By Lana Best Published in UniTAS, November 2012
UTAS has strengthened its reputation for providing world’s best clinical knowledge with two of its pharmacy students earning respect at the International Pharmacy Students’ Federation Congress in Hurghada, Egypt.
Fourth-year pharmacy student and National Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association (NAPSA) secretary Bronwyn Jones took part in meetings and formal functions at the congress; UTAS graduate Jacqueline Martin won the individual clinical skills competition.
Bronwyn, who has been on the national council for two years, said the role has required commitment and at times been an added challenge on top of her studies.
“NAPSA represents the interests of around 3,500 members – undergraduate and masters students or interns studying at seventeen universities across Australia,” she said.
“Congress is a unique way to gain more knowledge and perspective of the profession on a global basis.”
Bronwyn is about to head off to Mackay, Queensland, to start a year-long internship but hopes to return to find work in Tasmania in 2014.
Jacqueline is working at Shoreline Pharmacy in Howrah this year for her internship and is about to sit her final exams.
She’s already planning to attend the Netherlands congress in 2013.
“The skills competition consisted of seven minutes at seven different work stations and each was a different test of pharmacy knowledge and applications,” she explained.
“I met people from around the world and learnt about the differences in education and the pharmaceutical industry – for example in Egypt you don’t need a prescription for anything at a pharmacy.”
While studying at UTAS both students have been members of TAPS, the Tasmanian Association of Pharmacy Students, which will next year host the Australian NAPSA congress in Hobart from 24-30 January.