceutical Symposium (EMPS) in Doha, Qatar.

I instantly fell in love with IPSF, and got smitten with its world. I decided after to part of this world, so applied for subcommittee position in the regional office, and got chosen to be part of two of the subcommittees, the regional relations subcommittee and the promotional materials subcommittee, and I get the chance to be one of the media team in 3rd IPSF Eastern Mediterranean

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Pharmaceutical Symposium (EMPS) held in Khartoum, Sudan.

I got motivated that year to apply for the Internal Coordinator and communication officer position (now known as Regional Media and publications officer) in EMRO, then attended my first World Congress in Hurghda, Egypt.

A year later I attended the 59th IPSF World Congress in Utrecht, The Netherlands, Which right after I got appointed as the chairperson of The Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO).

Being part of the executive team that year made me grew a deeper understanding of the Federation, and even deeper love for it. This led me to apply for the position of the chairperson of Media and Publications at the 60th IPSF world Congress in Porto, Portugal.

companions through it all, my laptop and my IPSF email account, I don’t know what I would do without you.

During these four years, I’ve met a countless number of people from around the world, learned a lot and experienced a lot; I would really want to thank every single person who made the journey memorable so far. And for my executive team let’s make it another amazing year.

Thank you, and hope to meet you somewhere in this world.

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A position never easy with the pile of tasks and emails that only appears to get more and more every day, a suffering that you have no choice but to love.

Yours in IPSF, Essra

When I get asked how does it feel to be on the executive team for the second year on a row and if it makes it easier, I say : I still feel like I’m attending my first event, and it will never be easier as you still learn new thing with IPSF every day.

And I would like to the chance to thank my two

taken during 60th IPSF World Congress Gala night IPSF Newsletter

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Ahmed Chairperson of Student Exchange I started working In IPSF in October 2010, It was when the student exchange officer in Egypt , Mr. Mohammad Hassan asked me to join the student exchange team.

I am writing this article now ,as Chairperson of Student Exchange in IPSF . When I look back to the person I was and whom I became now, I feel nothing but grateful to IPSF. I owe IPSF for both my Personal and Professional achievements. When I see how IPSF , with its international activities specifically Student Exchange Programme which contributes to building the participants’ characters, giving them the opportunity to know one another, stop being prejudice and start experiencing other worlds .I see IPSF as an opportunity for a better world, where people get out of their comfort zones and start talking to each other, learn how to understand , respect and love diversity. I trust this year executive committee and I am sure they can keep IPSF prospering.

I have faith in Student Exchange Committee and I

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believe they would do great things for the Student Exchange Programme this year. To all my IPSF friends across the world, I wish you a great year where you could all find your passion in IPSF world, benefit from this great experience and contribute to keeping it successful ď Š Love, Ahmad El-Molla Chairperson of Student Exchange,

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Prosper Chairperson of IPSF African Regional Office Dear IPSFers all over the World, In a dynamic World where change is the only constant the science and practice of pharmacy is changing with it, it is our mandate to shape an innovative future for the next generation of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists. If the next generation is to look at the past for lessons and inspiration, our duty is to be the architects of the future. Let us be the change that we want to see and make the World a better place than the state that we found it in. The best way to do it (for me at least) is to enjoy the World whilst improving it.

Hello IPSFers around the world allow me to introduce myself. My name is Prosper Maposa, the Vice President of the International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF) (2014 - 15) and the Chairperson of the IPSF African Regional Office (AfRO) (2013 – 15) from the sunshine city of Harare, Zimbabwe. Professionally, I am a Research Fellow in Nano medicine at the University of Zimbabwe School of Pharmacy and also

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the Pharmacy Projects Coordinator for a start-up international pharmaceutical company operating in Zimbabwe. I look forward to meeting as many IPSFers as I can during the 2014 -15 mandate.

