PharmNotts Annual Newsletter 2023/2024

Regina Brett

"Sometimes You Have to Disconnect to Stay Connected."

Regina Brett

Editor-In-Chief's Foreword

Welcome to the 23/24 issue of the PharmNotts newsletter. It's my privilege to immortalise the stories and accounts from the previous tenure, and I pray that I

have sufficiently given a voice to the many members here at PharmNotts.

Before actually working on this newsletter, our team deliberated heavily on the content we would include in this newsletter. After much discussion, we decided that ‘Connecting and Empowering’ was an apt theme. It was a common consensus that even though PharmNotts is an academic society which should serve as a podium for learning and informing, it is also our goal to provide to you a platform where you can step out of your comfort zones and form friendships that will long outlast your university years. Often overlooked, we want to provide you with opportunities that will enable you to explore new things and push yourselves to be anything and everything that you want to be.

I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who contributed

their indispensable thoughts and poured their precious time into writing the many articles littered throughout this very newsletter; without your help, there wouldn’t be a newsletter to begin with! A huge shoutout to Luwena, the previous Publications Officer, for collecting these pieces and guiding me through this project I would finally like to give full credit to Hifza, our hardworking and talented Graphic & Design Officer, and Liyana, our brilliant Multimedia Officer; I might have organised the content and edited this newsletter, but these two have breathed life into it and made it this beautiful arrangement of colours and fun.

A lot of effort was placed by so many individuals to make this year ’ s newsletter a reality. It is my wish that each of you might find at least some pleasure in reading this, and that you will be able to gain better insight into what PharmNotts is all about.

Warmly, Joel Lee Khai Yuen Publications Officer of PharmNotts 23/24

The 2022/2023 tenure was a memorable one with PharmNotts going through a lot of ups and downs. With the excellent leadership of Thung Hooi En and her team, PharmNotts was able to transition from online events back to face-to-face events; one of our most notable events was ‘Run the Miles for More Smiles Nottingham Charity Run 2023’. With that being said, PharmNott's objective for the upcoming academic year is to maximize the physical on-campus experience and enjoyment for Nottingham students and fellow members.

This year, we will give our all to continue PharmNotts’ traditional events, like the blood donation drives, the Public Health Campaign, industrial visits, etc. PharmNotts is looking forward to seeing you join our future events!

This newsletter will showcase PharmNotts’ achievements over the past academic year, and will hopefully encourage you to participate in our future events! Thank You!

Best Regards,

Chong Ka Sheng (James) President of PharmNotts

Vice President's Note

Dear PharmNotts Members, Welcome to PharmNotts! I am thrilled to extend my warmest congratulations and sincere appreciation to

g a part of our family I’m t that you have chosen to h us.

nure together, I would like to accomplishments of the past dedicated members worked munity that fosters learning, vice. A wide range of events left a lasting impact on our est speakers who shared their e, and inspired us to push the arch and practice; fairs and ncluded health check-ups, public and other community were carried out which

provided members with valuable skills necessary for their future careers.

As we look forward to the current tenure, I am excited to embark on a new chapter of success and camaraderie. We have thoughtfully crafted a multitude of engaging initiatives

that are designed to amplify your growth, ignite your passion for Pharmacy and PHS, and further enhance your professional competencies; we will continue to bring in experts and leaders from the field to share their insights and experiences; we will strengthen our ties with the School of Pharmacy, other clubs, and local healthcare organisations, forging partnerships that will provide you with unique opportunities for internships, workshops, and collaborative ventures. By engaging with professionals

in various healthcare sectors, you will gain a broader perspective on the industry and build valuable connections for your future careers.

As part of our ongoing commitment to foster a nurturing environment, we will continue to have peer mentor activities. We are committed to cultivating a supportive environment where mentorship, support, and collaboration are commonplace within our club. You will have the chance to learn from mentors, gain valuable guidance, and navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

As the Vice President, my utmost priority is to ensure that PharmNotts remains a welcoming space where your voices are not just heard but cherished and your ideas are valued and embraced. I wholeheartedly encourage each and every one of you to actively participate in our club's diverse range of activities and contribute your unique perspectives. By seizing leadership opportunities and working together, we have the power to create a remarkable legacy of excellence that will inspire future generations.

