IMU’s winning teams
THE International Medical University (IMU) School of Pharmacy teams took first and third places at the National Clinical Pharmacy Challenge 2017 at the Cyberjaya University College of Medical Sciences (CUCMS).
This two-day challenge, now in its fourth year, has evolved into a highly challenging test of clinical pharmacy knowledge, skills and team performance.
“We don’t think our achievement belongs to one team alone but is the collective effort of everyone in both teams. We went as two separate groups, however we were never really separated because we were all bearing the name of IMU at the event. We worked hard together, helped each other and motivated one another,” said team member Ang Yik Sheng.
This year, the Challenge was jointly organised by CUCMS Pharmacy Student Society and the Malaysian Pharmacy Student Association (MyPSA). Nineteen pharmacy student teams from 13 institutions took part in this challenge.
The School of Pharmacy fielded two teams of four students. Team A comprised Kow Chia Siang, Ang Yik Sheng, Thum Enn Yi and Hong Khai Shien; and Team B: Lew Ai Peng, Ooi Ziqian, See Mun Ling and Wong Ka Yan.
“We were honoured to be selected and given guidance among many other capable and outstanding classmates. Of course, the preparations were rather demanding but we were excited to represent IMU,” commented Lew Ai Peng.
In the first round (single best answer items and an Objective Structured Clinical Examination), both IMU teams were placed in the top four. The second round tested each participant against the clock, using oral short-answer questions on clinical pharmacy and therapeutics.
Four teams got through this round including the two IMU Teams. The next (semi-final) round used a clinical therapeutics problem in a simulated hospital ward setting.
IMU Team A and another team qualified for the final round and were given an hour to formulate a pharmaceutical care planning and prepare a 10-minute case presentation. A panel of three judges, including an experienced clinical pharmacist, judged the case presentations including responses to questions.
Kow Chia Siang, who presented for IMU Team A, gave an excellent performance and was adjudged Best Presenter, while Team A emerged as the champion team.
Kow Chia Siang said, “I want to thank all my teammates for their encouragement throughout the competition, especially in the final round where I had to present the case. I also appreciate the guidance given. To be honest, we never thought we could come this far, but thankfully, everyone got into the top four.”
IMU’s Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) students have the option to transfer credits in the first two years to the pharmacy programme in the University of Otago, New Zealand or University of Tasmania, Australia. These international partnerships are a clear testament of the alignment of IMU’s innovative education to global standards.
Students can also complete the entire four-year pharmacy degree in IMU. The next commencement for the Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) programme is in July and September.
If you are inspired on a diverse career that is involved with the safe and effective use of medicines, make an online application today to study the pharmacy programme. If you have just completed your SPM and do not have pre-university qualifications, consider enrolling in the one-year IMU Foundation in Science, the preferred foundation and direct route for entry into any of the university’s local degree programmes.
■ For more information, log on to www.imu.edu.my, e-mail start@imu.edu.my or call IMU at 03-2731 7272.