As the Chairperson of the African Regional Office I am honored to be working with a skillful and motivated Regional Working Group (RWG) and a focused and efficient Executive Committee (ExCO). Leadership is not theoretical, we learn how to lead by being leaders in practice. During the mandate we plan to collaborate with all the other regions of IPSF, try out new approaches to reach out to member organizations and keep on approaching potential member countries so that we can be a part of the growth and development of IPSF. Realistically speaking we expect to meet challenges but no matter how difficult the circumstances we will be ready to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and learn from the situations as we move on.

The African Regional Office currently has 10 member countries in IPSF. I would like to welcome with joy

It was memorable and breath taking meeting IPSFers at the 3rd IPSF African Pharmaceutical Symposium (AfPS) in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and at the 60th IPSF World Congress in Portugal. Next year July and August we meet again in Rwanda for the 4th IPSF AfPS and in India for the 61st IPSF World Congress respectively.

As the global economy tightens and more graduates are being produced, the competition for jobs and opportunities further intensifies. Even at a global level

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Ivory Coast a new member country that joined IPSF during the 60th General Assembly in Portugal, which hopefully can expand more into the French speaking West African countries’ region. We will continue with our membership promotion efforts during the year both in the West and the South and also look forward to more full membership applications from the Members in Association. Parallel to the membership promotion drive the African regional office will also lean toward improving the quality and reporting structure of the activities, campaigns and workshops run by member countries.

downsizing, outsourcing and a need for pharmacists to show their worth to the bottom line means career competition is escalating. Imagine an exposure that might mean the difference between a mediocre and an exceptional breakthrough. Getting together at events is only the beginning, getting to know one another is progress and from these fundamental steps we can then be able to work together and our success as a federation will be guaranteed.

See you at the next IPSF Event.

Yours in IPSF, Prosper Maposa ChP of the IPSF African Regional Office (2013 – 15) IPSF Vice President (2014 - 15)

taken during EM1 at the IPSF Headquarters

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Mian Chairperson of IPSF Asia Pacific Regional Office Greetings from the Asia Pacific! A region home to over 4 billion people, an area stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Middle East, consisting of enormous land masses but also thousands of islands, and a region that has a diversity of people like no other. I’m honored to be the Chairperson representing the Asia-Pacific.

A little about myself, I’m from Sydney, Australia, and having completed my Bachelor in Pharmacy degree in 2013, I’m now working as a Pharmacist in Charge within a community pharmacy. Though my pharmacy career has progressed, one thing that has stayed with me is IPSF. Let me tell you my story with IPSF. It all started when I was invited to attend an IPSF regional symposium. However my first thoughts were that of reluctance, as I didn’t have any particular aspirations or goals and was complacent to follow where my pharmacy course would lead me, from student, to intern and finally a pharmacist. However

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enticed by the opportunity to travel and with a good excuse of “studying pharmacy,” I chose to attend the event. How fortunate was I in making that decision, for what the IPSF experience has taught me has influenced me forever.

You hear this over and over again, but IPSF is indeed life-changing and there are definitely lessons to be learnt along the way. Never be complacent, step up and do something different and out of your comfort zone.

In attending these events you challenge yourself by travelling, getting involved in activities and build new friendships. With common interests in pharmacy, we begin to share knowledge, cultures and experiences, which leads us to learn and understand each other, broadening our perspectives and developing ourselves.

IPSF creates a unique forum for young pharmacists and graduates to come together, so that we can build networks and friendships and together as the next generation further global health as future pharmacists.

In this day and age, with what we have in the world, and

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the accessibility of it all in the modern age, reach out and undertake experiences like no other. And for pharmacy students, IPSF offers just that, take on student exchange, an internship with a respected organisations, take up a position within IPSF, become a leader, and make yourself stand out. There is more to your university and graduate life than simply studying the course and progressing in your career, add something unique, add in a dash of IPSF spirit and get involved.

As Chairperson of Asia Pacific, this is the motivation I want to pass on. I want to encourage more participation from students and graduates, and to spread the IPSF spirit across the region. But I say the same to the rest of you around the world: I would like to be seeing you all at the next World Congress!