In closing, PharmNotts has a remarkable track record of achievements, and I have no doubt that together, we will continue to uphold its proud traditions while forging new paths of innovation and impact.

Thank you once again for choosing to be a part of our club. I look forward to witnessing your growth, celebrating your achievements, and creating unforgettable memories together.

Sincerely,

Joey Ching Yun Xuan Vice President of PharmNotts

Meet the Team

VICE

Meet the Team

PUBLICATIONS OFFICER

Joel Lee Khai Yuen

GRAPHIC & DESIGN OFFICER

Hifza Nasira Binti

PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER (MPHARM)

Liew Xin Ying

MULTIMEDIA OFFICER

Liyana Qistina Binti Aderus

Muhammad Taufik

Audrey Lim Pei Pei

PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER (PHS)

In conjunction with the ‘Public Health Campaign 2023’, PharmNotts organised a series of events to help spread awareness on AIDS. The main event held throughout a three-week campaign was ‘Red Support’, done to help raise awareness and donation funds. PT Foundation, a voluntary non-profit organisation that strives to help the AIDS and HIV community in Malaysia, were a great support acting as our beneficiary.

Red Support

Words by Kamiliya Wafiya Binti Muzaffar

Why Red?

The colour red symbolises support and solidarity for people living with AIDS and HIV. Red ribbon brooches and red ribbon bracelets were given to people who made donations as a token of appreciation for their support in our campaign

Our First Week:

To kickstart the first and main event of ‘Public Health Campaign 2023’, a threeday booth was set up at the SA Circle to help get the word out about our campaign. Our booth was open at the busiest time of the day to ensure we got maximum exposure to the student body Our team managed to stop passersby by explaining to everyone how donations could go a long way in helping the AIDS and HIV community. Most were happy to help and were also delighted to get a red bracelet or a red ribbon brooch, which they proudly wore to show their support.

Our Second Week:

We started walking around campus to promote ‘Red Support’, making sure students and staff were aware of the event. Volunteers walked around areas like the cafeteria during lunch hours to collect more donations. This was our strategy to spread AIDS awareness to a wider audience. Even though it got tiring walking around, the volunteers were satisfied doing their tasks for the greater good of the AIDS community in Malaysia.

Our Last Week:

A combination of walking promotions and a two-day booth that was done alongside the ‘Fight Against AIDS’ booth got our campaign a lot of attention. Some students and staff even approached our volunteers first, wanting to donate for a good cause. It lifted our spirits knowing we managed to fulfil our mission of enlightening people on AIDS and HIV.

At the end of the campaign, 150 red bracelets and 200 red ribbon brooches were given away to people who made donations to the AIDS and HIV community. The campaign was a success, and the funds collected exceeded almost double our target of RM1000. Our main goal was making sure students are aware of AIDS and how to prevent it being transmitted, and to most importantly decrease the stigma surrounding those with the illness. Not many know how to act when they encounter people living with AIDS, and we would like to think that our event has better educated everyone in the University of Nottingham Malaysia on this front. I would like to express my gratitude to those who worked together as a team to make the event a success, and to make sure we got the message about AIDS across to as many people as possible.

Health Talk - HIV & AIDS

Words by Chong Hui Ting

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks and destroys CD4 cells in the immune system. If HIV is untreated and CD4 cell count drops below 200 cells per mm3 of blood, it is diagnosed as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

“Hate AIDS, not the people having it.”

Are you aware of HIV stigma? As the new generation, we have the power to change people’s views towards HIV and AIDS. I took the elective module ‘LIFE4131 Therapeutic Immunology’ as a final-year Pharmaceutical & Health Sciences student. After sitting through two HIV-related lectures, I thought it was a coincidence that the theme for Public Health Campaign 2023 was ‘AIDS awareness ’ . Therefore, I signed up for this health talk to gain more indepth knowledge on the topic.

