Jefferson School of Pharmacy Student Represents the US in Prestigious International Program

PHILADELPHIA, PA (02/14/2012)(readMedia)-- Second-year pharmacy student Miranda Law was recently named the National Student Exchange Officer for the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP)/International Pharmaceutical Students Federation (IPSF).

In this two-year assignment, Ms. Law will be progressively responsible for the Student Exchange Program (SEP) in the U.S. Serving first as the National Student Exchange Officer-Elect, Ms. Law will promote APhA-ASP member involvement in experiencing pharmacy through international travel. In the second year of her term, Ms. Law will assume full responsibilities of the position, at which time she will shift her primary attention to the creation and facilitation of U.S. host-sites. Coordinating and communicating efforts with other officers around the world will be integral to the success of the program.

This bilateral exchange program provides IPSF members with a unique opportunity to explore pharmacy education, practice and research outside their home countries. Students spend one to three months in a host-site, with the intention of promoting global understanding and cooperation in healthcare.

At present, close to 50 member countries participate in SEP and more than 600 international exchanges take place each year. In 2011, Ms. Law was an exchange student, training for one month in 57357 Children's Cancer Hospital in Cairo, Egypt. She returns to Egypt in August 2012 for the 58th IPSF World Congress.

The IPSF philosophy of collaborative healthcare education and practice is consistent with the program at Jefferson School of Pharmacy. Regarding Jefferson's cultural competency coursework, Ms. Law shared, "We realize that most of us are not as culturally aware as we originally thought. Without cultural exposure and understanding, individuals are at a disadvantage." Ms. Law said, "You need to be open-minded."

About Thomas Jefferson University

Thomas Jefferson University, (TJU), the largest freestanding academic medical center in Philadelphia, is nationally renowned for medical and health sciences education and innovative research. Founded in 1824, TJU includes Jefferson Medical College (JMC), one of the largest private medical schools in the country and ranked among the nation's best medical schools by U.S. News & World Report, and the Jefferson Schools of Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions, Population Health and the College of Graduate Studies. Jefferson University Physicians is TJU's multi-specialty physician practice consisting of the full-time faculty of JMC. Thomas Jefferson University partners with its clinical affiliate, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals.