Maryland Pharmacy Students Blaze the Trail in Global Education
Two graduating students are passionate about comparing health care systems to lower costs and raise quality in the United States
By Steve Berberich
April 9, 2009
An eye-opening, five weeks of pharmacy training at the Royal Melbourne Hospital(RMH)in Australia has placed two students at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy ahead of the curve, says their professor, in an industry-wide race to globalize pharmacy education.
Last year, Adam Bress of Ellicott City, Md., and Michael Filtz of Chester County, Pa., were just two of the 124 fourth-year students in the School’s Experiential Learning Program (ELP). Like the others, Bress and Filtz were required to complete 12 rotations in pharmacy work before graduating in May 2009.
One particular rotation in their fourth year set them apart. With the support of ELP director Cynthia Boyle, PharmD, FAPhA, they chose to go to Australia. “This was very unusual. But, first we needed quality processes in place for it to happen,” Boyle says.
No problem, says Boyle. By the time Bress and Filtz approached her with the idea in December 2007, Bress had already done 90 percent of the legwork.
Maryland students can do their rotations in a community pharmacy, health-system institution, clinic, research enterprise, or a pharmaceutical company setting — whatever helps their chosen specialty career. Boyle says that when students chose a “non-traditional,” out of program setting, it “requires a quality preceptor [off-site teacher].”
Fortunately, Bress and Filtz found acceptable preceptors at the RMH. They got support from Boyle and arranged their own travel and agendas. In all “it took 18 months of planning to get all the parts in place,” Bress says. Their rotation was in renal transplantation with pharmacist Michelle Nalder, BPharm (Hons), MClinPharm, an RMH clinical specialist for renal transplants and nephrology, and under the guidance of Michelle Vienet, BPharm, experiential coordinator at RMH. “It was pleasing to see them adapt to local practices whilst at the same time reflecting on differences in practices between the U.S. and Australia. It’s great to see that this placement has fostered an interest in global health care in Adam and Mike,” said Nalder.
Bress and Filtz said that before leaving Maryland in November 2008, they put some thought, but not a lot, into comparative public health policies in global health care. Now, they are excited about making a difference in international work when they graduate in May. They are looking forward to doing pharmacy residencies: Yale New Haven Hospital for Bress and the University of Utah Hospital for Filtz. “Now, we wonder: how do we improve care, how do we combine the great things done in the U.S. with the great things done in Australia for health care,” says Filtz.
When comparing health care in two nations, there are the big and the little things, say Bress and Filtz.
In Australia, they first noticed that pharmacists use different measurements in medications and different medical terminology than in the U.S. — one reason Filtz says its best to take a rotation overseas with a companion to help each other adjust quicker. Also, unlike hospitals they are familiar with at home, the two Maryland student pharmacists were required to take the medical history of every patient they met. “This was new for us, but it’s required there,” says Bress. Another difference is that each patient is discharged at the RMH with actual medications in hand, not just prescription slips, they say. Further, a pharmacist is sometimes assigned to follow up by visiting the home of some recently discharged patients to check on their medication adherence and well being.
Boyle says, “They learned a lot of about comparative health care and I think this says a lot about the caliber of the students and about our School that we are willing to offer unique opportunities for our students. I don’t know where their careers will lead, but we will interact with them in some capacity in the future.”
In the big picture, the School of Pharmacy is already strong in international education says Boyle. She has approved rotations in China, South Africa, England, and Poland for example. Two other faculty members have done Fulbright Scholarships in Ireland and Thailand.
Bress says, “I am passionate about the University of Maryland deciding to be the leader in globalization of pharmacy education because forcing future pharmacist candidates to gain a global awareness is very important.”
Bress observes, “After the experience Mike and I had, through actively participating in and learning about a different model of delivery and payment, we are better suited to take an active part in the future reform of health care, improving care, and cutting costs. Mike and I now have a unique perspective from our experience in Australia.”
Boyle calls the two “trailblazers” because four more students have signed up for rotations in Australia and qualified preceptors from that country in bone transplantation and critical care have been added to the Maryland program.
There is no denying that other students have also heard that Adam Bress stayed for a total of three months down under ? with hiking for a month in northeast Australia, diving the Great Barrier reefs, and visiting New Zealand. Michael Filtz and his new bride delayed their honeymoon last year to take it in Australia. They stayed 10 weeks, taking in the reef, New Zealand, and Tahiti.