8
F
Dec
2018
Feature
Education
leaps into
the future
Less is more at Monash University’s world-renowned
pharmacy school, which has introduced a new
interactive degree, writes Heather Saxena
A
BRAVE educational revolution
is underway at the Monash University
Faculty of Pharmacy and
Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Out are didactic lectures with students
furiously taking notes and memorising
details about as many indications and
medications as possible.
In are the ‘Monash 38’ — the most common
diseases and syndromes, and deep interactive
learning about the medications used to treat them.
There is a strong focus on group work,
interdisciplinary discussion and case studies to
solve medication-related issues associated with
the disease state and medications students are
studying at the time.
“They are actually doing the work, not
hearing about someone doing the work,” says
Professor Tina Brock, director of pharmacy
education at the university.
Although the focus is on 38 diseases, the
students are equipped with research skills to
find information on less common or specialised
conditions.
“You can’t teach them
every disease and every
drug, it’s just not possible”
- Professor Tina Brock