The health talk was organized on 16 March 2023 (Thursday) from 8:00 to 10:00 pm on Microsoft Teams. Dr Ng Rong Xiang, an infectious diseases physician from the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) was invited

as a guest speaker to discuss the concept and prevention of AIDS, ways to overcome the stigma on the AIDS community, and helpline options for those in need.

The HIV stages can be explained with four Fs. In the first stage, the host has an acute infection with flu-like symptoms. Secondly, there is asymptomatic latent infection with the host feeling fine. Thirdly, there is symptomatic opportunistic infection with a falling CD4 cell count. Lastly, a final crisis with AIDS diagnosis.

A virus. A condition.

An infection that affects the immune system

An advanced stage of infection due to HIV Patients will suffer minor difficulties; symptoms will be like flu

Patients will experience severe signs and symptoms, disrupting quality of life.

HIV is transmitted from person-to-person through unprotected sex, of which includes both vaginal and anal sex, via bodily fluids such as semen (cum), preseminal fluid (pre-cum), vaginal fluids and rectal fluids. Anal sex is the most dangerous type of sex for HIV transmission, and being the receptive partner is riskier than being the insertive partner due to the thin rectal lining that allows HIV to enter the body. Vaginal sex is less dangerous than receptive anal sex. However, vaginal fluid can still carry HIV and pass through the opening at the tip of the penis or urethra.

Other than that, HIV can also be transmitted from mother to child (perinatal transmission) during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding. Lastly, the HIV virus can also be transmitted through sharing non-sterile needles with someone who has the virus.

Dr Ng also shared the ‘ABCD’ methods of HIV prevention. ‘ABCD’ stands for abstinence, be faithful, condoms and drugs.

Table 1 0 shows the differences between HIV and AIDS

Abstinence from sex is a 100% effective way to prevent HIV and sexually transmitted disease (STD) infection or pregnancy. Being faithful to your partner can also reduce the chances of getting HIV because of reduced number of sexual partners. Condoms are another highly effective way to prevent HIV and other STDs.

Lastly, drugs refer to anti-retroviral therapy (ART), pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which are used to combat HIV infection. ART is HIV treatment which reduces opportunistic infection-related

mortality while improving survival rate and quality of life. Some examples are single tablet regimens, namely Atripla, Delstrigo and Triumeq.

There are other HIV medications such as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI), non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI), protease inhibitor (PI), entry inhibitor and integrase inhibitor (INSTI). PrEP is for people with a very high risk for HIV. It should be taken daily to reduce the chances of getting HIV infection. PEP is medicine for people who may have been exposed to HIV. It must be taken

within 72 hours after a possible contraction of HIV. Every hour counts, and the sooner you start treatment, the better.

It takes 6 weeks to 3 months before HIV antibodies are detected in blood, which is known as the window period. Therefore, a false-negative result can be obtained if a test is taken during this window period.

HIV is a virus and HIV stigma is a deadly disease. As the saying goes, knowledge is power. Education, awareness and prevention are the essential keys to stopping the spread of HIV; and we have those keys!

Health Check-Up

Organised in conj

was held by PharmNotts in collaboration with Health Lane Pharmacy & PT Foundation. It consisted of body fat composition analyses, diabetes risk assessments, blood pressure monitoring, consultations for health test results and a booth to educate the public about AIDS. Each participant was given a goody bag consisting of SAMBUVY effervescent tablets, face masks, hand sanitisers, Julie’s biscuits and evouchers.

