An international seminar in clinical pharmacy was organised recently by the Department of Pharmacy of the University of Malta, and attended by group of students from the College of Pharmacy at the University of Florida, led by Dr Alex Ebied.
The opening of the seminar was addressed by Professor Godfrey Baldacchino, Pro-Rector for International Development and Quality Assurance. Professor Baldacchino welcomed the students to the University of Malta and gave an insight to historical aspects related to medicine in Malta.
During the seminar, the students followed ward-based exercises with the clinical pharmacists at Karin Grech Hospital, led by Mr Aaron Camilleri and Ms Marise Gauci. The students also visited Mater Dei Hospital Pharmacy where they had the opportunity to experience pharmacy services offered in the Accident and Emergency Department, Hospital Discharge Lounge, Chemotherapy and Reconstitution Unit, Quality Assurance Units, and the Clinical Pharmacy Practice Unit. The experience at Mater Dei Hospital Pharmacy was led by pharmacists Dr Louise Grech, Mr Anthony Cutajar and Mr Stephen Falzon.
Postgraduate doctoral research studies being conducted at the Department of Pharmacy in the areas of type 1 diabetes mellitus, anticoagulation therapy, secondary prevention of stroke in the elderly and heart failure were presented. Research on statin prescribing practices in ischaemic heart disease patients, being undertaken by a student from the University of Padova, who is participating in the Erasmus+ mobility with the University of Malta’s Department of Pharmacy, was also presented. Discussions covered clinical pharmacy education and service provision in Malta, the USA and internationally. The seminar enabled the local and USA students to share their experiences and discuss issues related to the advancement of clinical pharmacy.