A WORD FROM OUR INTERNS

EPSA Interns are people from the EPSA Team who are working as volunteers in the offices of EPSA’s professional partners EPSA Interns are working part-time in the office of the professional organisation and part-time for EPSA.

EPSA Interns’ rights and responsibilities can include external representation to events or updating the team and members about EU news.

Catarina, PGEU

Being in my position comes with the amazing “buy one, get one free” premise, so I knew if I were to be elected, I’d be spending ten months in one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world.

By doing my professional internship at the Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union (PGEU), the voice of Community Pharmacies across Europe, I’ve had the chance to learn about different countries’ good practices, by either contacting PGEU Members directly or by attending Meetings and/or Working Groups where important dossiers are discussed. My work at PGEU has also allowed me to further develop my policy and advocacy skills as I had the possibility to have a better overview of relevant matters being discussed at EU level that directly, or indirectly, impact the pharmacy sector. As an intern at PGEU, I can contribute as EPSA, offering a student perspective, to the work of one of the most important stakeholders in our sector.

Representation in Brussels plays a major role in EPSA’s reputation and influence so, therefore, making sure that I lobby for EPSA’s advocacy work on representing European pharmaceutical students is one of my priorities. Between the Closing Conference of the European Year of Youth and the Coalition for Vaccination Conference, these have been two events that deeply helped me network for EPSA’s positions on health and education, spotlighting the need for the pharmaceutical curricula to evolve and better prepare the future European healthcare workforce.

Manel - Vaccines Europe

Moving to Brussels and working at Vaccines Europe was an incredible experience that I will hold very dearly throughout the years. Not only did I get to learn much more about the work of one of EPSA’s partners and contribute to my own knowledge and skills, but also I got to strengthen the bond between the two institutions. Being at the EPSA House has as a prime objective the representation of EPSA and its students in Brussels, in the most various types of events, ensuring that our point comes across and that we create lasting relations with the main stakeholders and policymakers in the European environment If I had to pick out all the events I got to attend, my favourite would be without a doubt the 2-day session organised by the European Youth Foundation, where I got to network with various Youth Organisations but most importantly discuss the funding opportunities available to our Associations in the current state of the art. I really felt that I was able to contribute to EPSA’s interests and put my expertise in Grant and European Funding to the test!

Théo, EFPIA

My name is Théo Favard, I am 23 years old and I am a student in my 5th year of pharmacy in Montpellier, in the south of France, specialising in industry. This year, I am Vice President in charge of External Affairs at EPSA where my aim is to strengthen the relations between European pharmaceutical students and practising professionals, as well as other student organisations with similar aims. I act as the leader of the EPSA External Relations Department where I plan the vision and objectives of the department and ensure that Coordinators deliver their work on high standards.

I moved to Brussels at the end of August, and started my internship at the beginning of September with EFPIA, the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations. The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) represents the biopharmaceutical industry operating in Europe. Through its direct membership of 36 national associations, 39 leading pharmaceutical companies and a growing number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), EFPIA’s mission is to create a collaborative environment that enables our members to innovate, discover, develop and deliver new therapies and vaccines for people across Europe, as well as contribute to the European economy. I support various working groups in which there is a representative of each industry and association represented by EFPIA.

This experience allowed me to learn more about lobbying, policy work and all European news related to the pharmaceutical industry. As an intern it also allowed me to represent EPSA directly to our partners and stakeholders and to have my partner meetings directly face to face which is much easier.

Andrei, AESGP

My name is Andrei-Tudor Budan, I am 23 years old and I am a 5th year pharmacy student at the “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Bucharest, Romania. This year I am the Parliamentarian at EPSA, meaning I am the head of the EPSA Parliamentary Council, which is the supervising authority of the Association.

I am an intern at AESGP since September 2022. AESGP, the Association of the European Self-Care Industry, is the voice of the manufacturers of nonprescription medicines, food supplements, and selfcare medical devices in Europe, an area also referred to as “self-care” or “consumer healthcare” products. Because staying healthy as a society starts with each of us, AESGP’s mission is to support everyone in Europe’s access to safe and effective self-care, empowering people to take better care of their own and their families’ health. AESGP aspire to lead and champion self-care, to ultimately contribute to the sustainability of European healthcare systems. To fulfil this mission, AESGP work to align its membership and engage with policymakers, regulators and other stakeholders to create a safe and supportive environment.

Thus far, this experience has taught me more about lobbying, policy and advocacy and all news regarding developments in the European self-care sector.

Mauve, PPTA

My name is Mauve Jézéquel, and I am a 22 year old pharmacy student from Rouen, France. As the current Educational Affairs Coordinator at EPSA, I am excited to share my experiences as an intern at the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA) in Brussels Despite being in the middle of my gap year, I wanted to take on new challenges and expand my skill set in the field of communication and advocacy PPTA's mission is to provide accessible and affordable therapies for patients, and I am honored to contribute to this cause as an intern. My main task is to coordinate their social media presence, which involves developing communication action plans, writing articles, and posting on different platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. I am involved in all the current issues; and I assist in the organisation of the different events of the association.

Apart from my work at PPTA, I also have the opportunity to represent EPSA at live events in Brussels, which allows me to make new connections and further develop my professional skills As a pharmacy student from France, I believe that my position in Brussels enables me to offer a unique student perspective to the work of important stakeholders in the healthcare sector. Overall, my internship at PPTA has been a great challenge, but also a rewarding experience. I am grateful for the chance to learn from experts in the field and to contribute to the mission of providing better health for all.

Kasia - Vaccines Europe

Being an EPSA intern brings several opportunities such as contributing to the growth of EPSA, representing our association in Brussels and on top of that developing oneself in a professional association. I am doing my internship in Vaccines Europe (VE), a specialised vaccines group within the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), where I work mainly in market access and regulatory affairs. I am currently involved in projects concerning various vaccination-related topics, for example vaccines market access pathways and vaccines in the context of the EU pharmaceutical legislation.

As EPSA interns we are part of the EPSA Team and at the same time we already start exploring the area of our main interest. This kind of experience gives us a chance to take a big step forward and grow both personally and professionally.