There were a total of four booths. Two pharmacists were in charge of two adjacent booths: one for body fat composition analyses, and the other for both diabetes risk assessments and blood pressure monitoring Two other booths were run by individuals from the PT Foundation, with one being used for consultation with a GP and the other being used for fun activities to enhance the understanding of participants about AIDS and sexual health. Participants were given numbers, of which were called upon when it was their turn to take specific tests

Most participants preferred to take all health tests provided, but there was a particular intrigue with the body fat composition analyses. Participants who visited the booth by the PT Foundation got to expand their knowledge on myths or facts about AIDS by flipping cards on a bulletin board. The facilitators from the PT Foundation further elaborated on AIDS prevention, protection from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), prevalence of AIDS globally, eradication of AIDS from the perspective of different healthcare professionals, and more.

Overall, the health check-up had a high participation rate of 57, which was above expectations. The University of Nottingham community is conscious of the importance of maintaining a healthy well-being. Many participants were satisfied with the detailed analysis and consultation on diet and lifestyle adaptations provided.

Being a part of the helpers' team, collaboration and communication among team members was essential. From scouting collaborators and sponsors to brainstorming marketing ideas, every member of our team did their job dutifully so we could successfully pull off this event. Our organising chairperson did a great job delegating tasks and briefing helpers clearly on their job scope, which made event preparation more efficient. Nevertheless, there is still room for improvement. A large number of participants arrived around lunchtime, so longer waiting times were experienced;

some participants registered but gave up waiting in the end due to delays. Having the health check-up run for two consecutive days or increasing the number of pharmacists conducting the health tests are among some methods that could have resolved this issue. Another issue was the confusion faced by participants in terms of which booth they should have headed to as a result of our team only being able to provide brief explanations due to the large influx of people into the room. We could have assigned additional helpers as ushers to keep track of the numbers called and also guide participants to their designated booths.

AIDS and sexual health have been controversial topics in most Asian countries. Thanks to the ‘Public Health Campaign 2023’, we now know to be open-minded and to refrain from letting taboo be an excuse for ignorance. Educating the community is the only way to change views and eradicate the stigma and stereotypes imposed on AIDS victims. We believe that we the right direction

Nottingham Charity Run

Words by Luwena Lau Rwee Teng

Cancer - a dangerous disease that has been the talk of town, yet there is still a lack of understanding regarding the disease. With that, PharmNotts decided to organise the ‘Run the Mile for More Smiles’ Nottingham Charity Run to raise public awareness on cancer, and promote the importance of research in combating cancer

I was honoured to be selected as Organising Chairperson. To be honest, the process of bringing the event to fruition was a tough one - it had not been held for three years due to the pandemic Many things have changed after these 3 years - in terms of how things work, public preference, etc. - and there was a lack of past documents for us to refer to. Hence, the Nottingham Charity Run this time around was a totally new experience and we had to start almost everything from scratch.

On the day itself, we were a little unfortunate as it rained early in the morning - some runners decided not to attend the event and our schedule had to be pushed back by an hour Thankfully, the rain stopped at around 7:30 am and we were able to carry on with the run Before the run, we had a performance by the UNM 24 Festive

Drums Team, which aimed to raise the runners ’ spirits. This was followed by a warm up session conducted by our helpers Then, participants were flagged off at around 8:00 am by the Senior Officer of UNM Students’ Association, Mr Shazereen, starting from the 10 km runners, followed by the 5 km runners.

Event Experiences

The pathing for the 5 km run was from our campus towards the very start of Eco Forest, while the 10 km runners got the chance to run into the Eco Forest area, which is a great place to carry out exercise due to the lush greenery. Additionally, the 5 km runners had the chance to splash each other with coloured powders We allocated several coloured powder stations along the 5 km route so runners could collect additional packets of coloured powder We were glad to see runners returning to campus with their t-shirts full of colours; even our committees could not escape that fate

After the run, we had a series of performances from the Dance Club and Cheerleading Club We also had singing performances from our committee members Wen Syuen and Minyoung, and an invited singer. At the same time, our Events Team opened game booths, allowing runners to win additional prizes! A few food vendors were also invited for runners to satisfy their taste buds after the run. I myself tried a Luo Han Guo drink from one of the vendors after the event, and it tasted really good!

