Pharmacy Education Newsletter, Issue 8

IPSF Pharmacy Education Newsletter | May 2015

pen Evaluation of Oncology Pharmacy Eduaction An Inside Look Into Oncology Surgery

Pharmacy Education Newsletter issue 8

IPSF Winning Critical Appraisal Essay 2103-14

education@ipsf.org http://pharmacy-ed.ipsf.org

ipsf.org www.

Since establishment in 1949, IPSF now represents more than 270 000 pharmacy 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.

/IPSForg

pen du

Content Evaluation of Oncoloy pharmacy Education Page 2

A Real Case With A Happy Ending Page 4

Oncology Surgery Page 6

FIP Article on Oncology Page 8

Results of Interviews with PageCancer 18 Patients in North Cyprus Page 12

Winning Essay in IPSF Critical Appraisal Essay Competition 2013-14

This issue is presented to you by Ms. Brittany G. Mani IPSF Chairperson of Pharmacy Education 2014-15 Ms. Dana Mohamed IPSF Educational and Scientific Publications Coordinator 2014-15

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Issue #8 , May 2015

Disclaimer clause for translation of this document

Design & Layout Ms. Essra Noureldin

This publication has been translated by an International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF) member organisation. IPSF accepts no liability for the content of this document after the translation and editing process by persons other than the IPSF Chairperson of Media and Publications, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided, unless that information is subsequently confirmed in a written document by IPSF. Any views or opinions presented in this document are solely those of the author and/or the translation editor and do not necessarily represent those of IPSF

IPSF Media and Publications Chairperson 2014-15

Proofread by Mr. Mac Ardy Gloria

Cover Photo Children Cancer Hospital

Photo by: Dana Mohamed Chairperson of Media and Publications publications@ipsf.org Editor-in-Chief editor@ipsf.org

Pharmacy Education Newsletter IPSF Newsletter

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Evaluation of Oncology Pharmacy Education Evaluation of Oncology Pharmacy in North Cyprus Elif BARIŞa, Merve YILDIZ, Mehmet DÜMENCİ

Oncology pharmacy is the most recent field of pharmacy that started developing in Northern Cyprus. As pharmacy students at the Eastern Mediterranean University we conducted a research about what are the roles and the perspectives of community pharmacists in oncology pharmacy. This article includes both community pharmacist and also undergraduate pharmacy students’ knowledge and experiences.

The number of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy is significant relative to the small population of country.

Only one oncologist is treating these patients.

No records were found of any oncology pharmacists who contribute to the preparation of chemotherapeutic medications. We visited fifteen community pharmacy stores to conduct a survey.

Below are significant results: 1- All chemotherapeutic drugs and radiotherapy costs are funded by government. Therefore, these agents cannot be found in community

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pharmacies.

2- Purchase, distribution and delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs are coordinated by the Ministry of Health.

3- Community pharmacists declared that they do not have sufficient understanding about oncology pharmacy field. In-service courses, seminars and congresses are needed to broaden their knowledge in the field.

4- Their only role in helping cancer patients is by providing them with analgesics, antiemetics or topical analgesics.

As a result, there is lack of physicians, dietitians and pharmacists specialized in oncology field.

As pharmacy students, we believe that more pharmacy graduates in Northern Cyprus should specialize in the field of pharmacy oncology to ensure accurate drug delivery to cancer patients in terms of correct drug type, dose and dosage form and enhance the that field in the country to improve the quality of life of cancer patients.

Oncology Pharmacy

The University of Evaluation of Oncology Colorado’s Approach to its Pharmacy in Nigeria Juliet Obi Oncology Curriculum Whitley Yi

The University of Colorado approaches its oncology curriculum with an understanding of the emerging role for pharmacists as the number and lifespan of oncology patients increases.

