Class of 2024
During pharmacy school, we learned about differences in health outcomes across other countries and how the roles of pharmacists differ. The opportunity to explore these differences and their contributing factors was fascinating to me.
Every day was different in Japan- our hosts wanted us to experience as many different practice sites and settings as possible to learn holistically about the Japanese healthcare system and pharmacy profession.
We visited hospitals, independent pharmacies, herbal medicine pharmacies, and other pharmacy schools across several different cities, including Tokyo and Kyoto.
One of my favorite memories was spending the day at an independent pharmacy in Kure, Hiroshima, which also provided home health services.
We were also hosted by the pharmacy owner and his family, who treated us to traditional afternoon tea, a yakiniku dinner experience, and a trip to a Japanese onsen. It was truly an unforgettable learning and cultural experience!
I think international APPEs encourage curiosity and emphasize the importance of communication. There were differences in the standard operations of pharmacies, medications available, and pharmacy profession as a whole. International APPEs allow you to zoom out and ask why to understand the cultural and contributing factors. It is such an amazing experience to have right before the transition from student to pharmacist.
I currently work in the pharmaceutical industry and for a Japanese pharmaceutical company, so this experience was truly invaluable for me in understanding an international healthcare system and Japanese culture.
