GUEST EDITORIAL
Preparing for the upcoming academic year
As the new academic year begins , university staff and students have prepared themselves for a range of new scenarios and challenges as the need to be flexible , adaptive , and responsive to changes in the real-time education landscape remains
There is no doubt that the global impact of COVID-19 has filtered into not only our personal but also our working lives . Students , teachers and researchers have altered their working practices and teaching and research activities accordingly to abide by the new health and safety measures . However , the need to be flexible , adaptive , and responsive to changes in the real-time education landscape remains .
As the new academic year begins , university staff and students have prepared themselves for a range of new scenarios and challenges . Some institutions have chosen to conduct another year of online teaching , whereas others are adopting a more blended approach to learning . Students have adapted to distance learning well , but many are looking forward to on-campus lessons and social interactions with their peers .
It is not an overstatement to say that the future of hospital pharmacy lies in the hands of our students . It is exciting to see how pharmacy is advancing through their elaboration of ideas , their work and publications .
The key to pharmacy success will be to focus on specialising the knowledge and training of pharmacists . Just as every healthcare provider has a specific niche , pharmacists will need to be trained as experts in medication science ( including pharmacodynamics , pharmacokinetics , pharmacogenomics , pharmacoeconomics and medical implants ) while continuing to be accessible health care providers .
The demand for pharmacists is high in many sectors , including healthcare , manufacturing , research , marketing , pharmacovigilance , and in reimbursement authorities . When looking to the future , pharmacists will still be responsible for dispensing but automation , robotics and software programs will enable hospitals to further develop a cost-effective method to deliver drugs , increase drug safety and create a more rewarding environment for its staff and workers .
It is impossible for each hospital pharmacist to have the whole range of knowledge and competencies , so knowledge will need to be optimised through sharing competencies and cooperating with other pharmacy colleagues . Networking , making social and professional contacts and building relationships all start during study and training , and support and enhance professional development , allowing students to feel more invested and connected and enabling the foundation for future relationships to be laid .
Many European , national and international societies including the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists , the European Society of Clinical Pharmacy , the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners and the European Pharmaceutical Students ’ Associations have emphasised the importance of student participation . They provide exclusive benefits and services to student members and have extensive student networks . Some offer awards to those conducting research in the fields of hospital and clinical pharmacy , provide travel grants for conferences , offer educational scholarships , visiting lecturer grants , professional development workshops , mentoring and outreach opportunities , and networking with experts , all of which have significant intellectual and collaborative impact . Students are the driving force and the more resources they can access from professional societies , the better off they will be .
Although we cannot predict with certainty what the future will bring in our ever-changing world , we should do our very best to ensure our students receive an inside view on what ’ s going on in the world of hospital pharmacy .
The future of our field lies in their hands and every investment is worthwhile : our students are tomorrow ’ s leaders .
It is not an overstatement to say that the future of hospital pharmacy lies in the hands of our students
Tiene Bauters PharmD PhD Pharmacy ; Pediatric Hematology , Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation , Ghent University Hospital , Ghent , Belgium
6 | Issue 99 | 2021 | hospitalpharmacyeurope . com