With this in mind, it teaches oncology as part of its core curriculum and offers an advanced oncology elective, where each student is paired with an oncology pharmacist and patient that they follow throughout the course. It’s designed to give students a hands-on, real life perspective on the direct impact pharmacists have in improving their patients’ quality of life through areas including education, patient confidence, compliance, and assistance in mitigating the patient’s financial burden.

Oncology Pharmacy is one of the crucial areas in Pharmacy. It is of paramount importance that it is extensively taught in Pharmacy schools so as to enable students gain adequate knowledge for practice. With regards to the approach of university curriculum to Oncology Pharmacy in Nigeria, I can confidently say that a lot more needs to be done in terms of laying emphasis on how it is taught in the Pharmacy schools.

According to the responses obtained from a short online survey conducted to know pharmacists’/pharmacy students knowledge on Oncology Pharmacy, it was evident that some were not even taught at all and even those taught had a basic knowledge on introduction to some topics.

A pharmacist said “a good knowledge in Oncology will contribute extensively to effective pharmaceutical care of patients; research for more medications with limited side effects, public health campaigns on Oncology awareness and education.”

A pharmacy student also said “ I am currently working on a research in cancer, if I had oncology classes in my curriculum, I bet it will make my research easier!.”

With collective efforts to voice out this issue and with the help of the pharmacy regulatory council in Nigeria, I strongly believe there can be a review on the curriculum in our Pharmacy schools towards Oncology Pharmacy.

Pharmacy Education Newsletter IPSF Newsletter

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Ms.Olga Mariana Cunha

Pharmacy Education Committee

A real case with a happy ending the pharmacist’s role is very important with regard to advice the patient for adverse events and follow the treatment, explaining what are the possible side effects and what is the best Cancer (malignant tumours or neoplasms) is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 8.2 million deaths in 2012 and the number of new cases is expected to rise by about 70% over the next 2 decades. The transformation from a normal cell into a tumour cell is a multistage process and results of the interaction between a person’s genetic factors and 3 categories of external agents, including physical carcinogens, chemical carcinogens and biological carcinogens.

The most common causes of cancer death are lung cancers (1.59 million deaths), liver (745 000 deaths), stomach (723 000 deaths), colorectal (694 000 deaths), breast (521 000 deaths) and oesophageal cancer (400 000 deaths).

Cancer also arises in children, despite being rare. Childhood cancer represents between 0.5% and 4.6% of all cancers. Neuroblastoma, nephroblastoma, medulloblastoma and retinoblastoma are some types of tumour that occur almost exclusively in children. The most 4

Issue 8 IPSF Newsletter

common malignancies are lymphomas and tumours of the central nervous system.

Leukaemia constitutes about a third of all cancers in childhood.

The Study Case This case is about Miss X, a 50 year-old women with colorectal cancer symptoms.

Miss X did a colonoscopy, a biopsy and a TAC that revealed metastatic colorectal cancer, at stage IV. Her oncologist decided to begin chemotherapy with FOLFOX. Colorectal cancer, is the type of cancer that is mostly diagnosed in an advanced stage (metastatic colon) and there are 5 stages of this type of cancer (0-IV). The stage IV corresponds to distant colon cancer, it’s when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body (such as liver or lungs). Symptoms usually appear due to obstructions or ulcers in the colon or rectum. Miss X felt some of the typical symptoms of colon cancer such as persistent diarrhoea, stools narrowing due

strong odours (intense perfume, smell of cooking, etc), as well as fatty foods, red meat and strong flavours, to reduce nausea. She was also advised to drink plenty of fluids and to avoid spicy food, fried foods, drinks with caffeine and alcohol, in case of diarrhoea or dry mouth. To prevent bleeding gums Miss X had to use a toothbrush with adequate softness, brush teeth carefully and avoid the use of dental floss. Miss X is fighting cancer never allowing it to steal her life and after the treatment she will be closely monitored through out the tests such as digital rectal examination, colonoscopy in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment and to prevent any recurrence. Therefore, in such cases, the pharmacist’s role is very important with regard to advice the patient for adverse events and follow the treatment, explaining what are the possible side effects and what is the best way to manage or treating them. The pharmacist should also remember that not all patients have side effects, that it may be mild, erased or made more tolerable and that different drugs can cause different side effects.