After the performances, speeches were given by Mr Shazereen and Mr Gautam, the representative from Cancer Research Malaysia (CRMY), who was our event beneficiary. He thanked the University of Nottingham Malaysia and PharmNotts for giving them the opportunity to spread cancer awareness and providing them with financial support for cancer research. This was continued with the prize-giving ceremony for the top 50 runners for each 10 km category. Our event came to an end at 11:30 am, and the venue was cleaned.

The Colourful Aftermath!

Overall, I believe that this was an eye-opening experience as I have never organised a run before. I would like to thank the President of PharmNotts, Hooi En, and the Vice President, Wen Syuen, for giving me the opportunity to take up this role It was tough due to unforeseen circumstances and policy changes along the way, but I’m proud to say that we overcame it with strong support from the committee members, helpers, authorities and university staff It is my hope that NCR2024 will happen in due time, and that readers will support the next Nottingham Charity Run to sustain our efforts in building a better society!

Novugen Industrial Visit

Words by Joel Lee Khai Yuen

Novugen Pharma

‘Accelerating Affordable Medicine’Novugen is one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in ASEAN producing generic drugs.

Novugen is vertically integrated from API & Finished Product R&D, manufacturing to commercialisation; giving them more control over their products and how they source the materials used in their research.

Novugen is the first pharmaceutical company in ASEAN to develop products for the US and the EU market!

What are Generic Drugs?

Medication with the same active ingredient, strength, and dosage form as their brand-name equivalents

They need to be approved by regulatory bodies like the USFDA to meet the same standards of quality, safety, and effectiveness as their brand-named equivalents.

Generic drugs also do not need to go through the same amount of R&D costs, both in terms of capital and time! This makes generic drugs much cheaper than their original brand-name equivalents.

Arrival at Novugen

Everyone involved was given a very warm welcome by the workers present in their headquarters in Shah Alam. Talks by various senior officials in departments like human resources, drug formulation, and drug analytics were given, and indispensable information on matters ranging from job responsibilities to the distinct types of machines that were used on a daily basis were presented For example, participants were told that, among many other responsibilities, formulation scientists had to tweak the amount of each ingredient used in producing a certain generic medication gradually, and to hand over this formulation to the analytic scientists for checks on bioavailability, drug stability, potency, and other quality inspections. This rigorous regiment would be repeated until a satisfactory product is successfully produced.

After donning disposable lab coats, participants were given a tour around parts of the facilities. We were shown into their formulations and analytics labs, and were given information on the equipment they used in their day-to-day. This included HPLC hardware, automatic titrators, etc. A lot of care was taken by each of the individuals in charge of taking us on this tour, as they tried their best to adequately give us enough information and exposure to the equipment they were showing us, as well as being open and quick to answer any questions we had. Needless to say, it was an interesting dive into the world of pharmaceutical research and development.

Overall, the experience at Novugen was extremely eye-opening in nature. Participants were given rundowns on their potential future jobs, and were able to learn more about the industry from outside the classroom. The industrial visit organised by PharmNotts in the academic year of 2022/23 was nothing short of a complete success I look forward to seeing where PharmNotts will be bringing their participants to in their next organised industrial visit, and highly recommend all who are eager and curious to join!

Words by Liew Xin Ying

Discovering Careers in Health Sciences

There is more to the health sciences than wearing a white lab coat, cooping up in a laboratory 24/7 and mixing solutions - this I can confidently say!

Hi! My name is Xin Ying, a first-year Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences (PHS) student at the University of Nottingham, Malaysia. This article talks about my experience as a secretary organising an annual event in collaboration with the Biomedical Science Society and Careers Advisory Service (CAS): the Discovering Careers in Health Sciences Talk. After two years of holding this event online due to the pandemic, we were excited to bring back Discovering Careers in Health Sciences 2023 physically.

