Pharmacy Class of 2018 student, Azrina, crowned World Champion

On 29 April 2018, a final year student, Azrina Imran Tan who represented NUS Pharmaceutical Society (NUSPS) was crowned the World Champion in the 2018 Inter-regional Online Patient Counselling Event (PCE) Competition, which will be recognised at the IPSF World Congress 2018 in Mendoza, Argentina (30 July – 8 Aug 2018). Azrina competed with hundreds of other participants from around the world to first secure the Asia-Pacific title on 19 April 2018, securing her spot as a finalist in the competition. In the final round which consisted of a video response to a complex patient counselling case on initiating HIV therapy for an antiviral-naive pregnant patient, she successfully surpassed the skills of her other competitors to become the World Champion! Congratulations, Azrina!

If you would like to try it out yourself, the final PCE case can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16X_E9ve8iPSKH844ryXEPE_ThpY38CnxmeGfB2h0JKM/edit?usp=sharing

You can also view Azrina’s response to the case here:
https://youtu.be/h9BLTHVKz78

In recounting the achievement, Azrina shared that the Pharmacy Professional Skills Development modules undertaken as well as the Pre-Employment Clinical Training (PECT) stints contributed to the development and polishing of her counselling skills. Azrina is a graduand from the Class of 2018, the first cohort of students who read the revised Pharmacy curriculum where the 4th year include internships at the industry and pharmacy practice sites, as well as completion of a final year project (more information on course structure available on: https://pharmacy.nus.edu.sg/bachelor-of-science-pharmacy/).

Azrina’s participation in this competition is an example of the many different opportunities available for NUS Pharmacy students to venture into the international foray. Some of these opportunities arose due to NUSPS International Relations Committee (IRC)’s participation in the International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF). IPSF was established and initiated by 8 countries in 1949. It is the leading international advocacy organization for the future generation of pharmacists, representing over 350,000 pharmacy students and recent graduates in more than 80 countries worldwide. The federation promotes improved public health through the provision of information, education, networking and a range of publications and professional activities. IPSF runs several projects during the year mainly related to Pharmacy Education, Professional Development and Student Exchange. Being a full member of IPSF, the NUSPS IRC puts in tremendous efforts to seek and facilitate internship opportunities in the various pharmaceutical sectors both locally and overseas, and to plan activities that would create cultural exchanges between Singaporeans and students from other countries. The committee is also in-charge of selecting and preparing students to represent NUSPS to attend networking events overseas like the World Congress and the Asia-Pacific Pharmaceutical Symposium.

More information about IPSF and it’s related projects can be found at the official website or through their Facebook page:
https://www.ipsf.org/
https://www.facebook.com/IPSForg/

You can also follow NUSPS IRC’s activities at their Facebook page and Instagram:
https://www.facebook.com/NUSPSIRC/
@nuspsirc

Once again, we congratulate Azrina on putting Singapore and NUS Pharmacy on the global stage!

Photo credit:
https://www.facebook.com/IPSForg/photos/a.402058361364.181797.358439961364/10155534048091365/?type=3&theater

Article contributed by Azrina Imran Tan (Class of ’18), Yeo Mei Ching Sharon (Class of ’19), Chng Hui Ting (Class of ’08)