Yuka Takahashi (6th year, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy *at the time)

What left the biggest impression on me was our visit to the WHO. I had the opportunity to speak with a Japanese staff member at the WHO, and I was struck by her ambition. Specifically, her avid approach to building her career and her dedication to valuing connections with people. After gaining experience as a pharmacist right after graduation, she studied pharmacovigilance at a university abroad and was now working at the WHO, leveraging that experience and knowledge. I believe that a career change from being a pharmacist in a clinical setting in Japan to an international organization like the WHO is something with few precedents, making it not only difficult but also fraught with uncertainty. However, she mentioned, 'There are few staff members at the WHO who have actual experience in clinical settings, so I am able to use my career as a strength in my work.'

I also heard that there are few Japanese staff members at the WHO. Apparently, the reason is that the limited number of people who can speak three or more languages acts as a hindrance. Faced with the reality that talented individuals cannot fully demonstrate their abilities due to a lack of language skills, I keenly felt the importance of honing one's language abilities just as much as one's professional expertise.

To everyone reading this, I hope you will eagerly take on challenges and experiences that are only possible while you are in university. I had the opportunity to participate in the Thai Pharmacy Program in my second year of university and in ARS in my sixth year. I was able to have the valuable opportunity to visit places I likely would not be able to visit on my own personal travels or for work in the future, such as overseas medical institutions, regulatory authorities, pharmaceutical companies, and health organizations. In today's pharmaceutical industry, where new drug development has become globalized, involvement with other countries is indispensable. With that in mind, I would be happy if participating in an overseas training program could serve as a catalyst for thinking about your future, as a first step toward broadening your perspective and having the capacity to enjoy collaborating with people, including those from other countries.