My role as secretary involved liaising with speakers invited to this talk while also organising paperwork. I would say that this position was not entirely tedious, but it did require paying much attention to details, especially when relaying event details to avoid miscommunication. I was responsible for relaying all relevant information to the speakers to ensure smooth-running of the talk. With the help of my partner secretary from the Biomedical Science Society, we managed to secure a satisfactory response from the speakers, expressing how they felt special and were well-informed about proceedings from our email communications.

Our Speakers

Ms Melody Cheong

Ms Melody Cheong is AstraZeneca’s Associate Brand Manager. She recited her career pathway from working in retail pharmacy to developing marketing strategies in the pharmaceutical industry. Ms Melody expressed that graduates need guile and courage, and it was her own that projected her to take the risks that allowed her to embark on an incredible career journey. Sometimes, life requires us to step out of our comfort zones and expertise to grasp at the opportunities that come our way

After the inspiring speeches, the Q&A Session was opened to the audience. The speakers shared additional tidbits on exploring different career pathways and applying for internships. The talk officially ended with a closing speech by Ms. Alicia, Head of Careers Advisory Services (CAS), and a group photo.

Ms Puteri Nor Amira Megat Muzaffar

A PHS graduate in 2019, she is a Senior Regulatory Affairs Executive at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Pharmaceutical.

She talked about the workflow in regulatory affairs and the procedures involved in drug development, from pre-clinical research to surveillance of products post-marketing, with processes such as Chemistry, Manufacturing & Controls (CMC) and Labelling

Mr Mukand Singh

Mr Mukand Singh is a PHS graduate who now works as a Clinical Product Specialist in K Talyst (M).

He shared with everyone his 10-year journey of working as a medical sales representative, switching between multiple jobs, and finally settling on the job he has today Mr Mukand firmly believes in the concept of ‘growth implementation’, whereby he explores transitions between different career positions to expand his horizons.

Ms Liew Lih Xiu

Ms Liew discussed her role in medical communications at MIMS Medica. Sharing her day-to-day responsibilities as a Medical Writer, Ms Liew explained traits that medical writers should possess, including but not limited to having a great love of learning and novelty. She also laid out some of the benefits of having such a job, of which included being able to collaborate with leaders all across the world.

Ms Liew Lih Xiu Ms Melody Cheong

Ms Puteri Nor Amira Megat Muzaffar

Mr Mukand Singh

InternshipExperiences

By MPharm and PHS Students

The chance to learn more about the workings of the industry.

Words by Kieran Zoe Suppiah

MPharm Community Pharmacy Internship

As a Year 1 Pharmacy student this summer, I was able to secure a short internship of 2 weeks at a community pharmacy. Although this internship was short, I was still able to learn, enhance and apply the knowledge I got from MPharm With this, I would like to share my experience of working in a Malaysian community pharmacy with everyone. Although I did not manage to go deeply into each aspect of community pharmacy, I had managed to learn a bit of everything within the span of 2 weeks. I hope this will help highlight the main facets of a community pharmacy for everyone interested.

I had the opportunity to dispense over-thecounter (OTC) and behind-the-counter (BTC) poisons from my first day. It was challenging at first, mainly because I was not familiar with the location of the medicine as well as conversing using technical terms with the customers in Bahasa Melayu. Although I am able to speak moderately fluent Bahasa

Melayu, I was not well-versed with the use of some terms such as phlegm, discharge, blood flow, nerves, and the like.

The pharmacist in charge was very encouraging and supportive throughout my internship period. She had provided me with two MIMS books, one for law and another for medicines. It was very similar to the OTC directory and BNF. Thankfully, she was a Nottingham alumni and was able to explain the drug legal classifications to me relating to the Malaysian law and system Moreover, I was taught how to log pseudoephedrine sales and supply, carry out tagging for new products, perform blood glucose checks and blood pressure checks, as well as operate the cashier. I was very amazed with how the pharmacist was able to immediately locate the medicines, provide a quick diagnosis and ensure she asked all the right questions efficiently. As time passed by, I was able to speed up my consultation and provide the right medication to the customer according to their preference while being supervised. I was keen to learn and ensured I asked many questions throughout the internship period to get the most out of the experience.

