Huddersfield welcomes Trans-Atlantic Exchange Visitors
L-R: Jack Scalzo, Allison Kelleher, Trey Tietz and Kelsey Overfield
Mon, 11 Nov 2013 14:12:00 GMT
The University of Huddersfield’s trans-Atlantic exchange programme has once again offered four students from the MPharm course the opportunity to trade places with students at Wilkes College of Pharmacy in Pennsylvania for three weeks to experience both student life and placements in hospital and community pharmacies.
The Wilkes students are all nearing the end of their six year Doctor of Pharmacy programmes. Student Trey Tietz said “it’s been a great experience just to see how pharmacy is practiced in a totally different way. When we came here we weren’t too sure what to expect and we found it’s really different to back home. It’s a good experience you can take back to your home country”.
This year’s visit from the Wilkes students is particularly timely, with the introduction of the controversial “ObamaCare” legislation which aims to give US citizens access to healthcare in a way that is more like our National Health Service. Allison Kelleher commented: “we’ve developed some good business plans and avenues that we could take back to further our occupation and advance professional development in our country”.
Although pharmacies in the two countries are very different, the students thought the University had a lot in common with Wilkes. Jack Scalzo, even thought the Huddersfield weather was similar, “minus the wind!”
As well as experiencing the University and visiting various pharmacies, the students also got a feel for local culture, visiting museums and places of historic interest, as well as seeing a Huddersfield Town match at the John Smith’s Stadium.
Kelsey Overfield said that Huddersfield had a similar student town feel to Wilkes, commenting that “people are very welcoming here, at the University and around town in general.” The students also commented on how pretty Huddersfield’s landscape and historical stone buildings are.
Dr Mahendra Patel, Principal Enterprise Fellow and Senior Lecturer at Huddersfield and Adjunct Professor of Pharmacy at Wilkes, organises the exchange programme. He said: “it's very interesting to see how pharmacy practice, in different settings in this country, and teaching is perceived by the Wilkes Pharmacy students.”
Dr Patel continued, “The programme brings an extra dimension to teaching and learning for both staff and students, as well as further adding to the excellent culture in terms of student life at Huddersfield and beyond.”
