globalization
Dimple Modi, MS candidate
Pharmacy Student Participates in Global Forum
For Dimple Modi, an MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences student in the lab of Ronald Alkana and Daryl Davies, being part of a global pharmacy community has been a truly enriching experience. As chairperson of Pharmacy Education for the International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF) –the leading advocacy organization for pharmacy students from around the world– Modi has recently attended two major international meetings that took place in Den Haag, Netherlands, where she learned and discussed
ways to improve pharmacy education, curriculum development and professional conduct throughout the globe. “In an increasingly global world, this exchange helps students contribute to strengthening health care in their countries and enhancing the role of pharmacist in it,” says Modi. Modi’s position at IPSF gives her the opportunity to talk to other international pharmacy organizations and collaborate with them to find ways to adopt and improve pharmacy school curricula in countries around the world.
SPREADING CLINICAL PHARMACY SKILLS ABROAD Hovik Mekhjian and Parth Parikh, PharmD candidates, have successfully begun an outreach project that educates pharmacy students in India about clinical aspects of the profession, a facet not currently emphasized in Indian programs. “India has the fastest growing diabetic population in the world, and pharmacy students can play an integral part in dealing with the current health-care gaps stemming from this epidemic,” says Mekhjian.
School of Pharmacy student Parth Parikh (second row, far left) with Indian pharmacy student colleagues during an outreach trip in India.
With the help and support of colleagues, the students founded Project India, which has just completed its pilot phase. Part one of the project included two training sessions where 52
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students from four different schools of pharmacy in India were trained to screen patients and counsel them about diabetes. The students also organized seven health fairs where over 1,000 participants were screened, with nearly 7 percent of those screened being referred to local physicians for follow-up care. At these health fairs, Indian students who participated in the training sessions were given the opportunity to utilize their newly acquired skills in both screening and educating the community. “Because India has a fee-per-service healthcare model, people don’t often get regular check-ups and screenings unless they are feeling sick,” notes Mekhjian. “We want to empower people to get the help they need, and empower pharmacy students to provide the type of hands-on clinical practice they are equipped to do.” Mekhjian and Parikh hope to expand the project with its next phase, including the use of video capture training to allow students to be educated remotely, and the expansion to a more interdisciplinary approach to care. The project was co-sponsored by the International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation, Global Health at USC, Project KADAM, the State Health Department of Gujarat, Ganpat University S.K. Patel College of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Nirma University Institute of Pharmacy, L.M. College of Pharmacy, Anand College of Pharmacy, the Indian Pharmaceutical Association Student Forum in India and the Indian Pharmacist Association of California.