The importance of this type of information is to alert the patient that these symptoms are normal after the onset of the therapy, and that this must not be interrupted prematurely and must be carried until the end. The pharmacist plays a crucial role not only in drug dispensing, but also in educating the patient, in pharmacovigilance and pharmacotherapeutic.

Pharmacy Education Newsletter 5 IPSF Newsletter

Oncology Pharmacy

to partial blockage of the large intestine, rectal bleeding and feeling of incomplete emptying.

She also felt persistent abdominal discomfort such as pain and swelling. Blood test results revealed that Miss X had anaemia, which is consistent with rectal bleeding, and symptoms like fatigue or weakness, unexplained weight loss, nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite are also related with the loss of blood.

In fact, the aim of the treatment of colorectal cancer at stage IV is just to control the symptoms and decrease metastases propagation, not to treat. And it is also possible to increase life quality and life expectancy. FOLFOX chemotherapy consists in an association of oxaliplatin with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and folinic acid (FA). Typical side effects of chemotherapeutic FOLFOX regimen are the reduction of blood cells produced by the bone marrow, which may lead to an increased risk of infections, exhaustion and breathless due to a decrease and a higher tendency to haematomas (also may occur nosebleeds, bleeding gums after brushing teeth, or petechiae in the arms or legs). It is possible the occurrence of headaches, fever and cough.

It may also occur nausea and vomiting, which are usually easily controlled pharmacologically.

Diarrhoea occurs in about 6 of 10 patients (60%) and around 40% exhibit dry mouth. After the first or second cycle of chemotherapy, the hair may start to get thinner. Patients may have tired eyes, blurred vision or watery eyes due to an increase in tear fluid production. There are some possible ways to manage some of the adverse effects. Patients who receive FOLFOX regime, like Miss X, are encouraged to perform their routine and regular activities, drinking water, to eat several small meals during the day and to eat slowly. Effective antiemetic therapy was performed to Miss X in order to prevent the possible side effects of FOLFOX treatment. The antiemetic may be administered by intravenous injection, along with chemotherapy or tablets.

It was also recommended to Miss X to avoid

Dr. Ibrahim Abdo

Egypt

An Inside look into Oncology Surgery Dr. Ibrahim is a clinical pharmacist working as Surgical I.C.U pharmacist in a children cancer hospital Job Description 1. Create Policy of Surgical Antimicrobial Prophylaxis inside O.R for different Surgical Departments ( Neurosurgery, General Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Ophthalmology Surgery ‌) 2. Participate in Policy of Antimicrobial treatment for Postoperative Patients at Surgical Departments.

3. Odette the wastage of returned narcotics if necessary.

4. In Preoperative Area : - Check history, Cultures, Allergy profile, previous drugs, Clinic Notes, Drug interactions, Hepatic functions, Renal functions, Complete Blood Count, Cardiac profile, Chest Profile - Make Medications Reconciliation.

- Revise if the patient take his needed medications as Cardiac medications or Antibiotics which depend on Culture to be given especially on long time surgery - Check if the Anesthetic fill the Checklist 6

IPSF Newsletter Issue 8

Medications and if he advice to give medications to patient in preoperative area.

- Selecting the right Antimicrobial for each surgery according to Policy - Check Time of Antimicrobial administration for patients to decide if patient need redosing or not.

- Deal with the emergency situation which can occur in preoperative area.

- Check the Doses, Drug interactions, Supervise on Medications preparation, Intravenous Compatibility and supervise during the administration of medications - Document Medications given to patients in MISK. 5. Inside Operation Room: - Main Member of Code Blue Team inside Operation Room - Main member who deal with convulsion

occur during or after surgery duration of Medications and make patients - Main member of Harvest Bone Marrow counselling.