This internship has helped me broaden my knowledge of medicine and improve my communication and hands-on skills. With time, I was able to familiarise myself with all the medicines’ generic names, brand names and indications, in addition to being able to provide alternatives when necessary. Although I was not able to experience all that this job had to offer in the long run, working in a community pharmacy provided me with insight on how technical being a community pharmacist is, from purchasing low stock medicines, to logging, to accounts tracking.

PHS Industrial Internship

Words by Ng Qian Hui

Although summer internships are not mandatory for PHS students, I recommend doing so so we can gain work experience to boost our employability in the future. PHS graduates are generally well equipped with specific skills required for jobs focusing on research and development. However, we are not limited to these, and can also explore other job opportunities like medical affairs, regulatory affairs, clinical trial management, sales and marketing, etc.

Malaysia has limited opportunities for R&D due to the privatisation of the Government Medical Store and poor implementation of pro-generic policies. Therefore, securing a job in a pharmaceutical company in Malaysia can be highly competitive, especially if you wish to be involved in R&D. Alternatively, sales and marketing has become a popular option for graduates who wish to work in a pharmaceutical company as there are higher job demands in marketing to keep track of consumer trends and customers’ behaviour change. According to the AstraZeneca Human Resource Department, the number of interns accepted has increased from 4 interns per year to 12 interns per year, a statistic that shows the growing importance of this job role in the pharmaceutical industry. Hence, work experience is the key for us to stand out among other competitors.

I was lucky enough to be selected as an intern under Medical Affairs in AstraZeneca. AZ’s main mission is to improve and accelerate the delivery of life-changing medicines, to create enduring value for patients, society and shareholders. I am personally attracted to their commitment to sustainability embedded in everything they do AZ also has a diverse working environment, where employees are able to engage with people from different backgrounds and cultures to expand their connections within the pharmaceutical industry.

The medical team works closely with other departments such as the marketing department and sales department. We act as a support between healthcare professionals and the company in order to propose suitable solutions with regards to the unmet needs in the market, using supporting scientific evidence and references. Unlike the commercial team, the medical team must be neutral and only speak upon scientific evidence when engaging with the stakeholders about the pharmaceutical product. The job scope of the team covers planning congress strategy, key opinion leader (KOL) engagement, stakeholder mapping and data interpretation.

As an intern, I had insight into the real pharmaceutical industry. It allowed me to expand my connections, be involved in meaningful events like summits and congresses, and most importantly, understand the workplace policies, norms and expectations.

Towards the third month of my internship, I had the privilege to participate in various summits and congresses. Medical congresses and summits are prominent events within the industry where healthcare experts gather to share knowledge and present research findings. Representatives of pharmaceutical companies will also be involved in the events as they attract a diverse range of attendees, including physicians, surgeons, researchers, pharmacists and nurses. This indirectly provides networking opportunities for the team to capture potential stakeholders and deliver information on pharmaceutical products to the HCPs.

Recounting one of my experiences at a congress, my team arrived early for booth setup for Synagis Vaccine. Synagis, also known as Palivizumab, is a prescription antibody that is used to help prevent serious lung disease caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in children. RSV is a common and highly contagious virus and it has been a global concern over years, but most babies can fight off the infection on their own. But this is not the case when it comes to premature babies, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) babies and congenital heart disease (CHD) babies. These babies are at most of the risks in getting infected by RSV, and it can lead to permanent disruption on alveolarization and adverse lung function if left untreated. Our main goal at the congress was to spread RSV awareness including the prevention measures and importance of vaccines as this could potentially reduce the number of RSV hospitalisation.

