University of North Carolina, Hikari Sakakibara (6th year, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy *at the time)

I stayed at the University of North Carolina for four weeks, where I experienced a three-week hospital practicum and one week of classes at the Faculty of Pharmacy. During the practicum, I shadowed pharmacists in different departments each day and learned about the work of clinical pharmacists and those in central operations.

While shadowing clinical pharmacists, I participated in rounds every morning. A team of doctors, pharmacists, and nurses was responsible for about a dozen patients. They would first discuss the patients' conditions and treatment plans among the healthcare professionals, and then speak with the patients and their families at the bedside. During the rounds, the pharmacists would immediately answer questions from doctors about medications and actively engage in discussions by asking doctors questions about treatment. I was impressed by the expertise of American pharmacists and the high level of trust placed in them. American pharmacists work as specialists, and I was amazed by their extensive knowledge in their specialized fields. On the other hand, Japanese pharmacists, who tend to be generalists, have a broader range of knowledge. I heard that Japanese pharmacists could be more effective in developing countries like those in Africa. This allowed me to recognize the merits and demerits of pharmacists in both countries. I believe what I learned this time will be useful in the future, and I definitely want to apply it in my work.

After school and on holidays, I watched sports and had meals with exchange students and their friends, and went to music festivals and shopping with friends I made in the dormitory. Although it was a short period of one month, I fully enjoyed American university life. I made many friends and memories, and I believe it was a wonderful, irreplaceable experience.

I was not confident in my English ability, but everyone there was very kind. If I told them I didn't understand, they would explain it clearly, and they listened to me attentively. I believe that if you enjoy everything, that attitude will come across. I recommend participating actively.