Transplantation Procedure.

- Check duration of Surgery to insure the need of redosing for Antimicrobials - Round for all Operation Rooms every 30 minute to check situations inside rooms and help Anesthetic and Surgeon if need help about medications - Check if Blood Loss occurs during Surgery to insure need of redosing for Antimicrobials.

- Check Doses and Drug Interactions of Medications inside Operation Room - Insure redosing of Antimicrobial at the right time for each patient if redosing is considered for the patient - Supervise on preparation of Medications inside the Operation Room by checking on Dilutions, Intravenous Compatibility and Route of Administration.

- Help in Emergency cases inside the Operation room - Check Antidote and its doses for Overdosing Anesthesia - Check Medications flow inside all rooms - Monitor for Side Effect of medications and method of Management of the Adverse Reactions.

6. Postoperative Area: - Check doses, Drug Interactions, Intravenous Compatibility and Frequency of medications.

- Responsible for assisting with pain management.

- Check if the Anesthetic fill the Checklist Medications and if he advice to give medications to patient in postoperative area.

- Supervise on Preparations of Medications

by Nurse and check dilution and route of administration.

- Help in emergency cases which can occur in postoperative area - Make Medication Reconciliation before transferring to inpatient unit or Discharge - In case of patient Discharge check doses and Pharmacy Education Newsletter IPSF Newsletter

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Ms.Jane Pruemer

Update on the Treatment of Major Worldwide Cancers According to estimates from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, there were 12.7 million new cancer cases in 2008 worldwide, of which 5.6 million occurred in ecoÂŹnomically developed countries and 7.1 million in economically developing countries. (1) The corresponding estimates for total cancer deaths in 2008 were 7.6 million (about 21,000 cancer deaths a day), 2.8 million in economically developed countries and 4.8 million in economically developing countries. By 2030, the global burden is expected to grow to 21.4 million new cancer cases and 13.2 million cancer deaths simply due to the growth and aging of the population, as well as reductions in childhood mortality and deaths from infectious diseases in developing countries.

(2) This overview will cover 5 of the most common cancers seen worldwide, their first-line treatments, response rates, survival rates, and new or investigational medications being studied for these diseases.

The most common cancer seen worldwide 8

Issue Newsletter 8 IPSF

Pharm.D., BCOP, FASHP

include: lung,breast, prostate, colorectal, cervical, stomach, liver, esophageal, uterine, and ovarian cancers. This review will address the female and hormonal cancers: breast cancer, prostate cancer, cervical cancer, uterine cancer and ovarian cancer.

Breast Cancer The most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide is breast cancer.

There were an estimated 1,383,500 cases reported in 2008 with 458,000 deaths.

While screening efforts have allowed the disease to be diagnosed in earlier stages, numerous pharmacologic regimens have played a significant role in the treatment and control of this disease. Depending on various hormonal influences and growth factor receptors, breast cancer therapy for first-line treatment may consist of a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and drug therapy. Our focus is on drug therapy. Combinations of traditional cytotoxic antineoplastic agents are still part of the mainstay of treatment for many women, however, newer target therapies and hormonal manipulations are clearly taking on a greater role in the treatment of this disease. The treatment of early-stage breast cancer may result in significant cure rates by using combinations of surgery, radiation therapy, and drugs. Information

Prostate Cancer The second most commonly diagnosed cancer in men worldwide, behind lung cancer is prostate cancer. There were an estimated 903,500 cases reported in 2008 with 258,400 deaths. While screening efforts have allowed the disease to be diagnosed in earlier stages, numerous pharmacologic regimens have played a significant role in the treatment and control of the advanced stages of this disease. Depending on

various hormonal influences and growth factor receptors, prostate cancer therapy for first-line treatment may consist of a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and drug therapy. The well-known effect of testosterone on the growth of this tumor has allowed clinicians to take advantage of testosterone deprivation to treat the most advanced stages of the tumor. Newer medications resulting in either decreased testosterone or blocking or modification of testosterone receptors include agents such as enzalutamide and abiraterone.

