International Experiences

UCSF student pharmacists have the opportunity to participate in a variety of programs focused on global health.

Students have participated in programs through the Global Health Framework Program, Institute for Global Health, and the UCSF Pathways to Discovery Program in Global Health. In addition, UCSF student pharmacists have traveled to Uganda, Guatemala, and Vietnam to conduct research for projects associated with the Pharmaceutical Care, Health Services & Policy Research, and Pharmaceutical Sciences pathways and participated in diverse international Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs).

Participation in an APPE at an international site can be extremely rewarding. The opportunity to directly observe the delivery of health care and pharmacy practice in a different country can help broaden the approach to providing care to patients from different ethnic backgrounds. These APPE experiences are also a clear reflection of UCSF's core mission of advancing health worldwide.

Appreciating how different cultures perceive health care and studying the accessibility of health care in different countries can improve our ability to care for patients. UCSF student pharmacists have participated in APPEs in Singapore, Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. In each case, well-qualified preceptors provide supervision and oversight to ensure the student has an educational experience that is both meaningful and of high quality.

Participating in an international APPE or other global health education experience outside the U.S. is optional, and significant planning on the part of the student is required. Final approval for any international experience for which students will receive academic credit rests with the faculty.

In addition, students can participate in other UCSF/UC-affiliated programs such as the Global Health Framework Program during summer. These programs often provide rich learning experiences but do not involve academic credit.

Considering an international APPE or research project?

1. Begin planning early. Most experiences take place in the summer following the third year, and the planning process needs to be initiated no later than the fall of the third year.
2. Review the documents at International & Other External Experiences (link requires you to log in) which outlines the requirements and responsibilities of the student and the faculty sponsor. Students should review these documents as soon as they are considering an international experience.
3. Approvals from the pathway chair and program director are required before initiating the process for an international APPE.

Related link

Student Reflections

Questions?

Contact either of the following:

• Associate Dean for Student and Curricular Affairs
  Don Kishi
  phone: 415/476-9270
  email: kishid@pharmacy.ucsf.edu

  Don Kishi profile

• Associate Dean for Global Affairs
  Steve Kayser
  phone: 415/476-4540
  email: kaysers@pharmacy.ucsf.edu

  Steve Kayser profile

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