Final thoughts

Choosing to do the Thailand APPE was not an easy decision for me. It was a big commitment to make, and I was concerned it would put me at a disadvantage as compared to my peers. Now, at the end of the rotation, I can say it was one of the best experiences I could have gotten.  While the rotation may not focus on drugs used in America, I gained so much knowledge about how a different healthcare system works, methods of infection control, and the humbling experience of how it feels to be a minority.

I’m also very impressed with the pharmacists in Thailand. Their available technology is still years behind America, but they work with what they have and continue to push the boundary of pharmacy services. I’m particularly impressed with their home visits and continuous inventions to get their patients to take their medications. The interaction between pharmacist and patient during the home visits was something I was envious of - it allowed for one on one interaction and fostered a trusting relationship which revealed drug related issues that might have otherwise been missed. As I get ready to return home, I hope to take back some of the lessons I learned. I want to push the boundaries of what pharmacists are expected to do in the setting of ambulatory care, just as they do here in Thailand.

-Jenny