Khon Kaen University Yuka Yokoyama (6th year, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy *at the time)

When I was a 6th-year student in the Faculty of Pharmacy, I participated in an advanced overseas practicum and received about one month of hospital training at Khon Kaen University in the Kingdom of Thailand.

During the practicum, I primarily learned about cancer patient care in the oncology ward of Khon Kaen University Hospital. I worked alongside pharmacists who were training from other hospitals in the Kingdom of Thailand as short-term residents, as well as students from Khon Kaen University's Faculty of Pharmacy. In the mornings, I spoke with patients while students from Khon Kaen University translated from Thai to English for me. In the afternoons, I prepared and presented SOAP notes after consulting with the residents. I also participated in study sessions on anticancer drugs, case reports, and presentations introducing academic papers. During the practicum, there were many opportunities to interact with students from Khon Kaen University, and being able to exchange opinions with fellow students was a very stimulating and valuable experience.

What particularly impressed me during the practicum was the pharmacists' meticulous consideration for patients and their role as drug experts with extensive knowledge, actively contributing within the medical team. I was reminded once again that interprofessional collaboration is crucial for administering anticancer drug therapy safely and effectively.  

Through this practicum, not only was I able to gain practical training experience as a pharmacy student, but I was also able to set a goal for what kind of pharmacist I want to be in the future. Above all, I consider the opportunity to meet many friends and respected teachers across national borders to be a treasure gained from this practicum.  

I hope that many more students will have the opportunity to experience a practicum in Thailand in the future.