Xperience Pharmacy Camp 2022
A good understanding of the University programme is crucial in choosing the right major. This is where Xperience Pharmacy Camp (XPharm) come into play to engage students in Junior College (JC Year 1 and 2) and Polytechnic (Year 3 students) to help them make an informed choice. While there’s no way to predict what will happen in the future, the choice of your university major can determine and shape the experiences and career pathways you’ll undertake in the coming years.
With the easing of the Covid-19 safe management measures, the organisers of XPharm 2022 leveraged on this golden opportunity to bring up the notch from recent virtual camps to the exciting resumption of a highly anticipated fully physical 3-day XPharm Camp. Set in the world where a mysterious CEO of XPharm Co. invited the students on an excursion to its headquarters at the Faculty of Science, students had the opportunity to experience first-hand what Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science major students learn in their curriculum. With an activity-packed camp planned for them, the students first stepped foot into the laboratories to immerse in a unique hands-on compounding experience. Donned in their lab coats, the students began concocting their very own capsules and creams.
Students making their own “medicine”!
Over the next few days, the students had a taste of the work and skills practiced by pharmacists in their workplaces. Engaging in patient counselling processes from the healthcare professional’s viewpoint, students learnt how it felt like to teach “patients” the proper way on using inhalers, one of the medical devices commonly used by patients with respiratory conditions. They also managed to get a hands-on experience in measuring their blood pressure (BP), through both the automatic and manual blood pressure monitors.
BP Monitoring session using the Manual Sphygmomanometer
Transitioning from Pharmacy to Pharmaceutical Science programme, students pit against each other to learn about drug discovery and development process, where practical considerations like finances and risk were strategised and implemented, through our very own XPharmpoly board game! This was topped off by an exciting Shark-Tank inspired drug pitching seminar, where students fervently attempted to convince our student board of directors about the new blockbuster drug that they have “invented” to serve society’s needs.
Orientation Group 7 pitching its newly invented “Heartshaker” drug to the Directors
What’s XPharm without the engaging sharing by experienced and expert speakers? In addition to the curriculum introduction from our very own Programme Directors, XPharm 2022 included an all-new panel sharing segment to illustrate the wonders of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our XPharm distinguished speakers, A/Prof. Doreen Tan (NUS Pharmacy faculty), A/Prof. Ho Han Kiat (NUS Pharmacy faculty), Dr. Dorothy Toh (Assistant Group Director, Health Sciences Authority), Ms. Low Suat Fern (Principal Pharmacist, Yishun Community Hospital), Ms Nicole Sankar (Y3 Pharmacy) and Mr Windsor Koh (Y2 Pharmaceutical Science) for making time during their December holidays to share a glimpse of how life is like in university and in the healthcare and pharmaceutical landscapes with our XPharm participants.
Distinguished speakers sharing in XPharm 2022
Overall, XPharm 2022 was a resounding success. As we close this chapter, it is safe to say that not only did the participants thoroughly enjoyed themselves during the 3 days, they were also well exposed to both Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science majors in NUS. Tips were shared and friendships were forged and students now have to ponder over which major to choose. We look forward to engaging even more students in XPharm 2023! See you there!
Article by Lennon Goh Zhi En (Year 2 Pharmacy student, Director of 62nd NUSPS Pharmacy Profession Awareness Committee)
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