Throughout my internship journey, I was able to witness the dedication of the medical affairs team in improving patient outcomes and advancing medical sciences. This has left a remarkable mark on my professional growth. Working alongside the medical team allowed me to broaden my perspective on the integral role, at the same time understanding that evidence-based practices play a crucial role in shaping the future of the healthcare industry. My internship at AstraZeneca has not only enriched my understanding of medical affairs but has also deepened my appreciation for the team’s efforts with the healthcare professionals in bringing life-changing treatments to patients in need. As I move forward, I will carry with me the valuable lessons that I learned and the connections I made during my time at AstraZeneca. This experience has definitely solidified my dedication to contributing meaningfully to the medical field and the well-being of individuals in our country.

So how can we search and apply for internships?

By: Ng Qian Hui

There are a few options. First, you can book an internship inquiry with the career advisory services; the career advisors will give you guidance and provide a list of companies that previous seniors have had good experiences in. Besides that, the school also provides a list for summer placement options, both internal and external. Lastly, you may find jobs open for application with job scope descriptions on LinkedIn, JobStreet or Hiredly, which will help you in deciding whether they are suitable options for you.

The application process consists of 3 steps:

1) you should submit your application online together with your CV as soon as the internship opens. It will be an advantage if you could send them an additional cover letter through email, despite you have made your application online to express your interest to the company. This only applies to the company that you are keen of working with.

2) you will be notified through email and phone call if you are enlisted into the interview.

3) the result will be announced in a few days to 2 weeks’ time if you have been selected by the company. However, the processing time also depends on the company ’ s regulation. Therefore, if you are unaware that whether you have been chosen after a long period of ti d feel free to follow up with the HR of the company in a polite way.

Diabetes Mellitus

What is Diabetes

Mellitus?

A condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal causing damage to organs over time (heart disease, stroke, skin conditions, hearing loss, neuropathy, nephropathy).

increased hunger

sores that heal slowly

severe weight loss

Type 1 diabetes: Autoimmune disease in which the immune system starts attacking beta cells in the pancreas. Pancreas does not produce enough insulin for the body to counteract glucose levels.

Type 2 diabetes: Body becomes resistant to insulin, and blood glucose builds up.

Type 1 5 diabetes: Aka LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults)

Autoimmune disease like Type 1 diabetes where attack on beta cells in the pancreas cause there to be insufficient insulin production. However, the sickness develops much more slowly than type 1 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes: Diabetes during pregnancy. Insulin-blocking hormones produced by the placenta cause blood glucose build up. Is reversible.

blurry vision

increased thirst

(For the two types of diabetes, the symptoms are similar However, symptoms for type 1 diabetes tend to occur more rapidly and are more severe, whereas the onset of symptoms for type 2 diabetes tends to be slower)

i a b e t e s M e l l i t u s

Causes

Type 1 diabetes: causes currently unknown. Possibly genes/virus that sets of an immune system attack

Type 2 diabetes: genetics + lifestyle. Being overweight increases your chances of developing type 2 diabetes

D(As the causes for type 1 diabetes are unknown, these measures are only for type 2 diabetes)

1 Avoid smoking

3

2 Eat healthy foods

Exercise regularly

1 2 3

(Type 1 and 2 diabetes)

Exercise (Type 2 diabetes)

https://www.who.int/health-topics/diabetes#tab=tab

https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseasesconditions/diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20371444

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-1diabetes/expert-answers/lada-diabetes/faq-20057880

Game

Time

2. Community Setting

3. Industrial Setting

Designed By:

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Hifza Nasira Binti

Muhammad Taufik

Contents By:

- Chong Ka Sheng

-

Joey Ching Yun Xuan

- Kamiliya Wafiya Binti

Muzaffar

- Joel Lee Khai Yuen

Articles

Arranged &

Edited by:

- Joel Lee Khai Yuen

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- Chong Hui Ting

Visakha Loo Sze Min

- Luwena Lau Rwee Teng

- Joel Lee Khai Yuen

- Liew Xin Ying

-

Kieran Zoe Suppiah

-

Ng Qian Hui

-

Liyana Qistina Binti

Aderus