FIP Article

on the hormonal receptors status (estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor) as well as the status of the HER-2 receptor, will guide clinicians in selecting various drug therapies.

The treatment of metastatic or advanced breast cancer relies on the use of combinations of drug therapies. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has guidelines to assist clinicians in selecting the most appropriate therapy for a given patients. See Table 1 for their recommendations for advanced (Stage IV or recurrent, metastatic) breast cancer.

Single agents such as doxorubicin, pegdoxorubicin, paclitaxel, capecitabine, gemcitabine, vinorelbine and eribulin have shown significant activity in treating metastatic breast cancer. Combination chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide + doxorubicin + fluorouracil, as well as other combinations has been effective in patients with aggressively growing cancer.

The newest agents to be considered in the management of breast cancer consist of targeted agents against the HER-2 receptor, as well as those against other specific growth pathways of tumors. The newer agents against HER-2 receptors are pertuzumab and lapatinib. These agents are being combined with the older agent, trastuzumab, to offer better response rates and longer duration of response in treating advanced breast cancer.

Cervical Cancer The third most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide, behind breast cancer and colorectal cancer is cervical cancer.

There were an estimated 529,800 cases reported in 2008 with 275,100 deaths. While screening efforts have allowed the disease to be diagnosed in earlier stages, numerous pharmacologic regimens have played a significant role in the treatment and control of the advanced stages of this disease. NCCN has given “Category 1�recommendations to the following combination chemotherapy regimens to treat metastatic or recurrent cervical cancer: cisplatin + paclitaxel + bevacizumab, cisplatin + paclitaxel, or topotecan + paclitaxel + bevacizumab. It appears that cisplatin is the preferred agent over carboplatin in most situations, giving better overall response rates.

Uterine Cancer The fifth leading diagnosed cancer in women worldwide is uterine cancer. There were an estimated 287,100 cases reported in 2008 with 33,200 deaths. While the mainstay of uterine cancer is surgical removal, the treatment of metastatic disease relies upon chemotherapy. The primary combination chemotherapy for advance endometrial Pharmacy Education Newsletter IPSF Newsletter

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cancer consists of a platinum agent with a taxane. While bevacizumab has been added in combination, there is little data to support any significant contribution to overall response rate or overall survival.

Ovarian Cancer Worldwide, ovarian cancer is the eighth most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. There were an estimated 225,500 new cases reported in 2008 with 140,200 deaths worldwide. Ovarian cancer is typically diagnosed in its advanced stages and surgery followed by combination chemotherapy is the first-line treatment.

The role of intraperitoneal chemotherapy combined with intravenous chemotherapy has proven to be of clinically significant benefit over combination intravenous chemotherapy. However, the technology to support the use of this therapy sometimes limits the ability to provide intraperitoneal treatments.

Summary The role of medications in the treatment of many solid tumors will continue to grow worldwide. The trend toward the use of more targeted medications and the use of oral medications will become evident over time. Quality clinical trials assessing the use of these newer agents must be conducted in order to determine their role in the treatment of these various diseases.

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Ms. Safiye Çağansel

Turkey

Results of Interviews with Cancer Patients and Official Cancer Association in North Cyprus This research Project is based on the expectations of cancer patients from the pharmacists, in all cities in North Cyprus. For the project, six patients aged 24-56 were asked to fill the questionnaire, where three of them are recovered; two are in the middleof-illness and one in the beginning. As well as the questionnaire, interview with ‘Help Those with Cancer Association’ (www.khyd.org) was done for more information about medications procurements and psychological supports. Patients’ expectations from pharmacists include not only being more explanatory about medicaments but also being reached easier at immediate needs. Interestingly, after conducting survey one patient specified none for expectations. Moreover, it is found from both

IPSF Newsletter 12 Issue 8

the interviews and the surveys that breast cancer (See Chart.1 for cancer types) having patients are more likely to receive psychological support.

