May 2008

Geelong hosts U.S. students

Barwon Health’s pharmacy department has hosted two students from the University of Arizona as part of the final year of their Doctor of Pharmacy course.

Megan McKee and Shawna Morgan spent six weeks in the region including one week at Geelong Hospital and one week at the Grace McKellar Centre.

‘It’s been great to see first-hand how Australian pharmacists work,’ Ms Morgan said.

‘We’ve seen a lot of innovative practices that we will share back home in the U.S.’

The students found Barwon Health’s pharmacy department was progressive and collaborative.

They were particularly interested in how the Commonwealth and State Governments governed pharmaceutical practice in Australia and the role of the clinical pharmacist in Australia versus the United States.

The girls felt welcome in the region.

‘Everyone has been so welcoming and very helpful,’ Ms McKee said.

‘Director of Pharmacy Greg Weeks has been particularly good to us.

‘He set up our work experience schedule, organised accommodation for us at Kitchener House and even took us out for dinner with his wife.’

Following their six weeks of clinical learning, the students travelled down the Great Ocean Road and then visited Melbourne and Sydney.