Viva la Pharmacie! “Two roads diverged in a wood, and II took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the difference.�

The Road Not Taken, Robert Frost Mian Zhang Chairperson of the Asia Pacific Regional Office 2014-2015

taken at the 13afterthelection IPSFof Rrgional APPS General Assembly Working Group IPSF Newsletter

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Ines Chairperson of IPSF Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office Greetings from the sunny Tunisia, Dear IPSFers, allow me first to introduce myself: I am Ines Derbel, a 6th year pharmacy student at the Faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir, Tunisia. Currently I am doing a 6 month internship in clinical pharmacy.

My adventure with IPSF started two years ago with the 58th World Congress held in Hurghada- Egypt.

Attending the event, I was amazed by the motivation driving associations from around the world to provide pharmacy students with great opportunities. My involvement with the Federation started that year when I applied for the Public Health subcommittee position.

The experience made me learn more and understand the role of associations worldwide in promoting public health and pharmacy.

During the 59th World Congress Utrecht-Netherlands, Tunisia’s national association, ATEP, got elected to host the 4th EMPS. Working on the event as the Chairper-

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son Assistant and as ATEP’s president for 2013-2014, brought me closer to the EMRO region and learn more about it.

Now, as IPSF EMRO Chairperson, I am honored to serve EMRO and help spreading the IPSF spirit. The RWG will work hard to fulfill new challenges and help shape the region’s future.

IPSF has always brought people together. Don’t hesitate to be part of our family.

I look forward to meet you at the 5th EMPS and the World Congress.

Viva la Pharmacie!

Ines Derbel, IPSF Chairperson of Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office

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José Chairperson of IPSF European Regional Office Fellow IPSFers, My name is José Carvalho (and not Rosé!) and I am a 5th year student of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto in Portugal. It’s true (!), that I am studying at the place that many of you met during the 60th IPSF World Congress! If everything goes as it should, I am expecting to graduate in the next September, and becoming an MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Maybe I should talk about myself a bit to let you know who you will be dealing with… Well, I am known as an easy guy to have a conversation with, open-minded, relaxed and funny (I guess) and I have a big passion for music, mainly for The Beatles (I am a bit old fashioned I know..!), Basketball, I am huge fan of TV Shows and I love travelling and traditions. If there is something that gives me a smile, it is to discover other cultures and understand them and last but not least: their food Just as a hint, if you ever want to give me something, just send me something traditional from your country :D

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Now a little bit about my IPSF path. Everything started in 2011 when I was invited to be part of my local association – AEFFUP as responsible for the International Relations Department with my dear colleague Ms. Alexandra Marques (IPSF Chairperson of Media and Publications 2012-2013). During that term I was AEFFUP’s Contact Person and Local Exchange Officer and my biggest achievement occurred during the 59th IPSF World Congress, Hurghada where, together with my two great friends Ms. Alexandra Marques and Mr. Luís Azevedo (IPSF Chairperson of the 60th IPSF World Congress 2013-2014) we won the bid to make AEFFUP the host of the 60th IPSF World Congress in Porto. I will definitely never forget that moment.

In the following year, I was once again invited to stick with my position as responsible of the International Relations Department of AEFFUP, becoming the CP and LEO once more. During this term I also was elected as the Public Relations of the 60th IPSF World

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Congress. And this achievement was also one of my greatest experiences. Being part of the organization of an IPSF Event was just amazing and unforgettable.

And now here I am, as Chairperson of the European Regional Office. Couldn’t be happier! The greatest particularity is the fact of being such a recent position!

This is the second year for the EuRO Chairperson and there is so many things to do and so many thing to be done and that’s the beauty of this position: We can shape it the way you want! And that’s one of my main goals for the term, to launch the European region. This regional office needs to grow in so many aspects and at the same time it has so much to offer.