Medications used for treatment and supporting treatment included Tamoxifen and Zometa, Aspirin, Dilatrend, Omeprol, Euthrox respectively.

In addition, methods of drug intake comprised either orally or by intravenous (IV) infusions.

Between treatment methods, chemotherapy was found as the most effective. (See Chart.2)

Oncology Pharmacy Pharmacy Education Newsletter 13 IPSF Newsletter

Mr.Mohan Shrestha

Nepal

Incorporating Translational Research Training into Current Pharmacy Education

The Winning Essay in IPSF Critical Appraisal Essay Competition 201314

Abstract: Translational research is a science of building the bridge between scientific discovery and patient care application. Translational research is based on the notion that the creation of novel drugs should relate directly to patient needs and should couple laboratory research with observations made in the clinic. However, hindrances are there to limit us, the pharmacist to convene the global change in translational research. As pharmacists have a very important role in translational research, rapid alterations have to be made in pharmacy curriculum to overcome the challenges. Firstly, the translational research training must be included in the academic degree curriculum and secondly, there is strong need for uniformity of 14 IPSF IssueNewsletter 8

the curriculum globally. In addition, pharmacy students require encouragement by means of funded research, awards, adequate mentorship, time and resources. The active involvement of the authoritative bodies, mentors as well as the dedicative involvement of the pharmacy students will help foster the sustainable development of our profession by means of translational research.

Although a Medline search indicates that the term translational research appeared as early as 1993, there were relatively few references to this term in the literature during the 1990s (Rubio et al., 2010). Significant advances in health care due to translational research are seen in the last 10 years. Recent studies highlights that the translational research fosters the multidirectional integration of basic research, patient-oriented research, and populationbased research, with the long-term aim of improving the health of the public. The first stage of translational research (T1) expedites

pharmacist has a strong technical background in areas such as dosage form technology, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, and therapeutics (Parker et al., 2013), they can help coordinate the research and development process that brings new medication by using the knowledge of the chemicals and the development process, and how it interacts with the patient, that adds a tremendous dimension to the clinical trials (Hede, 2007). In the area of discovery and translational research, clinical pharmaceutical scientists can provide input into preclinical studies that assess new technologies and methods applicable to pharmacogenomics and design approaches to develop clinically useful biomarkers (Parker et al., 2013). In addition, pharmacist can travel to investigator sites to oversee compliance with clinical protocols and investigating adverse drug events and safety concerns of the patient in bedsides (Hede, 2007).

Though the role of pharmacist in translating research findings into practical applications had had a positive impact in the well-being of patients as well as community, current practice of translational research training in pharmacy curriculum can be sorted out in two different ways. In the developed countries, Pharm.D is the basic requirement for pharmacy practice and the universities offers Ph.D. in translational science.

Many schools and colleges of pharmacy are well equipped to conduct clinical and translational research, with access to academic health centers and Clinical Translational Science Awards (CTSA) (Dowling et al., 2009). A lot of universities in United States strengthen the clinical practices in pharmacy and foster development of the students as a translational research scientist (Johnson et al., 2010). Since 2004, Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) provide Translating Research into Practice (TRIP) fellowship for pharmacists (Phillips, 2014). Since 2009 publication of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) Research Affairs Committee editorial recommending the Pharmacy Education Newsletter 15 IPSF Newsletter

IPSF Winning Essay 2013-14

the movement between basic research and patient-oriented research that leads to new or improved scientific understanding or standards of care. The second stage (T2) facilitates the movement between patient-oriented research and population-based research that leads to better patient outcomes, the implementation of best practices, and improved health status in communities. The third stage (T3) promotes interaction between laboratory-based research and population-based research to stimulate a robust scientific understanding of human health and disease (Rubio et al., 2010; Zerhouni, 2007).

