The University of Iowa, Ayu Oue (6th year, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy *at the time)

I participated in a five-week overseas advanced practicum at the University of Iowa. In addition to training within the hospital, I attended lectures for local pharmacy students and visited various community facilities where pharmacists are involved.

I gained a great deal from this practicum. First, I was able to internalize my knowledge of the American healthcare system and the role of pharmacists. By experiencing firsthand the clinical setting in the United States, where systems different from Japan in every respect have been introduced, and by learning about the social environment and people's values outside of medicine, I acquired knowledge that allows me to 'think for myself,' rather than just 'knowing' facts. Furthermore, I believe the unique appeal of this practicum was the ability to have repeated experiences and to hear about the behind-the-scenes aspects of the clinical setting from practicing pharmacists.

Furthermore, based on the knowledge I acquired, another significant realization was the ambiguity I felt regarding the healthcare system and the role of pharmacists. I think that anyone who has been in the Faculty of Pharmacy for six years has, to some extent, their own opinions about healthcare and the role of pharmacists. I felt that my own opinions were gradually becoming clearer, and I initially expected that this practicum would further solidify them. However, in reality, I began to think that my previous opinions were not necessarily correct, and my mind became confused as a result. Through this experience, I was made aware that I had been trying to finalize my opinions within a narrow world. I learned that the moment my mind starts to feel clear is precisely when it is most dangerous, and that this is a time when I must strive to broaden my perspective.

Unless one works as a pharmacist in the United States, I believe this practicum is a rare and valuable opportunity to be immersed in a clinical setting for an extended period as a student—an experience that is difficult to find elsewhere. It was a program I would recommend to anyone, regardless of their future career path or proficiency in English.