I have also to admit that I couldn’t be more fortunate to have Ms. Mafalda Koppensteiner (Regional Projects Officer) and Mr. Diogo Marques (Regional Relations Officer) with me to complete the Regional Working Group. Apart from being my RWG, they are two of my closest friends and for that reason I have no doubts that we are going to be a great team and together we will do the best we can to improve this Regional Office and take it to a whole new level!

taken during EM1 at the IPSF flat

My experience within IPSF was and is one of the best things that I have ever had and I really encourage you, moreover, I challenge you to become closer to IPSF and to get involved. You will see it is a fantastic environment, a great opportunity to learn with other people and the best of all, you will experience other cultures and make friends for life. Give it a try!  Well, this was my “1 minute with José.” I hope to meet many of you during the 61st World Congress in Hyderabad, India. It will be a pleasure  Warm Portuguese Regards, José Carvalho

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Angel Chairperson of IPSF Pan American Regional Office Name: Mr. Angel Acosta School: Texas Tech University School of Pharmacy Year: 4th and final year Association: APhA-ASP Country: USA I have been in the medical field for almost 10 years in different settings. Prior to pharmacy school, I attended and graduated from nursing school. I started pharmacy school in fall of 2011 and will be graduating in May 2015 with my Pharm.D. Degree. I’m also a Texas Tech School of Allied Health student. As a dual degree student, I’m currently also working on my Masters in Clinical Practice Management. My interest after graduation is in pediatric pharmacy with a focus in emergency medicine and critical care.

Attending pharmacy events outside of the United States and my participation in IPSF PARO’s Pharmatour in 2013, stimulated my motivation to get more involved and was able to attend the 60th IPSF World

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Congress in Porto Portugal this past summer. My main reason I choose to be part of IPSF was to learn how other countries view their pharmacy and health care in general. Although the pharmacy role here in the United States is moving from a dispensing role to more of a patient educator role, this opportunity will help me in obtaining how different countries and their citizens go about with their own health care needs.

Being able to experience how other countries and institutions teach pharmacy was also an eye opening.

Knowing that once my studies are over, I can continue to explore and visit all my fellow IPSF colleagues. As the newly elected Chairperson of PARO, I will continue to promote IPSF not only here in the United States but throughout North, Central and South America.

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Neha Chairperson of The61st IPSF World Congess Hello!!!!

Greetings Dear Reader!!

It’s an honor to introduce myself as the Chairperson of the 61st International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF) - World Congress for the year 2015.

The IPSF - World Congress represents a confluence of pharmacy students all over the world. It is a platform to connect and integrate the diversity in the world of pharmacy and create an opportunity for generation of new ideas, blend of cultures and exchange of knowledge. It is indeed a celebration of Pharmacy as a profession. My first stint with IPSF was a special one!

It was definitely a moment of crowning glory for India at the 59th IPSF World Congress 2013 in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Besides being a part of team winning the bid, it was also my pleasure to be present whilst we received the award for Indian Pharmaceutical Association –Students’ Forum as the Best Association of IPSF for the year 2012-2013. Hosting such a historic event has been the vision of the entire IPA-SF team as well as IPA. It has been an adventurous journey with the planning so far. It has not only been challenging but also fun and exciting. My team is motivated, focused, confident and

enthusiastic about their roles & responsibilities, and we are confident of creating History. We will take upon to create & present appropriate workshops, scientific and educational symposia, industrial visits and health campaigns during the Congress in 2015. Besides the Pharma aspect, I also envision that we would be great hosts for the participants, providing them with a complete experience inclusive of the culture, traditions, food, beauty and homeliness that we as Indians have grown up with. This Congress will not only be an international experience for the Indian students to learn about the culture world over in a span of 10 odd days, but it will be the best way to portray India into limelight for it to be spoken about globally, as each participant will carry their individual experience back to their home country, which will in turn add to our eminence as a country, especially amongst the Pharmacy world.

I am sure you would be excited about the Congress, and keen to support and help in the best way you can.

I heartily invite you for your support, co-operation and confidence in whatever way you can for the grand success of this event. I look forward to making this Congress one of the best ones ever.

Best Regards, Neha Dembla IPSF Newsletter

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International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation PO BOX 84200 2508 AE Den Haag The Netherlands Tel: +31 70 302 1992 Fax: +31 70 302 1999 Email: ipsf@ipsf.org Website: www.ipsf.org

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