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

Wanting to see and learn firsthand about overseas medical systems, pharmaceutical education, and how pharmacists work, I applied for the Overseas Advanced Training program and participated in a five-week practicum at Khon Kaen University in Thailand.

During the practicum, I mainly worked in the oncology ward with pharmacists to monitor patients' conditions and side effects, and participated in case discussions and a Journal club. I also had the opportunity to attend cancer lectures with local pharmacy students, tour pharmacies, and learn about traditional Thai medicine. After the practicum hours and on weekends, the local Thai pharmacy students took me to local restaurants and tourist spots, where I enjoyed the local culture and food.

Throughout the five-week practicum, I was amazed by the lively case discussions and the extensive knowledge of the pharmacy students, which was very stimulating for me. In the ward, daily discussions were held that made full use of data from global cancer guidelines and clinical trial papers. It was difficult to keep up at first, but the pharmacists supported me, and I was able to learn a great deal. Furthermore, lectures and practicums at the Faculty of Pharmacy were rich in opportunities for discussions and presentations, and I felt there were more opportunities to apply learned knowledge than in Japan. A feature of Thai pharmaceutical education is that over 2,000 hours of practical training are guaranteed. Through this active learning, students practically applied their knowledge and cultivated the decision-making skills to diagnose diseases and select medications as pharmacists. Through the practicum, while learning about Thailand's strengths, I also became aware of the strengths of Japan's medical system, where anyone can receive the same level of medical care, and of Japanese pharmaceutical education, which includes a two-year research opportunity.

It was my first time spending over a month away from Japan, and while I was anxious about the practicum in an unfamiliar place, there was so much to learn that could only be gained on-site, and it broadened my perspective. If you are even slightly interested, I strongly encourage you to participate and absorb as much as you can.