Meet the Advocacy Representatives

Tell us a bit about yourself What do you like most about being an Advocacy Platform Representative?

What are the main topics that your association covers on a national level?

Karol: I’m a 6th-year pharmacy student and I’m currently the Spokesperson of PPSA. At the same time, I’m in the middle of the pharmaceutical internship in community pharmacy and I also work in the pharmaceutical company in the marketing area. Joanna: I’m PPSA’s Vice President for International Affairs. I study in the same year and university as Karol. Currently, I have an internship in a community pharmacy in my hometown. I love to work in the international environment, so this is why I am here! Karol: The most valuable thing in being representative is the fact that we have quick access to necessary and confirmed information from across Europe. Joanna: I like that we can have a space to share news about pharmacy and have a possibility to change the world!

Karol: I would say that we have a few main topics now, the first would be the new law about the pharmacist then, of course, all the actions connected with the change caused by coronavirus. Joanna: Also, we do our best to advocate for specific needs of PPSA Members. Lately, it was for free access to flu vaccines for 6th year interns.

Joanna Niewińska & Karol Zakrzewski

PPSA Poland

How did you become interested or active in advocacy?

Karol: I think that there are three main reasons. I was always interested in politics, then I joined a program focusing on healthcare leaders where we had classes with the people who are in charge of making decisions within the country. The third reason is a little different. I was twice on the national radio talking about PPSA and after that, I liked it, so I decided I kind of wanted to do it. Joanna: I became more interested in advocacy during my Erasmus in Denmark when I was discussing politics and healthcare systems with my international friends. It was interesting to discuss many aspects of social life. I’m glad that I can continue my interests within the EPSA Advocacy Platform.

What are the main gaps that you have identified in pharmaceutical education in your country?

Karol: The scientific program does not fit into today’s reality and needs of the market. Joanna: I can also add that there is a lack of practical activities in other fields than community pharmacy.

How do you think student-led advocacy can play a role in the decisions of policy makers?

Karol: We have the power when we are speaking together, with focusing on facts then needs. Joanna: I believe when many people are united, they can achieve their goal.

What inspires you the most?

it was an important lesson and very useful in life, worth having in mind.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Karol: The future always surprises me, never goes with my plan so I assume I’ll be dancing with penguins on the iceberg. Joanna: I have a similar approach. I change my mind too often to plan my life further than the next 3 months. When I was thinking about how I’m gonna end my studies, I hadn’t expected that I would be in a place where I am right now, so in the next 10 years I will probably surprise myself again.

What is your favourite EPSA memory?

Karol: Hosting French students in Warsaw during Twinnet in 2019. Joanna: Especially Polish night during this Twinnet was remarkable, but also our visit to Paris was 10/10 for me. I would like to greet IPEPS PXI! It’s definitely one of my favourite EPSA memories.

What advice would you give to other students that are interested in advocacy?

Karol: Don’t be scared. Think before you say. Don’t back down. Joanna: Who asks not to stray

Karol: “Let your boat of life be light, packed with only what you need - a homely home and simple pleasures, one or two friends, worth the name, someone to love and someone to love you, a cat, a dog, and a pipe or two, enough to eat and enough to wear, and a little more than enough to drink; for thirst is a dangerous thing.” - Jerome K. Jerome, Three Men in a Boat. Joanna: I think words said by Maria Skłodowska - Curie ‘Nothing in life is to be feared, it’s only to be understood. We need to understand more, so that we may fear less’ had a significant impact on me and pushed me to always try to understand everything and ask ‘why’. I think EUROPEAN PHARMACEUTICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

Tell us a bit about yourself

What do you like most about being an Advocacy Platform Representative?

What are the main topics that your association covers on a national level?

I’m a 4th year Pharmacy student in Montpellier, France

I love learning about all the different health systems across Europe, and fighting for a unique right to health and well-being. It’s fascinating how different our cultures are, yet we unite for a similar cause, with different views and ways to obtain it!

We are mostly focused on Public Health and the profession! We’re working on environmental Health in community pharmacy, AMR, and the digitalisation of our profession and health system.

Chloé LEBBOS ANEPF France

How did you become interested or active in advocacy?

By participating in many Webinars, or events organised by EPSA or IPSF, i’ve learnt more and more about the international side of being a pharma student!

What are the main gaps that you have identified in pharmaceutical education in your country?

The lack of “active training”, in community pharmacies, pharmaceutical industries, or at the hospital! We also lack courses on e-health and sustainable development in pharmacy.

How do you think student-led advocacy can play a role in the decisions of policy makers?

As students, we have a more naïve but also more innovative way of seeing the issues, which can be crucial when trying to find solutions on such a large scale. Also, as students, we are directly concerned with tomorrow’s policies. Including us in the decision-making process would make it more sustainable.

What advice would you give to other students that are interested in advocacy?

Go for it, you’ll love it!