The trait of translational research depicts a streamlined approach with the potential to yield new drugs faster than the traditional drug development, and with a greater probability of success in the defined patient population (Fishburn, 2013). Pharmacist as a member of health care team has vital role in the translational research as collaboration among disciplines through multidisciplinary teams facilitates the emergence of new concepts and approaches to address the health issues. Translating research knowledge into practice is something that many pharmacists do at a grass-roots level each day. However, there is indeed a need to help escalate the importance of research translation for pharmacists. A recent commentary from the American College of Clinical Pharmacy Research Affairs Committee has identified that pharmacists have an unprecedented opportunity to participate in clinical research translation given the recent importance placed on this by the United States National Institute of Health (Parker et al., 2013).

Pharmacists are recognized as health care providers for patient care services in both community and institutional practice settings. Direct patient care involves the pharmacist’s observation of the patient and contributions to the selection, modification, and monitoring of patient-specific drug therapy either within inter professional team or during collaborative practice with other health care providers (Murphy et al., 2006). As

Ph.D. degree as opposed to fellowship training as the optimal method for preparing pharmacists as clinical/translational scientists (Parker et al., 2013).

However, in most of the developing countries, the translational research training is a novel term. Lack of sufficient clinical exposure and translational research training in the curriculum, graduates are compelled to go to academia and industrial sector.

So, it’s indeed a need to develop unified standards and definitions related to the education and training of pharmacy students, residents, fellows and graduate students regarding the preparation of translational scientists (Parker et al., 2013).

Translational scientists work to improve health care delivery, patient outcomes and community health by working as mentors of teams and interacting with scientists from other disciplines and representatives from community organizations.

Many of the today’s successful translational pharmaceutical scientists gained success after several years of on-the-job training. This often occurred because of fortunate juxtapositions with clinical scientist mentors in pharmacy and other health professionals (Dowling et al., 2009).

Although this type of development will continue, it is not the best method for developing a significant number of successful translational researchers for the future. In addition, with the advancement, the demand for translational scientists who can successfully work in the clinical and translational phases of the drug development process is increased. The necessity won’t be fulfilled unless the translational research training becomes the part of pharmacy curriculum.

It’s high time to promote the transition of pharmacy fellowships to degree-granting programs (Dowling et al., 2009). Effective mentoring is significant to help early career investigators become successful and independent researchers. However, there are two major barriers that limit the pharmacy profession in contributing its fair share of talent to the translational research enterprise: a critical mass of precursor talent and a critical mass of qualified mentors working in high-end research IPSF Newsletter 16 Issue 8

environments conducting contemporary translational research (Johnson et al., 2010; Parker et al., 2013). In such circumstance, there is a need to promote and develop the uniform curriculum with inclusion of translational research training throughout the world. To the resource limited part of the world, there is a need of support training programs, including graduate student research and travel awards (Dowling et al., 2009). Online education system will be of help to develop the opportunities for continuous learners and update them. As part of the Pharm.D/M.S. degree program, students must complete a research project under the direction of mentoring faculty member.

Hence, the combined Pharm.D/M.S. degree in translational science could provide a pathway to Ph.D. and postdoctoral fellowship training.

(Parker et al., 2013) In conclusion, the globalized society desires a balanced, sustainably developed and advancement of pharmacy education and curriculum to meet the demand of the community as well as to fulfill the professional requirement. Significant changes in pharmacy profession including the economic, political and research environment have recently occurred which will substantially generate the opportunities in the translational research. It’s the time for the organizations working to help develop the translational research training to collaborate and walk hand-in-hand with all the pharmacy organizations for developing meaningful strategies to increase the number and impact of translational pharmacy scientist, who will ultimately improve the quality of life of the patients.

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