Educational Chronicles

One of EPSAs main pillars has and always will be - EDUCATION. For this reason, EPSA has always been a pioneer in showcasing the most contemporary and significant matters in the world of pharmacy to pharmaceutical students of europe. For this reason, EPSA has been offering amazing opportunities for students to engage in the journey of lifelong learning and continuous professional development.

Historically speaking, pharmacy as a discipline combined science and art, but has evolved, changed and adapted with the needs of the global population. This is due to new knowledge and scientific advancements, from drug design and development to data analysis, artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Community pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, ambulatory pharmacy, compounding pharmacy, industrial pharmacy, regulatory pharmacy - the list goes on. There are countless adjectives which pair perfectly with the word pharmacy, and yet we gain countless opportunities to perceive pharmacy in that particular aspect. This is why pharmacy is a sophisticated synergy of life sciences, health sciences as well as social sciences and in one word is simply unique.

Taking this into account, it is easy to assume the versatile aspects of the world of pharmacy have become simplified. However, it is not so easy to find out more about what it really takes to pursue the field of pharmacy which we are most passionate about.

This is something EPSA has recognised and therefore launched a brand new project - Educational Chronicles, which shall take you on a journey of lifelong learning. Continuous professional development and learning more about the necessary education for a soon-to-be pharmacist to pursue a meaningful career will help you understand what it takes to pursue your ideal career.

Together we shall create our own lifelong learning journey and take charge of our own education, shaping our own unique story in the process!

This project is designed as a series of Online Activities, but with slight alterations to the usual format. We want to focus on what EPSA believe pharmaceutical students lack in certain pharmaceutical fields through short, yet informative presentations. These will be delivered by a pharmacist working in the respective pharmaceutical field, whilst also collaborating with many of EPSAs partners who are supporting our cause. At the same time, we would like to offer a platform for the European pharmaceutical students to ask, and most importantly acquire the relevant information about the pharmaceutical field, which ignites and stimulates their curiosity.

This journey consists of six Chapters, with two of them having already been completed.

On November 21st, this project kicked off with Chapter 1, which was done in collaboration with ACRP (Association for Clinical Research Professionals) and EUFEPS (European Federation for Pharmaceutical Sciences). This aimed to establish a connection and create a triangle between academia, research and clinical trials.

Chapter 2 happened on December 5th with the primary focus on applying a systematic approach to drug information enquiries in a hospital pharmacy environment, while collaborating with EAHP (European Association of Hospital Pharmacists). To increase the educational value of the topic, we decided to combine this with Chat with Professionals and connect it with the legal and regulatory framework of drug information. This also raised awareness of the Falsified Medicines Directive, where our speaker was a representative of the European Commission.

As much as the pharmaceutical curricula is shaping pharmaceutical students for a career in community pharmacy, what is the European perspective on innovations happening in this field? On the other hand, clinical pharmacy has been developing and gaining well deserved recognition. So what does the future hold? What will the Pharmacy of Tomorrow look like? Chapter 3 will hope to address these questions on December 23rd!

Curious about the remaining Chapters? Well, as the greatest stories require time to be written and captivate the audience with suspense, so to does education requires dedication and patience.

Stefan Grgić Educational Affairs Coordinator 2019-2020